Feng Jun President of Beijing Huaqi Information Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
Feng Jun expressed that in the coming three years Huaqi will open Aigo GeKiln specialist shops in locations close to where any LV shops are located. Feng said Huaqi team is dedicated to opening Aigo GeKiln shops on the world’s busy streets, especially in the places where Louis Vuitton flagship stores are located. The GeKiln products featured with Chinese culture will adopt the limited edition business strategy. Feng Jun pointed out that at present Chinese enterprises is “living a dog’s life” as they can only rely on price strategies on the path to globalization. Chinese brands should learn from other countries’ advanced experience and technology as well as their own advantages. He confessed that though Aigo’s innovations are top rate, the products MP3 to MP5 rankings are scattered and so far have not established market spirit. He thought the establishment of Chinese brands should adopt a way of combining foreign countries’ advanced experience and technology with China’s advantages and opportunities. According to Feng Jun, at present the branding strategy adopted by Aigo is targeted at Chinese cultural advantages, that is, applying the cultural advantages to the design of Aigo GeKiln Series camera. Aigo locates the products at the level of Hermes (Paris brand) to challenge the high-end market.
Li Shufu Chairman of Geely Automobile Holding Co., Ltd. and Chairman of Volvo Car Corporation
Li Shufu stated that Geely’s acquisition of Volvo action is part of Geely’s self-evolution. Li Shufu said branding has a soul and life which consists of many elements. Geely and Volvo are two brands that have a relationship that is more like a brotherhood than a parent child relationship. There are too many differences between these two brands, as brands are different from trademarks. The latter is a symbol which represents in an unchangeable solid form, while the former varies all the time. Volvo and Geely are different on their qualifications and crafts. Volvo is rich with safety techniques and patents which Geely lacks. Therefore, Geely is Geely and Volvo is Volvo. They are independent and should not be confused.
Li Qiuxi President of Shanxi Xinghuacun Fen Wine Factory Co.
“Only the brand that can stand the test of time in the market and with consumers can be a real brand and a trusted product,” said Li Qiuxi. Fen Wine is one of many Chinese brands which have experienced frustrations. Fen Wine once topped the spirit industry. In the last twenty years, Fen Wine, which has a history of 800 years, has been lagging behind, which resulted from its brand positioning, brand value, branding decisions and the challenges of competing in the market. Li Qiuxi stated that Shanxi Fen Wine is the oldest and purest wine with the longest culture; at least 5,000 years. At present, the company is now setting up the enterprise development strategy, branding strategy, marketing strategy and cultural development strategy. The brand programming, product development, branding communication and marketing layout will become their core work. Fen Wine has never had such a clear brand positioning and developing direction.
Yu Minhong Chairman & CEO of New Oriental Education Group Co., Ltd.
At the opening ceremony, Yu Minhong said that for now there are not enough opportunities for China to have world-class universities, middle schools or primary schools in the coming century. Yu stated that China’s education has entered a utilitarian age. “Going to the best primary school is to go the best junior middle school; going to the best junior school is to go the best senior middle school; and then to go to the best university. But there is no definition of the so-called ‘best.’ Especially when someone comes out from the best university, he or she finds no place to display his or her talents,” Yu said. In Yu’s opinion, to change such a situation, we should start from correcting the education purpose. Colleges and universities should balance “change” and “no change.” With the development of time, education needs to be changed. However, free thinking, the cultivation of investigation thought and the cultivation of creativity, imagination and personality should be eternal points to be maintained. Yu further expressed if the problem of “change” and “no change” is solved, next century China will have world-class universities, middle schools and primaries. But at present there is much work to be done.
(Translated by Sarah Luo)
Editor’s Notes:
1 San nong: San means “three,” and the three “nong” issues consistently appearing on China’s agenda are the farming industry (nongye), rural communities (nongcun) and farmers (nongmin).