Home > Events > Forums > Wee Cho Yaw Forum   Wee Cho Yaw Forum   For more information on Wee Cho Yaw Forum, please contact: Divya Ramchand Private Equity Forum: The Singapore-China Axis Friday, 2 September 2011, Shanghai 3rd Wee Cho Yaw Singapore-China Finance and Banking Forum, Shanghai Private Equity Forum: The Singapore-China Axis (Mandarin) Despite concerns about soaring inflation, unbridled growth and changing demographic trends, China's underlying economy remains robust. It is the world's second largest economy, and a global powerhouse in terms of growth and size. China has a seemingly limitless domestic market, and companies can record impressive growth without crossing borders. Company acquisitions and takeovers have also increased in recent years, and opportunities abound for private equity (PE) and institutional funds. The search could be arduous but rewards handsome for those with the right partnerships. However danger lurks for the uninitiated. The regulatory and corporate governance frameworks need to be well understood by companies and private equity funds seeking to navigate in China’s increasingly complex economy with its various economic, social and political interdependencies. Amidst this backdrop, experts from China and Singapore gather to examine these issues and shed light on the investment and regulatory architecture in China’s private equity industry.    Discussion Forum 1: Institutional Investing and Private Equity (PE) in Asia Moderator Professor Ming Huang Professor of Finance, Cornell University Panelist Mr Ding Wei Head, China & Senior Managing Director, Temasek International Pte Ltd Panelist Mr Simon Hua Managing Director, Head of Private Equity, BOCOM Internationl Panelist Dr Liu Dong Senior Vice President & Head, Direct Investments Group, Greater China, GIC Special Investments Panelist Mr Shan Weijian Chairman and CEO, PAG (former partner, TPG Capital) Panelist Mr Lawrence Wong Executive Vice President and Head of Listings, SGX Topics discussed ranged from ‘The impact of private equity and institutional investing on China’s development’, ‘Finding the right business model in partnerships and joint ventures’, to ‘The roles of state-owned banks and securities firms in China’s private equity investment activities’. Discussion Forum 2: Regulations and Governance in Private Equity and Institutional Investing Moderator Professor Anthony Neoh QC, SC, JP, Hong Kong Bar and Dean's Visiting Professor, NUS Business School, former Chief Advisor, China Securities Regulatory Commission Panelist Ms Rachel Eng Managing Partner, Wong Partnership Panelist Dr Fang Xinghai Director-General, Office of Financial Services, Shanghai Metropolitan Government Panelist Dr Qi Bin Director General, Research Center, China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Issues discussed relate to ‘How Singapore's Regulatory and Taxation regime has turned Singapore into an Asset Management Hub for the region’, ‘Shanghai City Government’s regulations and plans for being an international financial centre’ and ‘The consequential foreign exchange impacts of this on the Renminbi’. “China’s private equity industry is growing rapidly as seen from its ever-increasing number of private equity fund managers. However, the industry requires an in-depth understanding so that its private equity investments can be well managed. We hope that through this forum, we can facilitate a rich exchange of ideas and understanding of the regulatory, investment and governance frameworks in China’s private equity industry.” – Professor Bernard Yeung (Dean, NUS Business School)   "With the increasing financial cooperation between China and ASEAN, we would like to explore ways to closely work with our Singapore counterparts through this forum."  – Mr Tan Yue Heng (CEO of BOCOM International)   "With Asia in sharper focus as the global growth engine, set against economic volatility and increasing complexity of banking business, we hope this forum continues to promote collaboration and strengthen capabilities for the industry in Singapore and China." – Mr Wee Ee Cheong (Deputy Chairman & Group CEO, UOB Limited)   “We hope to see a vigorous dialogue on private equity and institutional investing issues taking place at this forum, especially as they pertain to best practices, prudent regulations, and good governance in this region. We are very fortunate to have some of the best minds and investors in Singapore and China participating.” – Prof Joseph Cherian (Director of the Centre for Asset Management                   Research and Investments (CAMRI) at NUS Business School) 2nd Public Lecture: Will China become the next Japan Mr Fan Yi-Fei Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Operation Officer, China Investment Corporation (CIC) Thursday, 20 January 2011, Singapore Presentation Media Article - Straits Times Media Article - Lianhe Zaobao Photo Gallery Speaker Profile Mr Fan Yi-Fei, is the Executive Vice President and Deputy Chief Operation Officer for the China Investment Corporation (CIC). He joined CIC in March 2010. Prior to joining CIC, Mr Fan was Executive Vice President of China Construction Bank (CCB). Before that, he had also served as General Manager of the Finance and Accounting Department, Planning and Finance Department and Assistant to the President of CCB. Mr Fan holds a Ph.D degree in Economics. In his talk titled “ Will China Become the Next Japan”, Mr Fan shared with the audience an insightful analysis of the last few decades of Japanese and Chinese economic history. Using historical data as well as insights from his experience, Mr Fan compared the two countries from the economic, industrial, social and policy angles, arguing that China’s economy would not suffer a Japanese-style bubble burst. Mr Fan indicated that China has learnt lessons from Japan’s experience and will pursue a gradual Yuan appreciation to minimise shock to the Chinese Economy, in contrast to the rapid appreciation of the Yen following the Plaza Accord. Moreover, China is cautious about asset bubbles that may emerge and that its officials are focusing on investment expansion through diversification to strengthen its economic base. Questions from the audience ranged from perceptions about China being seen as “lucky by chance” in amassing its wealth over a short period of time, to the soundness of China’s policies, to what areas China needed to improve on. Mr Fan highlight that aside from China’s high foreign reserves, incomes and resource per capita is still low which puts the country in a tricky situation, far from the “lucky-by-chance” picture painted by some news reports. He emphasised that China  has still to focus on its industrial competitiveness, move to higher value-added production, reduce income equality and ensure stable agricultural development. On diversifying its investment base, Mr Fan pointed out that China aims to achieve a win-win outcome in achieving returns on its investments as well as looking after the well being of the places which it invests it. 1st Public Lecture: Livelihood and Liveability - The Twin Mission of Urbanisation” (经济繁荣，环境宜居 - 城市的双重使命) Dr Liu Thai Ker Architect-planner & Adjunct Professor (Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy) School of Design and Environment (NUS) Monday, 30 August 2010, Beijing It explored the importance and impact of planning on urbanization, particularly from the economic and environmental perspectives. Dr Liu stressed the importance of synchronisation between different infrastructure authorities and coordination of urban planning at the city level with planning at the district level and neighbourhood level. Citing the experience of Singapore, Dr Liu noted how the Singapore model gave Asia hope that it is possible to successfully build a nation in one generation. On the topic of livelihood, Dr Liu highlighted the important role which HDB played in Singapore’s economic expansion, particularly in boosting the economy during slumps. In the lively Q&A session which ensued, moderated by Prof Heng Chye Kiang, Dean, NUS School of Design and Environment, Dr Liu fielded questions ranging from dealing with the demands of foreign investors in city planning to rising urban population levels. Click on the thumbnails for larger view

	Last modified on 13 September, 2011 by NUS GAI