Massey participates in event to help Manawatū businesses succeed in China

The event was organised by Palmerston North City Council, the Central Economic Development Agency, and the Manawatū Business Chamber to help local businesses best position themselves for growth in China. It included a panel, who shared insights with local businesses and innovators looking for business growth and success in China.

Massey Business School Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Kelly and alumni Bo Brian Zheng of LIVALL Smart Helmet were invited to be part of the panel. They spoke about Massey’s long standing partnership with Nanjing University of Finance and Economics.

“After a solid 10-year partnership we were able to establish the joint education institution with Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, offering Chinese students the ability to study towards a Massey bachelor’s degree in China,” Professor Kelly says.

During the panel, Mr Zheng reiterated the importance of 'guanxi', a term used in Chinese culture to describe an individual's social network of mutually beneficial personal and business relationships. Guanxi implies trust and mutual obligations between parties, and it operates on personal, familial, social, business and political levels.

Mr Zheng graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 2003 and is Chief Executive Officer of safe cycling helmet brand LIVALL. He is also a committee member of the MBS Chinese Alumni Association, overseeing activities and connecting with alumni in the Shenzhen and Guangzhou region. There are close to 900 members in the network, with other committee members looking after Beijing and Shanghai regions, and Auckland.

Members of the Chinese Embassy were at the event, including Education Counsellor Mr Dong Zhixue, and Third Secretary, Educational Affairs, Mr Wan Ding.