To broaden students’ horizons and enhance their employability, on the afternoon of December 13, CFLC invited D.H.P. Associates founder and president Ms. Zhang Jianxin to give a talk on multinationals’ government affairs in China. Drawing on her extensive professional experience, Ms. Zhang elaborated on the ins and outs and occupational prospects of multinationals’ business related to government affairs in China.

Ms. Zhang holds master’s degrees from Princeton University and Xiamen University. She once worked in the Spokesperson’s Office at China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She was one of the first group of diplomats stationed in Hong Kong in preparation for the return of Hong Kong to China in 1997, and later served as the press officer for the Commissioner’s Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong. Afterwards, she worked in turn for a number of multinational corporations and consulting firms, including APCO Worldwide, Burson-Marsteller, Pfizer China and Johnson & Johnson’s US head office. Later, she founded D.H.P. Associates and serves as its president. She boasts a wealth of practical experience in the field of international affairs and corporate strategizing.

Multinational corporations have consistently been a major source of job opportunities for CFLC graduates, and their business related to government affairs are their strategic components, boasting vast prospects for growth. Ms. Zhang began her talk with the origins of government affairs and shared her insights into the status quo and prospects of this special industry. According to Ms. Zhang, since the start of reform and opening-up, a large number of multinationals have established a presence in China, and their government affairs business has grown exponentially. The industry initially grew out of the needs of foreign companies seeking Chinese government approvals for market entry. Over the years, with the rapid growth of the Chinese economy, the industry has changed fundamentally, facing higher industry standards and taking on much more complex tasks in the field of government affairs.

Ms. Zhang elaborated on crisis management, policy analysis and corporate social responsibility with GlaxoSmithKline’s legal trouble and Sinochem’s acquisition Swiss firm Syngenta. Her elaboration gave the students a clear understanding of multinationals’ business related to government affairs in China.

The talk was followed by a Q&A session. Ms. Zhang also encouraged the students achieve proficiency in English, which is the working language for government affairs and consulting. She stressed the importance of retaining one’s sense of curiosity. Curiosity starts the journey and motivates a learner to keep going, no matter how rocky the path.