From October 22 to 24, 2010, the Sixth Annual Conference of the Center for International Business Ethics (CIBE) was held in Beijing. This International Seminar centered on the theme of “A Value-Based Economy for China and the World”. This seminar was organized by CIBE at the University of International Business and Economics and the Caux Round Table (an international network of business leaders working to promote business ethics and improve global business environment), co-hosted by the China Credit Research Center (CCRC) at Peking University, and co-organized by the Center for China’s Open Economy and International Technology Cooperation.

With an economy growing at a rate of 9.6%, 34 companies on the Fortune 500 and 54 people on the Forbes Billionaire Index, it is no wonder that China has come to be a recent center of attention. As an interesting cause and event scenario unfolds, China’s prosperity become sincreasingly dependent on the global community. Therefore, there is every reason to strengthen the cooperation between China and the world, not only in pursuit of economic growth, but also in search of a path towards a truly harmonious global society. Ethical standards articulated by Confucius and Mencius resonate with the Caux Round Table Principles for Responsible Business and Government and are increasingly relevant for the vision of the harmonious society currently stressed by China’s government today. It was exactly for this purpose that Caux Round Table and CIBE joined hands to launch the Global Dialogue “Charting the Path toward a New Platform of Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility”. The seminar brought together thinkers, decision-makers and practitioners around the world onto a single platform in Beijing. This novel group set out to discuss the influence of China’s economic growth on the world economy, economic growth and harmonious society, faith and business ethics, and leadership and values dissemination. This seminar was not only able to iron out differences, but also came out with solutions that entrench our human values in a time of uncertainty and ambiguity.

The opening ceremony of this seminar officially began on October 23, 2010. Mr. Xie Zhaohua, CPPCC member, Vice President of China Zhi Gong Party Beijing Municipal, Deputy Secretary-General of the CPPCC in Beijing, and Dr. Noel Purcell, Chair of the Global Governing Board of the Caux Round Table, addressed the opening speech. In their speech, they bestowed their wishes for the successful convening of the conference, while they emphasized the significance and far-reaching impact of this Global Dialogue. Others attendees  included Stephen B. Young, Caux Round Table Global Executive Director, Dr. Rothlin, Secretary-General of CIBE, UIBE, Prof. Yang Hengda, and Mr. Ye Jian, Former Director of National Port Office, President of The China Association of Port-of-Entry.

In the following seminar, Prof. Zhang Zheng, Vice Dean of the School of Economics at Peking University, and Director of CCRC, Prof. Wand Dashu of the School of Economics at Peking University, and Prof. Lv. Suiqi, Deputy Director of the School of Finance at Peking University, deeply and thoroughly led discussions on economic growth and the harmonious society, interpreting harmonious society and de-financialization, branding and corporate social responsibility, and harmonious rate environment and economic growth.

The theme of Session two was faith and business ethics. Dr. Stephen B. Young first expounded on the role of the significance of the individual in Chinese ethics. Then, Prof. David W. Miller, Director of the Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative, made a speech entitled “The Importance of Religion on Business Ethics”. In breakout discussions, the guests exchanged ideas on the three subjects of personal ethics of Confucius and Mencius and the role of law, Matteo Ricci’s thoughts on friendship, and business ethics in the perspectives of Christian social teaching and Confucian moral philosophy.

The seminar on October 24 carried out the plenary discussion on how to deepen the system’s maturation in all areas, in order to ensure the social and economic stable development. Prof. Dai Changzheng, Dean of the School of International Relations at UIBE, and Mr. Bill Valentino, Bayer China’s VP of Corporate Social Responsibility, respectively made professional proposals on the system’s maturation from the perspectives of government corruption and corporate social responsibility.

The last session regarded leadership and value dissemination. Prof. Henri-Claude de Bettignies, from China Europe International Business School, Mrs. Virginia Lecourt, Ethical Management Chair of HEC Montreal and IAE Pantheon Sorbonne, Paris, Dr. Mike Thompson, from China Europe International Business School, Mr. Bernard Claude, Chairman of Ethics Committee, Total Group, Prof. Barbara Krug, from Rotterdam School of Management, Netherlands, Prof. Patrick Reinmoeller, from Cranfield University’s School of Management, Dr. J.-Robert Ouimet, from O.C.B. Inc.. all made in-depth discussions on the ethical practice of their respective fields.

The conference successfully concluded with the closing speeches of Dr. Noel Purcell, Chair of the Global Governing Board of the Caux Round Table, and Prof. Liu Baocheng, Director of CIBE, UIBE, who spoke of the providing of a good communication platform, through round tables, for government officials, scholars, and entrepreneurs to raise questions regarding economic principles and corporate social responsibility theory and practices to a new level, and offering solid theoretical support to the socio-economic stability.