Alan Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS: Promoting 'Belt and Road' through Chinese Brands in Southeast Asia

Industry Insight by 2FIRSTS
Dec.25.2023
Alan Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS: Promoting 'Belt and Road' through Chinese Brands in Southeast Asia
Yunnan University of Finance and Economics hosts academic forum on promoting Chinese brands in Southeast Asian countries.

An academic forum themed "Promoting 'Belt and Road' through International Spread of Chinese Brands in Southeast Asian Countries" was successfully held at Yunnan University of Finance and Economics on December 16, 2023. The media and art school of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Kunming National Advertising Industrial Park, and Yunnan Radio and Television International jointly organized the forum.

Alan Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS: Promoting 'Belt and Road' through Chinese Brands in Southeast Asia
Forum Opening Ceremony | Image Source: School of Media and Design Arts, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics

The forum consisted of one main forum and two parallel forums, featuring 16 academic shares delivered by more than 70 experts and scholars. It focused on pioneering topics in news dissemination and fields of cultural exchange and cooperation in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

Alan Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS: Promoting 'Belt and Road' through Chinese Brands in Southeast Asia
Mr. Alan Zhao, co-founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS, gave a keynote speech | Image source: 2FIRSTS

2FIRSTS co-founder and CEO, Mr. Alan Zhao, was invited as an international media representative and delivered a speech on "Opportunities and Challenges of Chinese Brands Expanding into Southeast Asia." He analyzed the current situation, opportunities, and challenges in the Southeast Asian market and provided strategic recommendations.

 

Mr. Zhao believes that Chinese brands still dominate the Southeast Asian market due to the low tariffs and trade barriers and controllable costs, which offer brands a shorter supply chain feedback mechanism. He also pointed out that compared to western firms, Chinese brands find it easier to create a sense of brand identity and convey brand value in the Southeast Asian market.

 

Alan Zhao, Co-Founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS: Promoting 'Belt and Road' through Chinese Brands in Southeast Asia
Mr. Alan Zhao, co-founder and CEO of 2FIRSTS, gave a keynote speech | Image source: 2FIRSTS

 

He appealed to Chinese firms to devise Southeast Asian brand communication strategies from a global perspective and leverage the strategic location of Southeast Asia in the Belt and Road Initiative. He also urged respect for local customs and cultures and adherence to ethical standards while promoting high-quality development. His insightful analysis of the opportunities and challenges for Chinese brands in the Southeast Asian market received widespread attention and strong agreement from the audience.

 

About 2FIRSTS

 

Established in 2022, 2FIRSTS is a globally renowned media platform dedicated to the vaporization technology industry. It holds news centers in places like Shenzhen, London, and New York, providing global news and insights to regulators, supply chains, brands, researchers, and industry organizations. It covers various exhibitions globally with over ten live reports a year, and is a media partner of major global exhibitions.

 

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