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

Industry Insight by Alan Zhao | 2Firsts Perspectives
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.

 

This document has been generated through artificial intelligence translation and is provided solely for the purposes of industry discourse and learning. Please note that the intellectual property rights of the content belong to the original media source or author. Owing to certain limitations in the translation process, there may be discrepancies between the translated text and the original content. We recommend referring to the original source for complete accuracy. In case of any inaccuracies, we invite you to reach out to us with corrections. If you believe any content has infringed upon your rights, please contact us immediately for its removal.

TPB Q4 FY2025 Revenue Rises 29% to $121 Million; Modern Oral Business Up 266% Year Over Year
TPB Q4 FY2025 Revenue Rises 29% to $121 Million; Modern Oral Business Up 266% Year Over Year
Turning Point Brands, a U.S. nicotine and tobacco-related consumer products company, reported its fiscal 2025 fourth-quarter results: quarterly revenue was $121 million, up 29% year over year; adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) was $30 million, up 14%. Net revenue from modern oral nicotine products was $41.3 million, up 266% year over year.
Mar.03 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Alberta Seeks to Add New Vape Restrictions on Top of Existing Tobacco Framework
Alberta Seeks to Add New Vape Restrictions on Top of Existing Tobacco Framework
A new Alberta bill aimed at reducing vaping rates, especially among young people, is moving into the legislative process. Bill 208, the Vaping Reduction Act, was introduced by United Conservative Party MLA Chelsae Petrovic and appears to build on the province’s existing Tobacco, Smoking and Vaping Reduction Act. Early reporting suggests the bill could focus on disposable vapes and impose further limits on youth access to vaping products.
Apr.15 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Revised Tobacco Business Act to Take Effect in South Korea, Banning Online Sales of Liquid Vapes
Revised Tobacco Business Act to Take Effect in South Korea, Banning Online Sales of Liquid Vapes
South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare will implement a partial revision of the Tobacco Business Act on April 24. The scope will expand from products made with “tobacco leaves” to all products manufactured with natural or synthetic nicotine. Synthetic nicotine liquid e-cigarettes, which had previously been treated as industrial products and were freely sold and advertised online, will from April 24 be subject to the same regulations as ordinary tobacco products.
Apr.23 by 2FIRSTS.ai
Exclusive | China Starts Mandatory National Standards Process for Heated Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
Exclusive | China Starts Mandatory National Standards Process for Heated Cigarettes and Nicotine Pouches
China has launched mandatory national standards work for heated cigarettes and nicotine pouches, further formalizing regulation of both categories. The move may help lay groundwork for future market entry, but does not signal imminent domestic commercialization.
Apr.15
Philip Morris Korea to Launch IQOS Iluma i One “Electric Purple” Color, Expanding Into Major Convenience Store Channels From May
Philip Morris Korea to Launch IQOS Iluma i One “Electric Purple” Color, Expanding Into Major Convenience Store Channels From May
Philip Morris Korea said on March 31 that it will begin selling the new “Electric Purple” color for the heated tobacco device IQOS Iluma i One at major convenience stores nationwide in South Korea starting May 2. The color will first be introduced on April 10 at the official IQOS online store and nine IQOS directly operated stores nationwide. To mark the expansion of its sales channels, the company will run promotions at major convenience stores through May 20.
Mar.31
Product | 25-second preheat and 2,250mAh battery: Heaven Gifts’ REJO launches new HNB device on Japanese and UK e-commerce platforms
Product | 25-second preheat and 2,250mAh battery: Heaven Gifts’ REJO launches new HNB device on Japanese and UK e-commerce platforms
REJO, Heaven Gifts’ heated tobacco (HNB) brand, has listed the REJO CUBE on its official website. The device features a magnetic modular design with a detachable battery and an OmniHeat™ 360° heating system, and is now available via e-commerce channels in Japan and the UK, priced at 6,980 yen (about $45) in Japan.
Mar.06 by 2FIRSTS.ai