Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) held its 2026 Advisory Board Meeting on October 13. This was the 27th annual session since the board was established, with 26 board members in attendance.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with representatives of the advisory board of Tsinghua SEM in Beijing in the afternoon of October 13.
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with representatives of the advisory board of Tsinghua SEM in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 13, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, exchanged views with the representatives, focusing on the development and governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
AI is a key force driving a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, Ding said, stressing the need to develop, apply and govern this future-shaping technology to better benefit all humanity.
He welcomed the representatives' support for and participation in the development of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), with a view to promoting shared prosperity and safeguarding common security.
Noting that the advisory board has served as an important platform for dialogue, exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries over the past 26 years, Ding expressed hope that its members would make further contributions to China's education sector and economic development.
The representatives, including Tim Cook, chairman of the advisory board, spoke highly of China's achievements in AI and other fields. They expressed their willingness to remain committed to the Chinese market, expand cooperation and better fulfill the board's role as a bridge between China and the international community.
Wang Qishan, China's former vice president and the honorary chairman of the advisory board, met with the representatives and hosted a banquet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in the evening of October 13.
Specially invited expert Zhou Xiaochuan, vice chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and former governor of the People's Bank of China; specially invited expert Liu Mingkang, former chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC); specially invited expert Guo Shuqing, a member of the 14th Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and vice chair of NPC Financial and Economic Affairs Committee; Wang Zhijun, deputy secretary-general of the State Council; Ren Youqun, vice minister of the Ministry of Education; Xiao Yanshun, deputy director of the Research Office of the State Council; Zhao Zhiyuan, assistant minister of Foreign Affairs; Qiu Yong, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee; Li Luming, president of Tsinghua University; Gu Binglin, former president of Tsinghua University; Yang Bin, vice chairman of the Tsinghua University Council, along with directors from related bureaus and departments under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education attended the activity.
The 2026 Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board meeting
The Advisory Board meeting was chaired by Tim Cook. He welcomed new board members and successor board members, and thanked all board members for their contributions and support.
Li Luming expressed his gratitude to the Advisory Board members for their longstanding advice and support for the development of Tsinghua University and Tsinghua SEM. He extended special thanks to the six members who gave lectures and exchange ideas with to the faculty and students.
Li Luming said that Tsinghua University has been reflecting on how AI is reshaping higher education in profound ways and how to seize emerging opportunities and planning ahead. The University has worked steadily to integrate AI into teaching and learning, fostering a supportive ecosystem and providing strong support for the community to embrace the AI era. Noting that this year’s Advisory Board meeting focused on AI, Li expressed his hope that the board members would offer their insights and recommendations and contribute their expertise to advancing the University’s high-quality development.
Tsinghua SEM's Dean Bai Chong-En reported on the school's progress over the past year. Associate Dean Xu Xin delivered a presentation titled "Embracing AI, Shaping the Future”. The advisory board members engaged in discussion and idea exchange afterwards.
Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board members pose for a group photo.
Since 2025, a session titled "Discussions on the Chinese Economy" was introduced to the meeting. Yin Yanlin, vice director of the Committee on Economic Affairs Under the CPPCC National Committee; and Jiang Xiaojuan, professor at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and former deputy secretary-general of the State Council, delivered keynote speeches as specially invited guests shared views with board members. Bai Chong-En chaired the session.
Six board members lectured in the Tsinghua SEM classrooms and interacted with faculty and students during the meeting.
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Other attendees were advisory board members including Qian Yingyi, vice chairman of the advisory board of Tsinghua SEM, distinguished professor of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University and fourth dean of Tsinghua SEM (2006-2018); The Lord Browne of Madingley, chairman of BeyondNetZero and former group chief executive of bp p.l.c.; Raymond T. Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates and chairman of Dalio Family Office; Srikant M. Datar, George F. Baker Professor of Administration and dean of Harvard Business School; Martín Escobari, co-president and head of Global Growth Equity of General Atlantic; Victor K. Fung, chairman of Fung Investments; John Furner, president and CEO of Walmart Inc.; Evan G. Greenberg, chairman and chief executive officer of Chubb Limited and Chubb Group; Gu Binglin, former president of Tsinghua University; Elliott Hill, president & CEO of NIKE, Inc.; Richard Li, founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group; Robin Li, co-founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu, Inc.; Richard M. Locke, John C Head III Dean of MIT Sloan School of Management; Pony Ma, core founder, chairman of the board and CEO of Tencent; Óscar García Maceiras, chief executive officer of Inditex Group; Sir Andrew Mackenzie, chair of the board of Shell plc; Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, managing director and group chief executive officer of Mubadala Investment Company; Milan Nedeljković, chairman of the board of management of BMW AG; Marc Pictet, senior managing partner of Pictet Group; Bob Sternfels, global managing partner of McKinsey & Company; John L. Thornton, chairman of Redbird Capital Partners, chairman of Barrick Mining and co-chair of the board of Asia Society; Jacob Wallenberg, chairman of the board of Investor AB; Marjorie Yang, chairman of Esquel Group; and Zhao Chunjun, the second dean of Tsinghua SEM (2001-2005). Specially-invited expert Liu Mingkang, former chairman of CBRC; specially-invited guest Zhu Yunlai, former president and CEO of China International Capital Corporation (CICC); Yang Bin, vice chancellor of the Tsinghua University Council, Liu Taoxiong, director of the Office of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee and Xue Jian, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua SEM Committee also attended the meeting.
The Tsinghua SEM Advisory Board was established in October 2000 and is composed of prominent business executives, business school deans, renowned scholars and experts from both domestic and international arenas, including Nobel laureates in economics. Zhu Rongji, first dean of Tsinghua SEM, serves as the founding honorary chairman of the advisory board. China’s former vice president Wang Qishan is the honorary chairman now. The board's mission is to strengthen connections between Tsinghua SEM and various sectors globally, to enhance its teaching and research capacities, and to support its journey towards becoming a world-class school of economics and management.
Editors: Li Han, John Paul Grima
