Building on its commitment to providing students, faculty and staff at Fisher with opportunities to build their global competencies, the college’s Global Trade Network recently brought to campus He Yafei, a recognized diplomat and official within the government of the People’s Republic of China.

Speaking inside the Mason Hall Rotunda, Ambassador He outlined his thoughts on how the U.S. and China can help shape the global order and lead in international business and diplomacy. Extolling the virtues of “cooperation, not confrontation,” the ambassador identified four key areas on which both global superpowers can help each other:

• Accurately identifying drivers of new economic growth
• “Re-Globalization,” the distribution of wealth and balancing market efficiencies with social justice
• Effective communication to minimize geo-political entanglements
• Mutual respect and shared learning

“Ambassador He’s visit provided our students, faculty and staff with a clear understanding of how two global superpowers can learn from each other and work toward mutually beneficial outcomes,” said Joyce Steffan, director of Fisher’s Office of Global Business. “The Global Trade Network is proud to provide forums where recognized and established leaders on the world’s stage can share their knowledge, insights and experiences.

“Opportunities like this one available through the Global Trade Network demonstrate Fisher’s commitment to connecting our community to the global community, including here on campus.”

Ambassador He served as deputy director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and vice minister of foreign affairs for the People’s Republic of China. He is a distinguished professor of the Yenching Academy at Peking University and currently serves as the co-chairman of the Center for China and Globalization, a think tank based in Beijing that is dedicated to the study of Chinese public policy and globalization.

The event also included a discussion between Ambassador He and Oded Shenkar, the Ford Motor Company Chair in Global Business Management and professor of management and human resources at Fisher. Shenkar, co-author of Navigating Global Business: A Cultural Compass, shared his insights having studied Chinese business, leading international business education at Fisher and serving as a member of the Center for Chinese Studies and the Near East Studies Center.