Liu Yangyang

524652046@qq.com

AFTER the resolution on further comprehensively deepening reform to advance Chinese modernization was adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Thursday, Sean Upton-McLaughlin, CEO of SageSight, a Shenzhen-based consulting company, offered his insights on these reform efforts and their implications.

Upton-McLaughlin is from the U.S. and has lived and worked in China for 15 years.

“Based on my experience, I believe that China has a lot to offer the world, and I feel that additional reform and opening up can have a positive impact,” Upton-McLaughlin shared with Shenzhen Daily.

“The strength of China’s innovation has been clear for those living in the country. A next step of further opening up should be to help ensure that overseas businesses and consumers experience this innovation positively,” Upton-McLaughlin said.

“I would hope to see Shenzhen as an even easier place for foreigners to visit, so they can see the innovation of companies like Huawei, DJI, and others, not to mention what the Shenzhen government has achieved,” Upton-McLaughlin added.

Since Shenzhen and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) have been at the forefront of China’s reform and opening up, Upton-McLaughlin believes these regions will play a crucial role in new reform efforts.

“I feel Shenzhen and the GBA hold a lot of potential to help Chinese companies expand overseas as well as help foreign companies come to China. In addition to infrastructure, one key area that could use additional support is more internationally focused talent throughout the GBA. This would help bridge the culture and language gaps and make it easier for businesses to move in and out of all GBA cities.”

When asked about the global impacts of China’s reform, Upton-McLaughlin acknowledged the concerns some countries may have. “Having worked with many Chinese companies expanding to overseas markets, empowered by the business environment in cities like Shenzhen, it is natural that other countries feel somewhat apprehensive. However, there are more opportunities if we collaborate and work together, which I have seen while helping Chinese companies collaborate with overseas partners.”

Upton-McLaughlin has been living in Shenzhen for 10 years, starting his career in the city in 2014 when he joined Huawei’s headquarters. “I’ve always been impressed with Shenzhen’s innovation and speed and how fast the city has developed. The ease of doing business has also been a factor that has kept me coming back to the city.”