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On January 2nd, the Xiamen University MBA Alumni Annual Meeting and the "Phoenix Flower" Annual Dialogue were successfully held at the Jiannan Auditorium of Xiamen University. The event, themed "Navigating Cycles, Embracing the Future," brought together over 2,000 investment luminaries, academic giants, industry leaders, and venture capital pioneers. Li Zhiyong, Standing Committee Member of the CPC Committee and Vice President of Xiamen University; Zhang Mingzhi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Management; Chen Yundong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Xiamen University Alumni Association; Zheng Bijiao, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Management; and Zhou Minqin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Management, attended the event. Dr. Li Qiang, Chairman of Honflex Electronics Group, was invited to share the stage with Dan Bin, Chairman of Oriental Harbor; Qu Wenzhou, Professor of the School of Management and Director of the MBA Center at Xiamen University; Dai Yiyi, Professor of the School of Management at Xiamen University; and Ni Yingwei, Partner of Longling Investment, to jointly create a landmark event linking academia and industry and uniting alumni.
As an innovative leader in the computing power ecosystem and a Xiamen University MBA alumnus, Dr. Li Qiang was invited to deliver a keynote speech entitled "Thoughts on Hibiscus." He offered a global perspective, deeply analyzing the competitive landscape and opportunities for China within the Sino-US AI "G2" framework. He also shared practical pathways from the underlying logic of "computing and electronics integration" to the closed-loop ecosystem of "domestic chips, domestic models, and domestic applications," combining this with Honflex Electronics' "All in AI" strategic transformation. This provides a practical model for Chinese enterprises to break through in the AI era.
Expert Discussion: Investment Wisdom Through Cycles
Qu Wenzhou began with "Self-Value Investing Through Era Cycles," drawing on over thirty years of personal experience and reflection to deeply interpret the core value of Xiamen University's MBA program. He pointed out that in an era of increasing uncertainty, the key to personal growth lies in "investing in character, investing in cognition, and investing in the ecosystem." Xiamen University's MBA program's triple moat of "cognitive depth + emotional warmth + future vision" is precisely the "long-term asset" that helps alumni navigate life cycles.
From the "1+6" specialized training model to the mandatory Business Diagnostic Practice (BDP) course, from the 3D murals in Furong Tunnel to the "View & Observe" interview micro-variety show, from a nationwide alumni network to the establishment of three major life paradigms, Xiamen University MBA is committed to cultivating "unique individuals that cannot be defined by algorithms," enabling every alumnus to access a high-quality cognitive and resource network throughout their lives, achieving a value upgrade from "classmate" to "like-minded person," and from "alumnus" to "life partner."
[Image: Dai Yiyi, in his presentation "Economic Environment and Entrepreneurial Strategic Investment," used detailed data and vivid case studies to deeply analyze the transformation logic of China's economy from the "real estate dividend era" to the "technological innovation era." He reviewed the wealth code of the real estate chain over the past thirty years and pointed out the core investment trend today: in the G2 pattern of "East rising and West declining," corporate strategies must either focus on high-tech tracks such as AI, cultivate brand value, or expand into overseas markets. Professor Dai emphasized that "the biggest risk in turbulent times is doing things with past logic."] Faced with a complex and ever-changing economic environment, entrepreneurs need to seize "certain opportunities" amidst cyclical shifts, seeking new growth points through technological innovation and global expansion, and responding to market fluctuations with strategic resolve.
Ni Yingwei, in his presentation titled "Creating Consumer Value, Navigating Economic Cycles," shared his aspirations for establishing a foothold in Southern Fujian and finding a new generation of consumer brands. He discussed the incubation of local catering IPs like HeyMing and Shangqing Jiege, and the strategies of Yuan Chu Foods, Pupu Supermarket, and Luckin Coffee in the three battlefields of product, time, and location. He emphasized that the key to brand success lies in "equal emphasis on supply chain and product strength, and empathy with users through fresh data."
Xiamen's "Live Well" urban character can mutually benefit consumer brands in any niche market, just like Meitu and Xiamen—each beautiful in its own way, yet complementing each other.
Ni Yingwei pointed out that "valuable labor deserves a decent price; this is true consumption upgrading." This consumer value rooted in local culture and close to people's lives is the core strength for navigating economic cycles and provides clear guidance for entrepreneurs and investors.
Dan Bin delivered a profound and insightful presentation titled "Rooted in China, Going Global—Don't Let Down a Great Era," a feast of value investing that resonated strongly with the audience. He provided an in-depth analysis of the global economic landscape and industry trends, pointing out that the world is currently in the midst of the Fourth Industrial Revolution led by AI, a once-in-a-lifetime historical opportunity. China's capital market is entering a "slow bull" development phase, with massive amounts of private capital and innovative investment tools converging on high-tech and strategic resources. High-quality companies in sectors such as artificial intelligence, core resources, and innovative drugs are expected to stand out in global competition and become core assets that can weather economic cycles.
He emphasized that the core of investment lies in grasping the "main factors" and avoiding "noise," focusing on investing in "companies that change the world" and "companies that are not changed by the world." Faced with market volatility and short-term speculation, investors need to maintain patience and composure, stay away from speculation, adhere to value investing, and seize opportunities to position themselves during market panics—history has repeatedly proven that after a period of decline, the US stock market is often followed by subsequent recovery and growth. True value investing can often transcend bull and bear cycles, reaping the rewards of time.
Finally, Chairman Dan Bin addressed all Xiamen University MBA students, stating that China is in a period of magnificent development. Only by taking root in China, looking globally, and planning for the future with a long-term perspective can we live up to this great era and achieve mutual growth for individuals and enterprises amidst the tides of time.
Keynote Speech: Reflections on Furong: From Cultural Heritage to AI Breakthrough
I. Tracing the Origins of Furong: Patriotism in Cultural Heritage
At the beginning of his speech, Dr. Li Qiang placed a grand industrial narrative within the warm context of the university's history and culture. Starting from his hometown, Meishan Town (Furong Town) in Nan'an, he movingly recounted the great feat of founding Xiamen University with the generous investment of its founder, Mr. Chen Jiageng, and the touching chapter of the renowned patriotic overseas Chinese leader, Mr. Li Guangqian, passing on the torch and donating funds to build the Furong Building complex at Xiamen University. Two generations of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, bound together by "Furong," jointly wrote a century-old story of serving the country through education.
Drawing on his time studying at Jimei High School and his experience pursuing an MBA at Xiamen University, Dr. Li Qiang frankly stated that the spirit of Tan Kah Kee and the school motto of "Sincerity and Perseverance" have become internalized as his life's creed. This is not only his guiding principle but also the spiritual origin of his dedication to science and technology and his commitment to serving the country. He further puts his initial mission of supporting education into practice through concrete actions, actively promoting the establishment of Huarui Lepton School and striving to create a benchmark for international education. This cross-temporal cultural heritage infuses his subsequent hard-core industry sharing with a profound humanistic foundation.
II. Breaking Through the Barriers: A Second Entrepreneurship in the AI Track
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Dr. Li Qiang is filled with emotion. In 2001, coinciding with China's successful accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), amidst the wave of global transformation and national prosperity, he keenly seized the opportunity to found Honflex; in 2003, he formally established Honflex Electronics, and in 2017, he led Honflex Electronics to list on the capital market, becoming the "first stock in flexible electronics." However, in 2023, facing the dual pressures of geopolitical competition and the consumer electronics cycle, the company found itself in a strategic predicament where "there was no way to advance, and no way to retreat." On the verge of collapse, he decisively broke free from cognitive constraints, adhering to the belief that "offense is the best defense," and resolutely "went all in on AI," embarking on this second entrepreneurial journey of survival against all odds.
He describes himself as a "grandfather-generation entrepreneur," shedding the aura of a listed company chairman during his second venture and returning to a "grassroots" state: flying 175 times and traveling 220,000 kilometers throughout the year, living with his team in a cramped rented room, and remaining on the front lines even when unwell. He steadfastly upheld his "AI belief," assembling a seemingly unremarkable "makeshift team" to carve out a vibrant future in a completely new arena, successfully establishing a strategic framework driven by both "flexible electronics" and "inclusive computing power." This heartfelt sharing, characterized by "immersion in the field and facing challenges head-on," resonated strongly with the audience, eliciting dozens of rounds of enthusiastic applause.
Adhering to the core assertion that "the ultimate goal of computing power is energy," Dr. Li Qiang elaborated on Honflex Electronics' full-stack strategic layout of "computing and electronics integration": from investing in chips at the foundational level to build a diverse and compatible hybrid heterogeneous computing power base, to deeply cultivating the Qingyang National Computing Center... The power hub leverages its green energy advantages to invest in large-scale models and AI applications, creating a closed-loop industrial ecosystem. This self-reliant and controllable ecosystem, aiming to achieve "domestic chips, domestic models, and domestic applications," not only provides comprehensive computing power services but also offers a valuable practical model for real-economy enterprises to efficiently enter the AI field and achieve high-quality development.
III. Insights into the Times: China's Confidence in the "G2" Era
Regarding the current sweeping AI wave, Dr. Li Qiang proposed the "G2" model. He analyzed that the United States relies on original innovation, financial capital, core technologies, and top talent... While some countries possess advantages like talent, demonstrating a technological paradigm of "great power leads to miracles," they face concerns such as hollowed-out industrial chains, internal capital circulation, and huge sunk costs. Meanwhile, China, drawing on the systematic philosophy of "Fuxi's wisdom," is accelerating its leap from "hardware catching up" to "algorithmic breakthrough" thanks to its new national system, green energy reserves, massive application markets, and vast talent pool. In particular, the outstanding contributions of Chinese people in the global AI field, along with China's annual supply of 5 million STEM graduates, constitute the powerful driving force for the future development of China's AI industry. Dr. Li Qiang called for 99% of incremental wealth to come from new... In this era of technological innovation, entrepreneurs should maintain a continuous cycle of cognitive iteration and embrace change with an open mind.
At the end of his speech, Dr. Li Qiang sincerely invited his Xiamen University MBA colleagues and industry partners to join hands in building an ecosystem, seizing opportunities of the times, and embarking on a journey to the stars in the AI industry.
On January 3rd, Chairman Dan Bin and Professor Qu Wenzhou were invited to visit Honflex Electronics to learn about the company's strategic layout and core advantages in the two major fields of flexible electronics and inclusive computing power. The two sides sat down for a discussion, engaging in in-depth exchanges on topics such as industry development trends, technological innovation paths, and industrial upgrading directions.
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