October 31 is special not only because of Halloween but also thanks to our annual All Alumni Event — Swiss alumni gathering in Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA). swissnex China invited friends who had experience in Swiss university, now study or work in China. More than 120 participants debated on the topics of the Sino-Swiss Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as well as Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) and shared the moments!

Mr. Heinrich Schellenberg, Consul General of Switzerland, was giving an introduction speech.

Pascal Marmier, Executive Director of swissnex China, was giving an opening speech for the event.

Mr. Heinrich Schellenberg, the Consul General of Switzerland in Shanghai first welcomed our guests. He mentioned this year of FTA and the opening of FTZ would open more opportunities to Sino-Swiss relationship. The director of swissnex China Pascal Marmier, hosted the program and expressed pleasure to attract so many alumni for the event. For the pumpkin season, we had it decorated with handcrafted pumpkin lights.

Guest speaker Dr. Yejing Huang, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences.

Guest speaker Prof. Georges Haour, Professor at IMD in the area of innovation management and technology commercialization.

Prof. Huang Yejing, from Institute of World Economy, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, delivered a speech on New World Economy Agenda and Shanghai FTZ. And Prof. Georges Haour came from IMD, led the discussion regarding FTA. During the Q&A session, audiences from all kinds of background such as business, academy or government, raised questions at different standing-point.

Enjoyed the wine and catering, all participants had a wonderful night of the last day in October. People came to meet friends and make friends for further connection. Our “alumni wall” witnessed so many smiles and laughers. It would be another start for alumni network as well as the FTA collaboration. swissnex China took honor to connect people together for further network.