chen qizong,Co-Chairman, Globalization Think Tank (CCG), Chairman, Hang Lung Properties, Hong Kong

On April 29, 2026, at the 35th anniversary celebration of the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, Dr. Chen Qizong had an in-depth dialogue with former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and former Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. From energy security to artificial intelligence, from investment philosophy to humanistic bridge building, this wise man who spans East and West and connects business and diplomacy has drawn a nautical chart for entrepreneurs in an era of uncertainty in search of certainty with his Middle East observation experience and decades of investment practice.

The end of the 1. AI race is electricity: the energy card of the power war.

"The end of the calculation is electricity." Citing the Action Plan for Promoting Two-Way Empowerment of Artificial Intelligence and Energy, jointly issued by four Chinese departments, Chen Qizong pointed out that the global AI race is on the surface a contest of computing power, but in fact a contest of power systems. He specifically mentioned the world's first 100 per cent green power direct supply data center in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia-this "electricity-based collaboration" model will redefine the rules of competition for AI infrastructure. Future investment decisions must consider energy costs in tandem with the layout of computing power, rather than looking at technology inputs in isolation. In the field of AI, "electricity bills" may be more decisive for the life and death of enterprises than "algorithm patents.

2. venture capital should be bold, real estate investment should be timid: the two-pole strategy in the periodic law.

Chen shares his investment philosophy across two sectors. In the field of venture capital (Morningside Venture Capital period), venture capital will not be without risk, ten shots and eight wins, is victory. Morningside investment Sohu, Ctrip, millet, etc., a number of landing NASDAQ.

In the real estate investment sector (during the Hang Lung Real Estate period), only top-level holding properties in top-level locations were invested, as these properties were the most resilient to crises. He reviewed the key decision before the Asian financial crisis in 1997-when his peers hoarded land at high prices, he did not buy a piece of land, and even sold the land to cash in HK $2 billion. After the crisis, he became a real estate giant. Different industries require completely different risk appetites. The key is to recognize where you are in the cycle-real estate developers who have not experienced two or three major cycles and big ups and downs are unreliable real estate developers.

3. Bridgebuilder Thinking: Reserving Social Capital for the Next Globalization Cycle

In the face of the cultural exchange fault under the political headwind, Chen Qizong showed the tenacity of a "bridge builder. He pointed out that Chinese undergraduates going to the United States have dropped from 153000 to 80000, which is a red flag. But he insisted on continuing to build the bridge, even though he didn't know which flyover would be useful. The channel for maintaining cross-cultural connectivity is to reserve social capital for the next cycle of globalization.

4. stick to the core competence is more important than stick to the industry

Chen Qizong refined the "five real estate genes" of Hang Lung Real Estate: the best location, sufficient land area, reasonable development plan, intelligent design and high-quality construction. He remains confident in the long-term growth of China's economy, but believes that the real estate trend is driven to small profits and high sales. He even encouraged entrepreneurs to change their profession is not a shame, when the industry dividend fades, it is more important to stick to the core competence than to stick to the industry. Lot faith is the anchor of Henglong's crossing cycle, and every enterprise needs to find its own "uncompromising".

5. Conclusion: The Temperature and Sharp of a Wise Man

Chen Qizong provides not only business judgment, but also a framework for thinking-transforming technology competitions into power layout, cyclical fluctuations into bipolar strategies, industry survival into individual survival, and political confrontation into bridge resilience. His judgment is calm and profound, and his verbal humor is sharp. In a fragmented world, this "bridge builder" who spans real estate and technology, connects business practice and diplomacy, and transmits wisdom, has drawn a navigation map for entrepreneurs to find certainty in uncertainty.

Article from Executive Education, HKU School of Economics and Management, 19 May 2024