In Shanghai, HEC Celebrates 20 Years of Building Bridges Between China and France

On October 9, 2026, at The Peninsula Shanghai, HEC Paris brought together its Chinese and international community for an anniversary gala celebrating twenty years of presence in China. Through personal stories, tributes and musical performances, the evening honored the women and men who have helped shape this shared history, while looking ahead to the next twenty years.

The celebration gathered HEC Paris leadership, representatives of the French Consulate General in Shanghai, corporate partners and alumni from different generations. From the first EMBA China graduates to members of the Grande École, MBA, EMAC and Wisdom Frontiers Entrepreneurs Programme, attendees represented a community shaped by two decades of academic and economic exchanges between France and China.

Co-hosted by Cheng Changqing, a member of the HEC Paris Advisory Board, and Xu Ying, the School’s representative for Greater China, the gala alternated between institutional addresses and personal accounts. Éloïc Peyrache, Dean of HEC Paris, reflected on the School’s achievements since establishing its presence in China in 2006 and thanked the partners and alumni who have supported its development.

Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman of HEC Paris and L’Oréal, emphasized the importance of relations between China and Europe in shaping the world of tomorrow. Education, he noted, is a key driver of these relationships, fostering exchanges and mutual understanding across cultures. Referring to HEC Paris’s new campus project, he also called on Chinese alumni and entrepreneurs to help create a learning environment open to the world, where future generations can meet and build together.

Personal Journeys That Tell the Story of HEC in China

Beyond the formal speeches, several contributions gave the evening a more personal dimension. Leo Lui (H.84), former President of Hermès China, shared his perspective on the transformation of the Chinese market, which he first encountered in 1987. His career at Hermès, LVMH and L’Oréal gave him a close-up view of China’s economic opening, as well as the opportunities and challenges it created for international businesses.

The future was also at the heart of the address by Jean-François Palus (H.84), President of the HEC Foundation, who introduced the HEC Excellence Fund for China. The scholarship aims to enable more talented Chinese students to pursue their studies in France, strengthening ties between the two countries and expanding access to an international education.

The alumni community also played an active role in the celebration. Xue Jianrong, representing the 2007 EMBA China class, presented the School with a commemorative gift on behalf of her classmates. Another gift, from the HEC community in Qatar and presented by Joshua Kobb, who had traveled from Doha, highlighted the network’s international reach. These gestures reflected the connections built over the years, extending far beyond national borders.

The evening also recognized the dedication of two members of the local team, Xu Ying Elodie and Mo Song, who were honored for their loyalty and contributions to HEC’s development in China. A retrospective film then revisited the key milestones of the past twenty years, bringing to life the encounters and exchanges between students, professors, alumni and partners.

A Song to Look to the Future

Music added a distinctive touch to the celebration. Nathalie Yu, a 2015 EMBA China graduate, performed an original song entitled Dare the Impossible alongside French singer Anne. Inspired by HEC’s motto, the song became part of the School’s collective anniversary legacy when Yu officially transferred its copyright to HEC Paris following the performance.

From the first EMBA China cohort to the newest generations of graduates, the gala highlighted a story shaped by individual journeys, partnerships and collective commitment. Since opening its Beijing office in 2006, HEC Paris has steadily expanded its presence in China through its degree programs, executive education offerings and collaborations with local academic and business communities.

As the School looks toward the next twenty years, its ambition remains to strengthen educational and economic exchanges between China and Europe. In Shanghai, the anniversary celebration served as a reminder that, beyond institutions and programs, it is above all the connections between people that give this cooperation its depth and enduring strength.