Global Century Press

The year 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the Global China Academy (GCA), which was founded in 2013 as CCPN Global. GCA’s operations are supported through outsourcing to experts in various fields, such as website design and maintenance, graphic design, translation, copy editing and more. Additionally, individuals who align with our academic and social missions significantly contribute on a voluntary basis. As an independent non-profit academic institution, our independence is evident in the transparency of our funding sources, which are available for scrutiny by anyone at any time, and in Global Century Press’s commitment to publishing uncensored work on China.

One of the panels of the 7th Global China Dialogue (GCD) was ‘Reforming the Institutions’. Professor Martin Albrow, Funding and Past Honorary President of GCA, encouraged the GCA to reform itself into a sustainable institution. In addition to leveraging existing publication revenues, GCD-based income and small fellowship subscriptions, in 2023 we initiated our own version of a ‘reform and opening-up policy’ which encompasses ‘outreach and invitation’, following consultation and approval from the GCA Board of Trustees. This innovative policy involves utilizing the property occupied by the GCA Centre to create funding opportunities through extensive networking. This page showcases some reform-related activities, outcomes, or potential long-term benefits.

From July 4-10, the GCA Fellows’ Home welcomed guests from Hong Kong and Macau. While the GCA Centre has previously hosted speakers and participants for GCA events, offering free accommodation in exchange for volunteer work, this occasion marked the first time it was opened to GCA friends for networking purposes, aiming to fulfil both academic and social missions. Introduced by Professor Xiangqun Chang’s golf friend, Kai Liang (an Ambassador of the Hampton Court Golf Club and Director of Business Development of MEL Science, second from the left in the left photo), Dr Pu Zhai (President for Ascendent Capital Partners (Asia) Limited, Hong Kong, first on the right in the left photo) and his daughters were accommodated at the Fellows’ Home. Dr Zhai introduced some of his friends to Professor Chang, including guests from Macau (third from the right in the left photo), Singapore (first and second from the left in the second photo), and London, including Dr Chen and her husband (first and second from the left in the right photo), and Dr Frank Guo (Chairman of New Beacon Group, in the middle of the second photo from the left).

Later in July, Dr Guo (middle in the right photo) attended a meeting with DU Yichao, who visited the UK in preparation for the Wuxi City delegation in August. He is Director of Wuxi Institute of New Culture, PhD student of UCL and GCA Associate.

On July 19, Professor Xiangqun Chang visited the home of Mr Mark Lee, GCA’s Graphic Designer, and Mrs Sarah Lee, GCA’s Librarian (both in the second photo above), in Sheffield. In addition to discussing GCA’s work, they enjoyed playing hide and seek in their ‘secret garden’ and explored unique rooms with different colours and their work studio. During their visit after the 7th Global China Dialogue in 2021, they contributed to the development of the GCA Centre’s five ‘walk and talk’ routes and enjoyed Routes 1 and 2. A few days later, Professor Chang hosted a farewell meal for the retired GCA Administrative Manager, Zhufeng Sheng (left in the fourth photo).

On July 22, the two Chinese sociologists whom Professor Chang met at SOAS in May visited the GCA Centre. They are Dr QIN Chen (who stands under the picture in the left photo), Associate Professor at Hohai University, and Dr YUE Shaohua (who is pictured with a family of four in the left photo), Associate Research Fellow at the Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences. Dr Yue’s wife, Dr ZHANG Haihua, is a Visiting Fellow at LSE from Nanjing Agricultural University. All of them graduated from Nanjing University under the supervision of either Professor SONG Linfei, former President of the Jiangsu Academy of Social Sciences and the Chinese Sociological Association, or Professor ZHOU Xiaohong, the founding Dean of the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences at Nanjing University. They enjoyed the GCA Centre’s ‘walk and talk’ route 2, which includes lunch and tea, offering a blend of leisure, learning, and physical activity to enhance the experience for visitors.

From August 6-7, Mr Kai Liang attended a meeting with DU Yichao at the GCA Centre in preparation for the Wuxi (London) Promotion Conference scheduled for August 9. The following day, Professor Chang met with Mr David Liu, Manager of the Brocket Hall Golf Club, and played golf with Mr Kai Liang and his son at the Winter Hill Golf Club. The preparations for the 7th Global China Dialogue: Governance for Global Health (GCD II) were discussed. A few days later, David’s family and relatives visited the GCA Centre. They all shared GCA’s social mission and expressed their support for GCD II.

From September 10-11, LI Li, the Founder and Honorary Curator of the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs Museum, spent two days at the GCA Fellows’ Home. She is a Visiting Fellow at the Fitzwilliam Museum and a Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge. The museum is located on the historical site of the Qing Dynasty trading posts in Guangzhou. It houses more than 6,600 artifacts, highlighting Guangzhou’s significant role in the ancient Maritime Silk Road and its exclusive maritime trade with Europe and America. A large number of Western-style products that incorporate Chinese elements showcase the shared beauty between China and the West during the 18th and 19th centuries, representing the outcomes of transcultural exchange. Their importance today highlights the early stages of globalization, emphasizing the critical importance of mutual understanding and cooperation in shaping a global society, international relations, and trade. During LI Li’s stay, she and Professor Chang visited the British Library, attended the ‘China’s Hidden Century’ exhibition at the British Museum, and played golf at Brocket Hall.

On September 13, some GCA colleagues gathered socially at the GCA Centre and Mill Hill Golf Club. Professor Martin Albrow (left in the right photo) discussed his upcoming trip to China in one month. Professor Xiangqun Chang shared her experiences of adopting a new lifestyle of living alone in an ’empty nest’ and ‘living with separation’ (Charles Stafford, 2003), after her husband, Dr Thomas Clarke (GCA Trustee, right in the left photo), moved to his father’s house after the COVID-19 and decided to stay there even after his father’s passing. Dr Frances Wood (2nd from the left in both photos) shared her knowledge about the history of the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs and expressed appreciation that GCP was considering publishing an oral history of Isabel Crook (1915-2023), whom she knew very well.

On October 13, Professor Xiangqun Chang and David Liu were invited by LI Li to attend Lucy’s Festival of Giving, where they met Dr Xin Fan (second from the right in the left photo), ‘a global citizen’ who has studied and taught at universities in China, Germany, the USA, and the UK. He serves as Director of Studies in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies and as a Teaching Associate in Modern Chinese History at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. Professor Chang and Dr Jane Greatorex exchanged their details at the high table. She is a Senior Tutor, Graduate and Undergraduate Tutor, Director of Studies in Pre-Clinical Part II Veterinary Medicine, and Honorary Scientist at Public Health England. The event provided a valuable opportunity for networking and sharing insights among professionals from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds, enriching the dialogue on global citizenship and interdisciplinary collaboration.

From October 27-29, during the Asian Art in London event, the GCA Centre welcomed Fellows and guests from Cambridge. The distinguished visitors included LI Li, Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College (LCC); Alison Vinnicombe, Praelector, Registrar, Archivist, and Dean of Discipline LCC; Dr James Lin, Curator of the Asia Department at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge; Jeni Kong, Trustee of the Confucius Better World Foundation and daughter-in-law to the 78th generation descendant of Confucius, notably the only person of non-Chinese ethnic; Rory Hutton, Designer at Rory Hutton Ltd; and Dr Kim Yahya, Principal Scientist at WaveBreak. David Liu played a key role in hosting the event. It is the first time the GCA Centre has received guests for non-GCA events. A total of eight individuals from eight different disciplines and five ethnic backgrounds came together, united by their shared interests. The discussions were engaging and filled with enthusiasm. Everyone felt that the GCA Centre truly deserved to be called a ‘Fellows’ Home’ and enjoyed being treated as such.

From November 7-10, Dr Yuan Cheng (second from the right in the left photo), a GCA Trustee, visited the UK. Coincidentally, she is a friend with Dr Pu Zhai from the Oxbridge Alumni Network. Following Dr Zhai’s recommendation in early July during his stay at the GCA Centre, Dr Cheng and Professor Chang met with some professionals suggested by Dr Zhai. These included Alan Fang (a lawyer, second from the left in the left photo), his wife Katie Zheng (a solicitor, first on the left in the left photo), Dr Ian Zhu (an accountant, first on the right in the second photo from the left), and Terry Ho (an accountant, second from the left in the second photo from the right). Many of them attended Rory Hutton’s ‘Gardening in Linocut’ exhibition, where they met LI Li, Rory, and Joni. They enjoyed the distinct styles of art on display and discovered elements of Chinese culture within them.

On December 7, participants and volunteers of GCD VIII took pleasure in preparing snacks and cakes for the Tea Party scheduled to be held at Lucy Cavendish College’s ‘Fellows’ Home’—Marshall House. WANG Conghan, a PhD candidate from Zhejiang Gongshang University (second from the left in the left photo), and SHA Yuze, a PhD candidate from Lancaster University (in the second photo from the left), created the Christmas Tree Cheese Ball Appetizer. MENG Jialin, an interpreter (featured in the right two photos), prepared an Italian Pandoro Christmas Tree Cake. Their contributions were greatly appreciated by the party attendees. Dr Jane Greatorex of LCC specifically mentioned their efforts in her email.

On December 11th, Dr QIAN Zhenhua met with GCA Treasurer Dr Thomas Clarke at the GCA Centre to discuss China’s complex global relationships, including Taiwan, South China Sea disputes, and its influence on ASEAN countries. They explored the challenges facing democracy, such as nationalism and misinformation. Dr Clarke inquired about China’s role in global progress. Dr Qian admired Clarke’s vision but cited challenges for Chinese influence due to internal and external factors.

On December 21st, before her departure back to China, together with LI Li, a farewell gathering was held at the GCA Fellows’ Home for LIAO Nong (left in the left photo), Chief Physician of the Plastic Surgery Department at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. She presented a paper on ‘Challenges faced by the medical beauty industry’ at the 8th Global China Dialogue on December 8th, 2023. During the gathering, LI Li expressed a strong desire to meet Dr Frances Wood to seek advice and resources for digitalizing the Guangzhou Thirteen Hongs Museum. The meeting was arranged with outdoor activities on February 4th, 2024. 

The middle photo was taken on February 10th when Dr. Frances Wood signed a copy of her book Betrayed Ally: China in the Great War for Professor Xiangqun Chang. Afterwards, they enjoyed the GCA Centre’s ‘Walk and Talk’ Route 4 on Chinese New Year Day. Coincidentally, Dr. Wood brought lily flowers and a fine China mug with William Morris’s design. He was a British textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement in the 19th century. The flowers brought by LI Li from Cambridge were placed at the end of the table near the window, which had more varieties.

The right photo shows the mug and plate were displayed at the GCA Centre. Both are masterpieces of decorative art, each carrying the uniqueness of its culture and history. The mug’s colors are relatively soft, dominated by greens and yellows, complemented by delicate floral patterns. In contrast, the Canton enamel plate is more vibrant, using a variety of colors, including pink, green, yellow, and blue. William Morris’s designs are typically representative of the British Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century, characterized by complex natural patterns, symmetry, and repetitive botanical motifs. The Canton enamel plate reflects the artistic style of the Thirteen Hongs period in Guangdong Province, China, famous for its rich colors, complex landscapes, and symmetrical decorations. The mug might be a product of industrial pattern printing, whereas the making of the Canton enamel plate might be more complex, involving multiple firings and hand painting. The mug is a daily use item for drinking liquids; the Canton enamel plate is more likely a decorative piece or a vessel for special occasions. William Morris’s designs reflect the socio-cultural background of late 19th-century Britain, emphasizing craftsmanship and anti-industrialization. The Canton enamel plate reflects the trade prosperity and cultural exchanges of Guangdong Province during the Thirteen Hongs period.

(Note: the last two photos and text were updated afterwards).

In conclusion, the year 2023 has been a landmark period for the Global China Academy (GCA), marking a decade of significant growth, outreach, and innovation since its inception. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, GCA has not only upheld its commitment to promoting academic exchange, research dissemination, and cultural communication but has also ventured into new territories with the implementation of the ‘Reform and Opening-Up Policy.’ Endorsed by the GCA board, this policy represents a strategic pivot towards utilizing GCA’s assets more effectively, thereby ensuring the institution’s sustainability and expanding its impact.

The diverse range of activities and engagements throughout the year underscores GCA’s role as a dynamic platform for fostering understanding and cooperation between China and the global community. The introduction of the GCA Centre and the establishment of the Fellows’ Home as a space for academic hospitality have further cemented GCA’s reputation as a forward-thinking and inclusive institution.

Through strategic collaborations, extensive networking, and a steadfast dedication to its mission, GCA continues to shape the dialogue on global governance, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration. As we reflect on the achievements of the past year and look forward to the future, it is clear that GCA is poised for even greater contributions to global academic and social missions, driven by a commitment to reform, openness, and mutual understanding. By embracing change, fostering innovation, and promoting inclusivity, GCA is redefining what it means to be a global academic institution in the 21st century.

• Click here to view 2023: The First Year of Implementing the ‘Reform and Opening-Up Policy’ at the GCA Centre (Chinese).
• Click here to view GCA’s Two-Day Team Building: Blending Academic Insight with Cultural, Historic and Nature Discovery.
• Click here to visit the GCA News & Blog section. 

Welcome to the official launch page for Board Excellence: Global Best Practice, a groundbreaking work that sets a new standard in corporate governance and board management. Edited by CHENG Yuan and LU Yuebing, and published by Global Century Press, this book is a must-read for board directors, policymakers, and business leaders seeking to navigate the complexities of today’s corporate world. It provides a comprehensive overview of effective board practices, combining research and real-world insights to foster leadership, culture, and strategic planning. Embrace the opportunity to elevate your organization’s governance with this essential guide.

This book is available in Chinese, with the Overseas Chinese edition incorporating select English elements to cater to a wider readership. This practice, a hallmark of Global Century Press, enhances the accessibility of the publication to non-native Chinese speakers or learners of the language. By blending English translations or summaries with the original Chinese text, the publisher not only broadens its market but also facilitates cross-cultural understanding and appreciation. This feature is especially useful for readers interested in Chinese studies, as it allows them to engage with the material more deeply and effectively, regardless of their proficiency in Chinese.

About the book

Board Excellence: Global Best Practice starts with the hardware elements of the board, such as board structure, key roles and responsibilities, and the board director’s skillset. The book also is composed of soft power such as board leadership and board culture, operational procedures, and board succession strategies. It articulates the key components of board excellence and how boards are run effectively. It provides insights and advice for board directors and leaders working at regulatory authorities, public companies, privately-owned companies, stateowned enterprises, joint ventures, and family-owned businesses, to elevate corporate governance and competitiveness.

The authors of Board Excellence: Global Best Practice have conducted doctoral research at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, respectively. Based on the authors’ long-time experience as consultants and senior executives, the book brings deep insights from collaboration with senior executives and board directors over the past few decades, together with Russell Reynolds Associates’ global research findings. It showcases the best practices of board directors from a global perspective for Chinese companies, regulators, and academic researchers. The book replies to the urgent demand and future trends of board leadership.

About the authors

As Non-Executive Chairman of Russell Reynolds Associates Greater China, Dr CHENG Yuan leverages her deep subject matter expertise and market insights to provide board advisory, CEO succession, and executive search services to leading multinational corporations and Chinese companies. CHENG Yuan is a member
of China Corporate Governance Expert 50 Forum, and an Advisory Board Member of Beijing Institute of Talent Development Strategy. She is also a Trustee of Global China Academy Board of Trustees. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Beijing Foreign Studies University and a D.Phil in Sociology from Oxford University.

Dr LU Yuebing is Chairman of the Board of Air Liquide (China) Holding Company and venture partner of B Capital. Previously, he has been senior executive as Vice Chairman of China Funds at Siguler Guff, Deputy President and Chief Investment Officer of China Jianyin Investment (the domestic investment arm of CIC), and managing director at Climate Change Capital. Additionally, his lead rship extends to various industries, having been Vice President at Alstom (China), Ford Motor (China), and Caterpillar (China). Dr. Lu is an honorary senior research fellow at Birmingham University. He holds a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Tsinghua University and a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Cambridge.

Contents

Prefaces
General Preface: Introduction to the ‘Understanding China and the World book series’ by ZHENG Hangsheng and Xiangqun Chang 
Preface 1 / CHU Xuping 
Preface 2 / GAO Minghua
Acknowledgments 
Chapter 1: Improving the board’s ‘hardware’ 
1.1 Board structure and independence 
1.2 Board committees 
1.3 The key roles on board and requirements 
1.4 The new trends of board and governance 
Chapter 2: Building board’s ‘soft power’ 
2.1 What is effective leadership of the board 
2.2 Fostering a board culture of collaborative governance 
Chapter 3: Operational excellence of the board 
3.1 Easing the onboarding process of new directors
3.2 Optimal behaviors of board directors 
3.3 Board leadership in times of crisis 
Chapter 4: The evolution of board excellence 
4.1 Planning board succession in advance 
4.2 Driving continued boardroom transformation 
4.3 Dealing with shareholder activism 
Chapter 5: Building board excellence 
References 
Appendixes
1 How will ChatGPT and other generative AI impact leadership? 
2 Activities of Chinese and global directors
Dual language information from Global Century Press
1 Abstract and about the author 
2 Table of contents
3 About the book series 
4 Global Century Press and its unique features
4.1 GCP creates a unique feature for a dual-language service with global and transcultural perspectives 
4.2 GCP style rules for rendering Chinese-English dual languages 
4.3 GCP style rules for punctuation marks in Chinese and English bilingual typesetting 
4.4 GCP style rules for Chinese and related names 
5 Other book series and journals published by Global Century Press 

As we conclude our introduction to the Board Excellence: Global Best Practice, we highlight its foundational role in shaping the leadership of boards today and in the future. The overseas Chinese edition, published by Global Century Press, features a unique bilingual introduction by the publisher and is slightly updated by the editors from the 2021 Mainland Chinese edition. It offers abundant knowledge and practical strategies for achieving corporate governance excellence. We encourage you to explore its pages to discover the secrets to successful board management. Click on this page now to get your copy and embark on the journey toward effective governance and improving organizational performance.

• Click here to view the Chinese page
• Click here to enter the book webpage at Global Century Press website to view details, download 80% of the chapters for free, or purchase the electronic, paperback, or hardcover edition of this book.

欢迎访问《卓越董事会：全球最佳实践》的官方发布页面，这是一部在公司治理和董事会管理方面树立新标准的开创性作品。该书由程原和路跃兵主编，并由环球世纪出版社于2023年12月31日出版。此书对于寻求在当今企业世界中导航复杂性的董事会董事、政策制定者和商业领袖来说，是必读之作。它提供了有效董事会实践的全面概述，结合研究和现实世界的洞见，以培养领导力、文化和战略规划。把握机会，用这本必备指南提升组织的治理。

本书是中文著作，海外中文版融入了一些英文元素，以满足更广泛的读者群。这是全球世纪出版社的一项特色服务，旨在提高出版物的可及性，使非母语中文读者或正在学习中文的读者也能够接触和理解。通过将英文翻译或摘要与原始中文文本相结合，出版社不仅扩大了其市场，还促进了跨文化理解和欣赏。这一特点对于对中国研究感兴趣的读者尤其有用，因为它允许他们更深入、更有效地与材料互动，无论他们的中文水平如何。

本书提要

本书从董事会“硬件”要素（如，董事会架构设置、角色定义和职权划分、成员和能力构成等）、“软件”要素（如，董事会主席领导力、董事会文化等）、运营程序及董事会继任等事项入手，全方位深入剖析高效董事会的构成要素和运作方式，为在中国市场的监管部门、各行业上市企业、私营企业、国有企业、合资企业、家族企业的高管和董事会完善公司治理、提升企业竞争力提供可据参考。

《卓越董事会》一书的两位作者分别于牛津大学和剑桥大学从事过博士研究。本书基于他们长期在全球顶尖领导力咨询机构或企业担任顾问及高管的实践经验，结合罗盛咨询在过去几十年与全球领先企业的高管层、董事会合作过程中积累的洞悉和经验，结合罗盛咨询独有的全球董事会调研结果的发现，为中国企业、市场监管机构和研究学者展现全球董事会的最佳实践，洞察当前时代背景下企业对董事会领导力的迫切需求和未来发展趋势。

编者简介

程原  博士，罗盛咨询大中华区非执行主席，凭借深厚的行业积累与市场洞见，为全球领先的跨国公司和中国企业提供董事会咨询、CEO继任、高管寻聘服务。程原是中国公司治理50人论坛专家和北京人才发展战略研究院（由北京市政府和北京大学联合组建）理事会成员。她也是全球中国学术院信托会成员。她拥有北京外国语大学文学士学位和牛津大学社会学博士学位。

路跃兵  博士，液化空气（中国）投资有限公司董事会主席，波士顿投资集团资深合伙人，伯明翰大学商学院荣誉资深研究员。曾任职于国务院发展研究中心，卡特彼勒，福特汽车，阿尔斯通，气候变化资本，中国建银投资和尚高资本。他拥有清华大学工学学士学位和剑桥大学经济学博士学位。 

目　录

序言
总序言：“读懂中国与世界系列丛书” 总序言 / 郑杭生 常向群 
序言一 / 楚序平 
序言二 / 高明华 
致 谢 
第一章　完善董事会“硬件”设置 
第一节    董事会结构及其独立性 
第二节    董事会专项委员会的设置 
第三节　董事会关键领导角色的要求和特质 
第四节    董事会最新发展趋势 
第二章    打造董事会“软实力” 
第一节    卓越领导力 
第二节　构建共治型高效董事会文化 
第三章    卓越运营 
第一节　快速融合新董事成员 
第二节　董事行为最优解 
第三节　危机下的董事会领导力 
第四章    卓越董事会的演化 
第一节　前瞻规划董事接班人 
第二节    推动董事会持续转型 
第三节    应对股东激进主义 
第五章    铸就卓越董事会 

参考文献 
附 录 
1.     ChatGPT 和其它生成式人工智能将如何影响领导力？
2.　中外董事对话及相关活动留影 
环球世纪出版社双语信息 
1. 提要和作者 
2. 目录
3. 关于本系列丛书 
4. 环球世纪出版及其独有特色 
4.1 本社以全球和转文化视野创造了双语服务的独有特色 
4.2 本社汉英双语显示体例 
4.3 本社汉英双语排版标点符号用法 
4.4 本社中文及相关名字英文显示体例 
5. 环球世纪出版社出版的其它系列丛书 

在我们结束对《卓越董事会：全球最佳实践》一书的简介时，我们强调此书作为当代及未来董事会领导力的基石角色。环球世纪出版社出版的海外中文版带有独特的出版社双语特色介绍，并由编者在2021年大陆中文版基础上略有更新，为实现公司治理卓越提供了丰富的知识和实用策略。我们鼓励您翻阅其页面，以发掘成功董事会管理的秘诀。立即点击此页获取您的一本，开始向有效治理和提升组织绩效的旅程迈进。

• 点击这里浏览英文网页
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