On the evening of May 14, a virtual lecture was given at the office building of the municipal government. As the first virtual edition of Beijing International Lecture, it featured Deloitte experts who, from three different cities, provided insights on “COVID-19: its impact on and the response of the global industry and supply chains.” Chen Jining, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Municipal Committee and Mayor, attended the lecture.

Beijing International Lecture is an international, high-level, and mobile think tank that was established by the municipal CPC committee and government in 2018. It invites internationally renowned entrepreneurs, scientists, experts, and scholars to introduce latest information and provide ideas and advice for the development of Beijing. This time, experts from London, Los Angeles, and Toronto presented special reports online for the leaders of city government, relevant departments, the city's 16 districts and Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area, and answered questions from attendees. Deloitte Global Chairman Sharon Thorne, Chief Economist Kalish, and Supply Chain and Network Operations leader Kilpatrick used detailed data charts and case studies to illustrate the impact of the pandemic on global economy, industry chain and supply chain. They also put forward suggestions on the development of related industries. In the Q&A segment, the municipal government leaders and department heads conducted in-depth discussion with the experts on issues such as changes in the industry and supply chains and how to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on industries.

Chen Jining thanked Deloitte's expert team for their wonderful reports. He emphasized that Beijing would resolutely implement the strategic decisions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, rationally review the challenges and opportunities brought by the epidemic, coordinate efforts on the epidemic control as well as economic and social development, and strive to minimize the impact of the epidemic by stepping up efforts to ensure stability on six fronts (employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations) and maintain focus on six priorities (job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of primary-level governments). It is also important to closely track and analyze the progression of the epidemic and economic trends at home and abroad and take effective measures to stabilize the supply chain; to strengthen communication with foreign-funded enterprises so as to help them solve problems concerning business development and attract more excellent companies and projects to settle in this city; to accelerate the AI-based technological reform in enterprises and advance the application of important technologies such as blockchain, 5G, and cloud computing; to guide and engage enterprises in the Belt and Road Initiative and encourage them to make progress in globalization.

Municipal leaders Cui Shuqiang, Yin Yong, Zhang Jiandong, Sui Zhenjiang, Lu Yan, Yang Bin, Wang Hong, Zhang Jiaming, Yang Jinbai and Qi Yanjun, and Secretary General of the Municipal Government Jin Wei also attended the lecture.