Innovative governance key to city’s soft power status

By Wang Yanlin | October 28, 2013, Monday |

Print Edition

Shanghai should aim to promote the image of the city, innovate on governance, protect the cultural heritage and retain talented professionals to enhance its soft power competitiveness, participants at the 25th International Business Leaders’ Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai said yesterday.

The annual meeting, initiated in 1989 by then Shanghai Mayor Zhu Rongji, gathers top executives from the world’s best corporations for their views on economy and social development of the city.

“Shanghai shares similarities with Singapore as it is where the East meets the West,” said Kishore Mahbubani, the keynote speaker at the meeting and a professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of National University of Singapore.

“Shanghai should preserve such a unique identity, and build up soft power through improvement in transparent governance, encouragement of multi cultures, protection of green space, and openness to English,” Mahbubani said.

His opinions were echoed by CEO of WPP Group Martin Sorrell.

“In order to improve the city’s image and build the brand of Shanghai worldwide, openness, diversity, inclusivity and innovation are key soft power qualities that we should be looking to strengthen,” Sorrell told the gathering of more than 500 people, including consul generals, senior government officials, heads of state-owned and private enterprises.

In order to strengthen Shanghai’s soft power, the city needs to craft its identity, embrace the digital age and harness creativity, Sorrell said.

Orit Gadiesh, chairman of management consultancy Bain & Company Inc, said young talented professionals are crucial in developing Shanghai’s soft power, and the city can learn from the experiences of other international cities such as New York or London to develop its competitiveness in soft power.

But Peter Loescher, former president and CEO of Siemens AG, said in a presented paper that Shanghai should not make the mistake of copying other cities in developing its brand identity.

“By definition, an identity is unique,” Loescher said. “It should highlight the characteristics that set Shanghai apart from other cities.”

Loescher suggested Shanghai should be given a human face by making its citizens more visible in the international community.

Klaus Kleinfeld, chairman and CEO of Alcoa, said Shanghai must address environmental challenges stemming from the city’s industrial base that act as an impediment to attracting, retaining and motivating world class talents.

ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer said smart technology is needed for intelligent upgrading for China’s next level of urbanization and industrialization. Shanghai can serve as a linchpin during that time.

Daniel F Akerson, chairman and CEO of General Motors Co, said in a presented paper that the ultimate measure of a city’s soft power can be determined by answering a simple question: Does a city exhibit the quality of life that I would want for my family and for my employees to work and live?

In the case of Shanghai, Akerson said his answer was a resounding “yes.”

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