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BRUSSELS, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The CEO of the insurance companyAXA Belgium Jef Van In has applauded in an exclusive interview withXinhua the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)with Chinese bank ICBC in Europe as a mark of new beginning thatwill lead to win-win cooperation.
"As CEO of AXA Belgium, I clearly welcome the memorandum.Through ICBC Europe, we will be able to increase our presence andstake in China's insurance market," Van In said.
As for the choice of ICBC as a partner, Van In explained thatICBC is the number one bank in China and has a very prominent basein Brussels.
The CEO sees China as a market with great potential.
"I see China's rise as a massive shift from an export-driveneconomy to a service economy, and to a green economy. As aneconomist, green economics is business opportunity like any other,"said Van In.
He further recalled his recent journey to Shanghai, China'slargest city and a global financial hub, to explain why he'sconfident about China's potential.
"I went to Shanghai with AXA representatives, and it was a greatchance to learn about how things work there; for example, one-commerce. It is very advanced, and what the consumer can do withsuch services is inspirational. We should learn from that as well,"said Van In.
The CEO also talked about the Belt and Road Initiative proposedby China, saying that "Having peaceful relations is a keyingredient for successful trade" and "Trade is a very stabilizingfactor, and not the other way around".
He believes that the Belt and Road Initiative is a similaranalogy.
"As it always is in Business, people see opportunities and seizethem. Of course, there is a lot of work that needs to be done.(But) It's a start of new avenues of growth. I am an economist, andwherever there is trade, there is opportunity for mutualrelations," said Van IN. Enditem
