The press conference for the "Beijing Auto · 2nd Asia-Pacific Business Schools Grassland Challenge" was held in the afternoon of May 13, 2017, in Beijing. Nearly 100 attendees, including representatives from the local political consultative conference, business school deans from participating universities, and members of the media, were present at the event.
Chen Siying, Vice General Manager of Beijing Auto Sales Co., Ltd., attended the press conference as the representative of the title sponsor for this event. Also present were: Fan Linghua, Vice Chairman of the Ulanqab Political Consultative Conference; Zhou Yu, Director of the MBA Program Center at Renmin University of China’s School of Business;Yang Haoxiong, Deputy Dean of the School of Business at Beijing Technology and Business University; Luo Xinqing, Director of the MBA & MTA Education Center at Beijing International Studies University; Jia Chongyue, Director of the Air Rescue Office at the Beijing Red Cross 999 Emergency Center; Yang Rongxing, former President of the Beijing MBA Alliance; Wang Wenchao, Director of the Grassland Challenge Organizing Committee; Mao Chenglin, Secretary-General, and others.
At the press conference, Mr. Mao Chenglin, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee, gave the opening remarks. He introduced the founding purpose and history of the Asia-Pacific Business Schools Grassland Challenge, and expressed heartfelt thanks to the People's Government of Ulanqab City, the Ulanqab Political Consultative Conference, and Beijing Auto Sales Co., Ltd. for their strong support of this event. He also announced that registration for the Beijing Auto· 2nd Asia-Pacific Business Schools Grassland Challenge officially opens today.
Speech by Mao Chenglin, Secretary-General of the Organizing Committee
Fan Linghua, Vice Chairman of the Ulanqab Political Consultative Conference and local government leader, delivered a speech in which he provided a detailed introduction to the event’s host city,— Ulanqab, known as the “Eighth Ring Road of Beijing,” and to Huotengxile, hailed as the “World’s Pristine Flowering Grassland.” He noted that the decision to hold the Grassland Challenge in Huotengxile demonstrated strategic vision. Chairman Fan also invited students from various universities to experience running under the blue skies and white clouds amid the region’s four iconic features: “Summer Capital,” “Wind Power Capital,” “Potato Capital,” and “Grassland Leather Capital.”
Speech by Fan Linghua, Vice Chairman of the Ulanqab Political Consultative Conference
Zhou Yu, Director of the MBA Program Center at Renmin University of China’s School of Business,mentioned in his speech that MBA education is not confined to the classroom; it also requires experiential learning through real-world, second-classroom practices. Innovation remains a constant theme in MBA practice in the new era. In its preparation, the Grassland Challenge has continuously embodied innovative integration between MBA sporting events and the Ulanqab local government, as well as cross-school resource collaboration.
Renmin University of China’s School of BusinessMBA Program Center Director Zhou Yu Delivers a Speech
Chen Siying, Vice General Manager of Beijing Auto Sales Co., Ltd., stated at the conference that for half a century, Beijing Auto has remained committed to delivering military-grade quality to consumers and building products around the spirit of global off-roading. The company has also been seeking partners that align with its brand culture, aiming to enhance brand influence through social marketing. In doing so, it showcases the exceptional quality of its own-brand vehicles while infusing more cultural and fashionable elements. Over the next50 years, Beijing Auto will continue to build a brand that emphasizes both quality and style, ushering in a new chapter of development for its own-brand vehicles.
Beijing Auto sees great potential in the Grassland Challenge — a sports IP that targets business elites and leverages sports as a platform for business opportunities.It also strongly endorses the event’s philosophy of “Ideal, Practice, Responsibility.”
Speech by Chen Siying, Vice General Manager of Beijing Auto Sales Co., Ltd.
Having been a sponsor last year, Beijing Auto has decided this year to become the title sponsor and strategic partner of the Grassland Challenge. It will collaborate deeply with thisIP brand, increasing its sponsorship in terms of funding and logistical support vehicles to help ensure the success of the Beijing Auto · 2nd Asia-Pacific Business Schools Grassland Challenge.
It is reported that Beijing Auto will also coordinate with local car clubs to provide20 high-performance off-road support vehicles for the event. These will serve as official transport for guests, media broadcasting, and track rescue during the competition. The Organizing Committee will also set up a dedicated sales channel for local Beijing Auto dealers at the event site, where attendees can catch a glimpse of the flagship models from Beijing Auto’s off-road heritage series.
The Grassland Challenge is scheduled tocommence with team gatherings in Ulanqab on July 21, and the official opening ceremony will be held on July 22. Participants will depart from the Wuquetai Troop Review Site, and take on marathon challenges on foot and by off-road vehicle across the Huotengxile Grassland — one of the world’s three best-preserved alpine flower meadows. Along the route, participants will enjoy stunning views of blue skies, white clouds, flower-filled grasslands, birch forests, and vast wind farms. The organizing committee will also offer local specialties at supply stations, allowing runners to experience both the grassland culture and cuisine while taking in the breathtaking scenery.
This event is expected to attract participation fromover 30 business schools, with approximately 1,000 attendees including participants, family and friends, media, event staff, and security personnel. After the competition on July 23, all participants will return to Ulanqab to attend a celebration banquet and awards ceremony at noon, along with a traditional Mongolian-style bonfire party.
At the press conference, the Grassland Challenge Organizing Committee announcedthe official launch of the "Beijing Auto · 2nd Asia-Pacific Business Schools Grassland Challenge." Subsequent activities such as university promotional sessions and elite training camps will proceed according to schedule. The event aims to become a major platform achieving a win-win situation for local governments, sponsors, and MBA participants.
The opening ceremony of the event