In mid-May, more than 20 entrepreneurs joined Huazhi International for a six-day-five-night stay in Singapore.

We joined lectures at NUS and NTU, visited meeting rooms of Temasek, ByteDance, Huawei and Chop Kee Group, and explored local financial zones, tech parks and old lanes.

This is far from a regular study tour. Our mission in Singapore is clear: Why has this city-state become a key springboard for Chinese enterprises going global? What proven capabilities can we learn from local established firms and long-standing family businesses?

Below are the key takeaways from our classes and discussions.

1st Lesson

1st Lesson: Decode Singapore's Hub Logic to Read Southeast Asia

On Day 1 at NUS, the professor opened with a map instead of discussing AI or finance.

It compared Southeast Asia’s economic indicators: population, GDP growth, foreign investment and industrial maturity. He said asking if Southeast Asia is viable is wrong. Instead, figure out which country, stage and entry method works best for your business.

Vietnam expands fast in electronics assembly. Thailand has three decades of experience in automotive industry. Penang, Malaysia, is a key semiconductor testing & packaging base, and Indonesia owns rich resources and huge domestic demand. Small in scale, Singapore acts as the regional hub for headquarters, finance and R&D. Multinationals choose it for its prime location, transparent rules, free capital and talented workforce.

A manufacturing entrepreneur shared after the session: "Southeast Asia once seemed distant, but opportunities are within reach. The golden period only lasts 3-5 years, so we cannot afford to miss it."

Key takeaway questions: Where in Southeast Asia are your expertise most needed? Which market will you enter first?

2nd Lesson

2nd Lesson: AI — An Engine for What You Could Never Do Before

3rd Lesson

3rd Lesson: Temasek’s Edge — Mechanisms, Not Luck, Beat Cycles

The highlight of our itinerary was a sharing by Temasek’s ex-President of Public Affairs.

He skipped blockbuster investment cases, and spent one hour decoding Temasek’s governance model. As the sole shareholder, Singapore’s Ministry of Finance never intervenes in business operations. The board is led by external experts instead of internal insiders, and the management takes full responsibility for investment performance with strict evaluation for all deals.

Its core logic is straightforward and rigorous: let professionals make professional decisions, and control risks via systems and accountability.

An investment entrepreneur commented: “Sovereign funds weather market cycles not thanks to sharp judgment, but a decision-making mechanism that eliminates arbitrary choices.”

Long-term corporate competitiveness relies on sustainable governance systems instead of outstanding leaders. For globalizing companies, the core question is clear: do you manage overseas subsidiaries via assigned personnel or complete systems?

He left us a final question: Without your personal intervention, can your company’s decision-making system avoid critical errors?

Welcome to share your opinions in the comment section.

4th Lesson

4th Lesson: Web3.0 — Beyond Crypto, It’s Singapore’s Institutional Edge

Web3.0 is inseparable from finance talks in Singapore.

A local crypto finance expert noted that Web3.0 is first and foremost an institutional revolution. Singapore stands out as a digital asset safe haven for its clear rules, solid laws and reliable asset protection.

MAS enacted the Payment Services Act early on, licensing compliant players and clarifying operational rules. This regulatory certainty is highly valuable. For wealthy individuals and family offices, Web3.0 enables independent asset management and free cross-border flows, rather than speculative gains.

Global enterprises can leverage Web3.0 beyond token issuance. Blockchain delivers low-cost trust for cross-border payments, supply chain finance and digital copyright management.

Key takeaway questions: Can blockchain cut down excessive trust costs in your industry?

5th Lesson

5th Lesson: Legacy of Chopoh Keed: Mission Outlasts Wealth

At Chopoh Keed Group (TPC), entrepreneurs joined an understated yet inspiring sharing.

Originating from Shanghai, the four-generation century-old group now engages in green shipping, wellness communities and impact investment. It reshapes marine business via the Blue Economy, prioritizing eco-friendliness, energy efficiency and sustainability over speed.

Sustainability is seen as a growth engine rather than a cost. All projects are measured by both profits and social benefits. They integrate problem-solving into core business, instead of making donations as an afterthought.

Its take on legacy is truly impressive: the true inheritance lies in mission, not assets. The team aims to carry forward the wealth to pursue goals that past generations could not realize.

One attendee noted that doing the right thing aligns with long-term gains, and even underpins lasting profitability.

Key takeaway questions: If your business is to last a century, what is your core pursuit today?

6th Lesson

ByteDance and Huawei have presented two distinct approaches to globalization.

On the final two days of the trip, the entrepreneurs visited two Chinese enterprises that have taken different paths toward globalization.

During the visit to ByteDance's Singapore office, the team centered their sharing on organization. They noted that the essence of management lies in empowerment rather than control. They uphold candor and clarity to cut internal friction, and build a high-caliber talent pool to drive teams to grow independently. Globalization is not simply exporting products from China, but respecting the uniqueness of each local market, taking root and advancing steadily.

At Huawei, the discussion focused on how the dual engines of 5G and AI fuel Singapore's Smart Nation initiative. Huawei's core theme was foundational technologies. Guided by the tenets of customer-centricity and recognition for dedicated employees, the company adheres to persistent hard work. To Huawei, globalization is not mere expansion, but value co-creation. It prioritizes openness, collaboration and compliance, while delving deep into technologies and staying focused on core business.

The two Chinese companies have forged distinct paths. ByteDance prioritizes agility and organizational development, while Huawei focuses on in-depth cultivation and technological prowess. Yet they reach the same conclusion: the true competitive moat lies not in products or pricing, but in organizational capabilities, governance systems and the patience to take root in local markets.

A thought-provoking question from this experience: When you pursue globalization, do you rely on simple replication, or genuine local rooting?

The Final Lesson

Singapore itself is a profound lesson about rules.

Over the six-day trip, the entrepreneurs did not just stay in meeting rooms.

They wandered through Singapore's financial district, noticing wind corridors and green spaces nestled among skyscrapers. They visited various communities, where diverse ethnic groups live in harmony and integration. Lacking natural resources and a vast hinterland, the country has grown into a global benchmark thanks to sound rules, long-term planning and talent policies.

On the ride back, one participant shared: "The greatest takeaway for me is not the knowledge from lectures, but what I witnessed firsthand. How can a place short of resources grow into a world-class powerhouse? The answer lies in rules.

The more we abide by rules, the greater freedom we gain; the more we embrace long-term vision, the safer we stay."

This is perhaps the perfect summary of the entire trip.

Singapore is not a destination, but a new starting point for Chinese enterprises going global.

Rather than groping alone in the dark, let us stand on the shoulders of giants to see the way forward.

In 2026, we will lead more Chinese entrepreneurs to go on-site and explore the underlying logic behind the successful operation of enterprises expanding into Southeast Asia. What we strive to build is never an ordinary study tour, but an overseas learning journey where you come with questions and leave with practical solutions.