On June 29, 2025, a high-level roundtable forum 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 was successfully held at the NIO House in Amsterdam. The event was jointly organized by the VNC (China-Netherlands Friendship Association), MEEEI, IPCF (Stichting Interculturele Participatie van Chinese Families), and Chinese School Amsterdam. It brought together professionals, scholars, and community members from across the Netherlands for meaningful conversations on cultural integration, diversity, education, and digital transformation.
The forum featured eight roundtable sessions, each led by one of eight distinguished guest speakers. Every speaker hosted two interactive discussions on topics such as education reform, digital innovation, gender equality, community visibility, and cross-cultural business. The guest speakers included:
• Frans Greidanus – Former CTO Asia and Head of Research at Philips, currently a board member of the VNC, with decades of experience in international leadership across corporate and academic fields;
• Mo Chen – Former Executive Officer at Tata Steel and Vice President of PWN Netherlands, committed to building inclusive workplaces and advocating gender-balanced leadership;
• Valérie Hoeks – Managing Partner at China Inroads and executive coach, with over 20 years of experience in Sino-European business and cultural consultancy;
• Bin Guo – Head of Automotive Chip Business in Europe at one of the world’s top three semiconductor foundries, with deep expertise in IC development and strategic operations;
• Peter Gill – Cultural connector and author of West Meets East: Understanding Chinese-Speaking Societies, known for bridging East and West through storytelling;
• Bei Wang – Researcher and consultant in digital media and business ecosystems, lecturer in Creative Business, and keynote speaker at international events, focusing on digital innovation and sociocultural change;
• Bo Chen – International educator, principal of Chinese schools in The Hague and Amsterdam, EU facility manager and PhD researcher, with a focus on Chinese youth in the Dutch education system;
• Lianne Baaij – Founder of China Access and board member of VNC, cross-cultural trainer and translator with over 30 years of Sino-Dutch business experience.
Throughout each roundtable, speakers brought forward valuable insights from their respective fields and encouraged participants to share their perspectives. The discussions were lively, in-depth, and highly relevant to current societal challenges. Many attendees commented that time was too short to explore everything in full, and continued conversations well after the sessions ended. Contact details were exchanged, and there was clear enthusiasm for ongoing dialogue and collaboration.
Thanks to the thoughtful planning of the organizers and the dedication of the volunteer team, the event ran smoothly and was widely praised by all involved. The forum not only provided a platform for open and inclusive cross-cultural discussion but also highlighted the vital role of digital technology in fostering connection, understanding, and innovation between communities.
Participants expressed their appreciation to the organizing associations and voiced strong interest in future events of similar quality and depth.
