FHNW hosts lecture by Dr Urs Lustenberger on the theme of China’s Role in the Current World

Switzerland — October 22, 2025. The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW) welcomed Dr Urs Lustenberger — Fellow of Singularity Academy, President of SwissCham Asia, and Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Switzerland — for a public lecture offering a balanced examination of China’s changing position in the world order.

Speaking to an audience of students, academics, business leaders, and diplomats, Dr. Lustenberger framed China’s trajectory as a topic of “lively, ongoing debate” across policy, business, and scholarly circles. His talk, “China’s Role in the Modern World: A Comprehensive Overview,” surveyed the drivers of China’s rise as well as the structural constraints that may shape its next phase.

• Strategies and economic foundations

Central to the analysis were national frameworks such as “Made in China 2025” and the Belt and Road Initiative, which Dr. Lustenberger described as signals of Beijing’s long-term ambitions in advanced manufacturing, clean technologies, and international connectivity. According to figures cited in the lecture, China is the world’s second-largest economy and a major engine of global growth, underpinned by a middle class of more than 400 million consumers and targeted industrial upgrading in sectors including electric vehicles, clean energy, and unmanned systems.

Infrastructure and industrial capacity

The lecture highlighted China’s large-scale infrastructure build-out — from high-speed rail to logistics hubs — as a foundation for productivity and market integration. Dr. Lustenberger emphasized that operational “process know-how” and the ability to execute complex projects at speed remain key competitive advantages for Chinese industry.

• International engagement and tensions

On geopolitics, Dr Lustenberger outlined how economic and technological capabilities have translated into more active participation within multilateral bodies and a greater desire to shape global governance agendas. He noted that these trends have also produced areas of friction with Western powers, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, where security concerns and competing strategic visions are in sharper relief.

• Risks, constraints, and governance challenges

Balanced against strengths, the lecture examined structural headwinds — including demographic shifts, elements of resource allocation, and governance challenges — that could complicate China’s growth path. Dr Lustenberger encouraged moving beyond binary narratives, suggesting that policy outcomes will likely be mixed across domains and time horizons.

Implications for global leadership

Looking ahead, Dr Lustenberger invited participants to consider how the international system might accommodate China’s aspirations while sustaining cooperation. He argued that pragmatic engagement, clear guardrails, and issue-specific coalitions could help manage competition and preserve stability. The central question, he suggested, is not simply whether power is “shifting,” but how institutions and stakeholders adapt to a more plural global economic and governance landscape.

About the speaker: Dr Urs Lustenberger is a Fellow of Singularity Academy, President of SwissCham Asia, and Honorary Consul of the Philippines to Switzerland. His professional focus spans international business, cross-border investment, and Swiss-Asian economic relations.

About FHNW: The University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland is one of the country’s leading universities of applied sciences, known for its close ties to industry and public institutions and its commitment to research-informed teaching.