Global China’s Urban Soft Power

🎙️ Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dr. Lola Woetzel, Visiting Professor of Global China Studies and former Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. In this episode of Mapping Global China Conversations, Dr. Woetzel shares her profound insights into China's urbanization journey, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the transformative power of urban development.

🎙️ Guest: Dr. Lola Woetzel

• Visiting Professor at NYU Shanghai.

• Former Senior Partner and Director at McKinsey Global Institute.

• A visionary in urban development and global infrastructure strategy.

📚 Topic: China's Urbanization and Its Global Influence: Exploring Nanjing Road, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and the Future of Cities.

🔍 Discussion Highlights:

1. Shanghai's Nanjing Road Revitalization Discover how Dr. Woetzel led a groundbreaking urban transformation, balancing Shanghai's heritage with modern needs.
2. China's Distinctive Urbanization Model Learn how centralized land ownership and decentralized decision-making propelled China's rapid urban growth.
3. Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Understand BRI as China's foreign policy tool, its impact on global infrastructure, and the challenges of integrating investments into local ecosystems.
4. Soft Power through Infrastructure Explore the interplay between Chinese infrastructure projects and soft power, with a critical look at their global perception.
5. Reimagining Global Cities Hear Dr. Woetzel’s vision for hybrid, collaborative urban projects that integrate the best of global and local practices.