For most of 2011 China’s economy has enjoyed steady economic growth hovering at a rate slightly above 9%. Experts continue to debate whether China will continue to sustain this level of growth in the next five years. There are numerous factors to consider when weighing in to this debate including the internationalization of the RMB, the growth of the domestic market for consumer goods, debt considerations, the development of new industries such as cleantech, and long-term capacity for innovation, especially among young start-ups that may hold great potential.

The SEC and PCAOB have for many years been locked in negotiations with the Chinese government to allow the release of audit information concerning Chinese companies attempting to list in the U.S. Uncertainty and a lack of transparency have made investors hesitant to involve themselves with Chinese companies, and this has driven down the price of even the best Chinese stocks. Will China’s claims of state sovereignty continue to prevent sufficient PCAOB audit inspections, and will this issue ultimately lead to widespread liquidity problems and delistings amongst Chinese companies? This presentation will discuss recent developments in regulatory actions towards U.S.-listed Chinese companies.

Investigations into accounting fraud and inconsistencies by U.S. regulatory bodies such as the SEC have caused many Chinese companies to reconsider their decision to list on U.S. stock exchanges. In fact, as of mid-January, it was reported that 20 of the 230 Chinese companies listed on the New York or Nasdaq stock exchanges had announced plans to go private. Will this trend continue to unfold and how will it affect other listings? What are the risks and opportunities presented to investors? This panel will discuss the state of U.S.-listed Chinese companies, as well as trends and challenges these will face going forward.

Though China has been the launching pad for some of the most successful companies during the past decade, entrance into the international marketplace presents a number of obstacles that are not apparent when business is domestically contained. Chinese companies consistently rank the acquisition and retention of talent as key consideration when expanding abroad, while other hot-button, equally pressing issues, such as branding, marketing, reputation and sustainability are often neglected. This discussion will explore future obstacles and strategies employed by Chinese corporations in accessing the U.S. market and positioning themselves as global leaders.

Stock markets worldwide have been affected by a slower than expected recovery in the United States and European debt crises, forcing many Chinese companies to put their IPOs on hold and instead opt for a listing on Hong Kong or on domestic exchanges. Needless to say, the possibility of New York being unseated as the global financial capital is very real, with China leading the global IPO market for two consecutive years. Will tougher standards for U.S.-listed Chinese companies lead to higher quality listings, or will we soon see a shift to the East, as predicted by a number of industry players? This panel will discuss the outlook for Chinese IPOs and future development of global markets for the years to come.