7TH EDITION
27 FEBRUARY - 29 MARCH 2026
GHENT
DEBATE
China Decoded 2.0 - Beyond the clichés of the Middle Kingdom 中国
On the final day of the Made in China Festival, three experts — each with their own background and perspective — enter into conversation. Journalist and author Tom Van de Weghe lived in China for five years as a VRT correspondent and recently published Back to China (Terug naar China). Sinologist and entrepreneur Pascal Coppens worked for twenty years in Shanghai and Silicon Valley and recently authored China’s Next Miracle. Jun Jiang, founder of China Connect, has been building bridges between Chinese and European business cultures for decades.
Together, they offer a conversation that is rarely held: open, well-informed, and attentive to the complexity that evokes both fascination and, at times, discomfort. First-hand insights, sharp where necessary, and a willingness to embrace complexity rather than shy away from it. A conversation for those who want to look beyond the headlines.
Who's Who
TOM VAN DE WEGHE is the author of the new book Back to China. From 2007 to 2012, he was the first VRT correspondent in Beijing, after which he headed the Washington bureau until 2016. Tom is an expert on Asia, geopolitics, and technology at VRT NWS. Since 2024, he has been the curator of Wintercircus Ghent.
PASCAL COPPENS is a sinologist, entrepreneur, and international keynote speaker with more than twenty years of experience in China and Silicon Valley. He began his career at Alcatel in Shanghai and later founded several technology companies in both Silicon Valley and China. Today, Pascal is a partner at nexxworks and the author of China’s Next Miracle.
JUN JIANG is the founder of China Connect, a consultancy firm that brings together Belgian and Chinese companies. Born and educated in China, she moved to Belgium in 1988, where she began her career as an interpreter at the Belgian Court of Appeal. With her extensive network and in-depth knowledge of both Chinese and European business cultures, Jun helps companies navigate the complexities of the Chinese market.
