IBSS Strikes Gold at National BRI Negotiation Competition

Students from the International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) have won a Gold Award at the 2025 Belt and Road Negotiation competition, held at the East China University of Political Science and Law, in Shanghai, on 11 May 2025.

Representing the Government Delegation, the IBSS team impressed judges with their composure, policy insight and persuasive diplomacy across a number of competitive rounds. They advanced through intense preliminary stages to reach the semi-finals, where they outperformed four other top-performing teams from across China to claim first place in their category.

This year’s competition brought together delegates from 68 leading universities such as Fudan University, Shanghai Jiaotong and Tongji University. The event simulated real-world negotiations centred on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and was delivered entirely in English. Students took on stakeholder roles – including governments, corporations, intergovernmental organisations and non-governmental organizations – and were challenged on their cross-cultural communication, strategic thinking and real-time negotiations skills.

List of Gold Award Winners   

• Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University – Government Delegation Gold Award
• Shanghai Jiao Tong University – IGO Delegation Gold Award
• Tongji University – Enterprise Delegation Gold Award
• Sichuan University – NGO Delegation Gold Award

In addition to the team win, three IBSS students received individual honours:

• Shaun Stephen Quinn - Law Advocacy Award
• Jiawen Li - Public Speaking Award, and
• Li Jann Orwell Sablay - Diplomacy Award.

The IBSS team’s achievement highlights the growing reputation of the School as a proponent for practice-based business education, with a strong emphasis on graduate employability and international outlook.

This success is a testament to the hard work and commitment of both the students and coaches involved, as well as IBSS’s broader dedication to experiential learning. Through opportunities like this, students are encouraged to step beyond the classroom and apply their knowledge in practical settings that mirror real-world business and policy environments.

Dr Soljee Lee, one of the lead coaches, emphasized the importance of such experiences: “Participating in events like these is important and valuable for our students, as it offers a meaningful opportunity to experience the complexities and challenges of real-world negotiation—something they will inevitably encounter in their future professional lives, especially being trained to thrive in diverse global contexts.”

As the 2025 Belt and Road Negotiation Competition draws to a successful close, we extend our deepest appreciation to all contributors whose expertise and dedication made this transformative experience possible. Through the judges’ discerning insights, coaches’ unwavering mentorship, staff’s meticulous coordination, and volunteers’ enthusiastic support, participants have not only honed their professional competencies but also cultivated confidence, camaraderie, and a profound sense of belonging—qualities that will endure beyond this competition.