From 17 to 18 November 2025, the high-level strategic program and thought-leadership event "Business & Philanthropy Forum 2025" was successfully held in Singapore. Members of royal families, leading academics, philanthropic pioneers, technology giants, capital leaders and well-known public figures gathered in the Lion City to discuss the most pressing issues in Asia's business and philanthropy landscape, explore cutting-edge strategies and innovative solutions, and jointly drive new trends in wealth management and global development. Benjamin Fok, Director of the Fok Ying Tung Foundation, served as Chairman of the forum and shared his practical experience in family businesses, impact investing and innovative philanthropy. Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, Mr Seah Kian Peng, delivered a dedicated address calling for "combining capital with wisdom and empathy" to drive impact investment in healthcare, education, energy and other sectors, and to deepen cross-sector collaboration and more diversified forms of philanthropy.
Aaron Gu of Han Kun Law Offices was invited to attend the Forum and to moderate the panel discussion "From Local Success to Global Markets: Proven Pathways for Scaling Up". Drawing on China's rapid rise in global pharmaceutical deal-making and his extensive cross-border transactional experience, Mr. Gu engaged in in-depth and productive exchanges with representatives from leading innovative biopharmaceutical companies – including BeOne Medicines, Innovent Biologics and 3SBio – on key topics such as pharma companies' globalization paths and international business expansion.
During the panel discussion, Mr. Gu engaged in an in-depth conversation with representatives from leading innovative biopharmaceutical companies on the strategic topic of pharma companies "going global". Drawing on his long-term observation and professional insights into different globalization pathways, Mr. Gu and the panelists discussed how companies can choose differentiated deal pathways, capture global partnership opportunities and maximize transaction value, while taking a closer look at the key attractions and major challenges Chinese innovative pharma companies are facing in the global markets today. Building on his extensive practical experience, Mr. Gu further exchanged views with the panel on priority focus areas and common pitfalls in global expansion, strategies for avoiding homogeneous competition, and longer-term considerations for building a sustainable international growth journey.
Following the engaging panel discussion, Stellar Biotech and iiMedia Research jointly unveiled the "2025 Top 40 Chinese Innovative Drug Companies Leading Global Expansion" list. This ranking is based on a multidimensional assessment of R&D strength, revenue scale, market performance, overseas footprint and product pipelines, and identifies benchmark Chinese pharmaceutical companies that demonstrate exceptional innovation and commercial potential amid the current wave of globalization. The release of this list not only represents authoritative recognition of these leading companies, but also provides the industry with a highly instructive roadmap for going global, helping China's pharmaceutical innovation power set sail onto the international stage.
Since its inception in 2016, the Business & Philanthropy Forum has been rooted in Asia with a global outlook, staying closely attuned to waves of technological change, and continuously opening up frontier opportunities for values-driven impact investing and cross-sector innovation. As a pioneering Asian platform advocating "Wealth for Good" and "Business for Good" among wealth owners and capital influencers, the Forum brings together family businesses, impact investors and innovation leaders from around the world to explore how business acumen can be harnessed for social good. It focuses in depth on strategic philanthropy, family succession, impact and sustainable investment, while recognizing the pivotal role of wealth creation in Asia and mobilizing Asia's business and philanthropic communities to participate in shaping the global agenda.
Aaron Gu's Profile
Mr. Gu specializes in corporate, regulatory compliance, and transactional services for life sciences, biopharmaceutical, medical and healthcare industries, including biosecurity and human genetic resource issues, clinical trial matters, product marketing authorizations, GxP compliance, Spin off-NewCo transactions, drug licensing and collaboration, as well as regulatory issues involved in venture capital and private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and foreign and outbound investments in the life sciences industries. Specifically, Mr. Gu's services cover a full range of products including drugs, medical devices, IVDs, cosmetics, general foods, special foods, animal drugs, animal foods, etc.
Mr. Gu has extensive experience representing various types of companies in the life sciences industry, including renowned multinational pharmaceutical companies, leading Chinese innovative drug and biotechnology companies, and top domestic and international investment institutions. Mr. Gu has co-authored the China section of Chambers Life Sciences Global Practice Guide (2022-2025) and other publications. His outstanding and professional services have earned him numerous accolades from prestigious institutions such as Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500, China Business Law Journal, Lexpress, LegalOne, Lex Falcon Global Awards, Asian Legal Business (ALB), Legalband and Mondaq. Furthermore, Mr. Gu has been interviewed by 36Kr, Blue View, Caixin, China Business Network, Dutch Financial Daily, Economic Observer, Faxian Magazine, Financial Times, Healthcare Executive, International Pharmaceutical News for China, Jiemian, Southern Weekly, Thomson Reuters and other media (in alphabetical order).
