2018 AFCA Asia Financial Alliance HR Summit
May 23, 2018 | Organizer: Asian Financial Cooperation Association (AFCA) | Speaker: James Chin | Excerpted from: AFCA Consulting
Recently, the 5th AFCA High-Level HR Forum – Innovations in HR Management Thinking was successfully held in Hangzhou. This marked the fifth consecutive year that AFCA has hosted a forum focused on banking human resource management.
Against the backdrop of the successful convening of the 19th National Congress and the National Two Sessions, the important guideline put forward by General Secretary Xi Jinping at last year’s National Financial Work Conference that “financial work should return to its roots,” along with a series of major policies recently issued, all indicate that 2018 will be a year of changes and structural adjustments for the financial industry.
At present, internet giants have forayed into the financial sector, and the application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data has exerted a huge impact on the industry. The 21st century is an era of competition not only in technology but also in talent. Faced with “internal troubles and external pressures,” commercial banks can only gain a competitive edge in the future landscape by embracing new thinking, pursuing innovation, integrating HR management into long-term corporate strategy, and regarding talent as the primary productivity driving enterprise development.
Nearly 100 senior HR leaders from more than 40 banks and financial institutions, both within and outside the alliance, gathered to discuss innovations in HR management thinking with industry experts and representatives of leading domestic enterprises.
The forum was honored to have Yang Xiaobo, President of Zhejiang Mintai Commercial Bank, and Sun Jun, President of AFCA Consulting, as opening speakers. The keynote speakers included:
Opening Remarks
Mr. Yang Xiaobo, President of Zhejiang Mintai Commercial Bank, delivered the opening address. He introduced Hangzhou—a historic, vibrant, and innovative city—and shared that as a city commercial bank, Mintai has adhered to its micro and small enterprise market positioning, served the real economy, and earned the reputation of “Home for Small Enterprises.” He emphasized that industry changes demand higher standards for HR management, urging participants to leverage the forum for in-depth exchanges and build a steady talent pipeline to support the transformation and upgrading of the real economy.
Mr. Sun Jun, President of AFCA Consulting, welcomed the guests. He noted that the financial sector is undergoing unprecedented changes driven by macroeconomic shifts, new financial regulations, and fintech innovation. Success hinges on banks’ adaptability, learning agility, and transformation capacity—with HR as the core enabler. He encouraged participants to explore new HR approaches and models through innovation.
Keynote Speeches
1. Deep Dive into Alibaba’s Political Commissar System
Mr. Hong Fangren analyzed Alibaba’s mission, vision, values, organizational structure, and talent strategy to unpack its unique political commissar system and cultural framework. During Q&A, he stressed that sustaining core innovation requires a young talent structure: leaders born in the 70s, middle managers in the 80s, and frontline teams in the 90s.
2. Unleash Potential & Build High-Performing Teams
Mr. James Chin delivered a speech in three parts:
Using relatable examples from family life, he drew parallels between “leading a team” and “raising children”—emphasizing that different methods yield different results—to the audience’s unanimous agreement.
3. HR Compass Management at Zhejiang Mintai Commercial Bank
Mr. Cheng Xinbo shared Mintai’s proprietary HR Compass Management Model, centered on the principles of Direction, Position, Degree, Flexibility, and Balance. The framework aligns internal, middle, and external “gears” of the organization, offering actionable insights for attendees.
4. Big Data in HR Management in the Digital China Era
Mr. Hu Ming explored big data applications in HR, clarifying the relationships between:
He highlighted three core principles: collecting, integrating, and leveraging data to empower HR practices.
5. Lean Cost Management Under the Golden Tax-III System
Mr. Yang Kai discussed HR challenges amid new policies and strategies for organizational leanness and labor cost optimization, combining policy analysis and real-world case studies.
6. Building Competency Frameworks for Financial Institutions
Mr. Han Xiaoyi addressed three key areas:
7. Trends in Employee Benefits in China
Mr. Li Chuanhao noted that workforce diversity has made benefits a critical HR tool. He analyzed the essence of benefits, optimal design principles, challenges, and solutions to outline future trends.
8. Make Innovation the Primary Driver of HR Development
Mr. Liang Chao traced HR evolution through three stages: Personnel Management → Human Resources → Human Capital. He emphasized that innovation must be embedded in daily operations—not just driven by technology. Using AFCA’s financial big data background check service as a case study, he demonstrated how innovation disrupts traditional practices and empowers business growth.
Site Visit: Alibaba & Taiji Zen Academy
In line with the innovation theme, AFCA Human Resources organized a visit to Alibaba and Taiji Zen Academy. Participants learned about Alibaba’s internet-driven innovation mindset, experienced its iconic Iron Army Culture, Political Commissar System, and Three Management Axes, and gained insights into its entrepreneurial journey.
Closing
The 5th AFCA High-Level HR Forum successfully equipped small and medium-sized banks and financial institutions with forward-thinking HR strategies and fostered cross-industry collaboration.
Organized by the Asian Financial Cooperation Association (AFCA), the event was co-hosted by Zhejiang Mintai Commercial Bank and AFCA Human Resources.