Cao Dewang, the founder of the glass manufacturing giant Fuyao Glass, spoke at the University of Hong Kong this week regarding the challenges of international business expansion. Cao, whose company became a focal point of the Oscar-winning documentary 'American Factory', emphasized that Chinese firms looking to establish operations abroad must strictly adhere to local laws and respect regional cultural norms to succeed.

His remarks come at a time of heightened geopolitical tension between the United States and China, which has complicated the landscape for cross-border manufacturing. While the documentary 'American Factory' highlighted significant cultural and labor-related frictions during the establishment of Fuyao’s Ohio facility, Cao’s recent address focused on the necessity of adaptation. He suggested that the long-term viability of Chinese investments in Western markets depends on a company’s ability to integrate into the local ecosystem rather than attempting to replicate domestic management styles. The speech served as a reflection on his decades of experience navigating global supply chains and the evolving regulatory environment for multinational corporations.