Paris: The New Switzerland

Wharton alumni and leaders shared insights during the Asia Society France Summer Summit in Paris.

In Liu Cixin’s Three-Body Problem, survival depends on navigating a system influenced by three competing forces. In today’s geopolitics, these forces are the United States, China, and the European Union.

While Europe cannot match the hard power of Washington or Beijing, Paris has emerged as neutral ground—a platform where rivals can test ideas away from the intense scrutiny of capital politics.

As Duncan Clark, founding trustee and co-chair of Asia Society France, said: “We designed Paris as a place to transcend binaries — beyond ‘hawk’ or ‘dove,’ beyond capital-to-capital talking points. China’s decisions now shape supply chains, tech standards, and climate outcomes worldwide. You need a room where that complexity can be explored with rigor — and without theatrics.”

This summer’s Asia Society Summer Summit in Paris clearly demonstrated this role of Paris as a neutral and thoughtful meeting place.

Author's summary: Paris has positioned itself as a neutral hub for complex global discussions, facilitating dialogue beyond traditional geopolitical rivalries.

Asia Society — 2025-11-03

Paris: The New Switzerland

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