On the afternoon of June 17, the seventh session of the Spark Salon series was successfully heldat BNU Zhuhai. Co-hosted by the International Office of BNU Zhuhai and Belt and Road School (BRS), the event featured Pompeo Della Posta, Professor of Economics at BRS, who delivered an academic talk entitled "A Ride Through Economic Globalization".

In his presentation, Prof. Della Posta systematically traced the historical evolution of economic globalization. He began with early cross-cultural exchanges—from Etruscan imitations of Greek artifacts, to Marco Polo's overland Silk Road journeys, and on to the Age of Discovery and the European encounter with the Americas. He clarified that while these ancient regional interactions laid early groundwork, the starting point of economic globalization must be identified approximately with the second part of the Victorian Age when, after the opening up of the Suez Canal, trade, capital and labor movements intensified and started producing price convergence across countries. In his presentation, he also offered a well-articulated analysis of the phases that followed: the Second Phase, which started after World War II, and the Third Phase, initiated in the 1980s and characterized later by social conflicts driven by issues such as widening inequality.

Prof. Della Posta also reviewed classical economic theories that advocate for open international trade and, turning to today's global economic landscape, observed that the world has entered a phase of "slowbalisation," with some sectors even showing signs of "de-globalisation." In response, he proposed a forward-looking vision of "Enlightened Economic Globalization" – an approach that promotes social equity, respects national development differences, and pursues inclusive, win-win outcomes through cooperative global governance.

The interactive Q&A session that followed was lively and engaging. Prof. Della Posta answered each question with reference to real-world economic developments, comparing different national development models and advocating for multilateral dialogue as the preferred means to resolve trade and economic disputes, while rejecting simplistic, confrontational global governance approaches that fuel unilateral protectionist measures.

The lecture offered both historical depth and contemporary relevance, enriching the audience's academic understanding of international trade and economics, and broadening their critical perspectives on global economic issues.

Spark Salon was initiated by the International Office of BNU Zhuhai with the aim of promoting integration between Chinese and international faculty, breaking down disciplinary and cultural barriers, and providing a regular platform for learning and exchange to enhance academic diversity on campus. Future sessions will be held on a regular basis to further interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting the internationalization of BNU Zhuhai and its cultivation of innovative talent.