China Dispatches – European Chamber Podcasts: Recent Episodes
The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
Episode 34: How Resilient is China’s Economy?This episode is edited from a presentation by Dr Wang Dan, China Director of Eurasia Group, at a European Chamber event, ‘Insight China: Is China’s Economy Turning the Corner?’ that took place on 19th June 2025. In the presentation, she focused on answering the question ‘how resilient is China’s Economy’.
The European Chamber will host its annual conference on 11th December in Beijing. Dr Wang will join a panel discussion on supply chains. You can register to attend the event here.
What to listen for:
00:38 China’s exports situation and how companies respond to the United States tariffs.
15:38 Chinese economy outlook
21:12 Whether exports will still be a key driver of the Chinese economy
24:11 Overview of structural reforms in various aspects and domestic social challenges and trends
28:25 European companies’ profitability and whether they should continue to stay in the competitive Chinese market.
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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The European Chamber’s annual flagship report, the European Business in China Position Paper, was released on 17th September. As 2025 is the last year of China’s 14th Five-year Plan (FYP), this year’s Executive Position Paper reviews the plan’s outcomes and provides constructive recommendations for the upcoming 15FYP, based on feedback from our member companies.
In this episode, our host Carl Hayward, director of communications at the European Chamber, sat down with European Chamber President Jens Eskelund and Vice President Stefan Bernhart, to discuss the past five years from the perspective of European business in China, and to look forward and highlight some of the areas that European companies hope will characterise China’s economic development over the next half decade.
What to listen for:
01:07 Key events that had the greatest influence on China and EU-China relations
03:14 Outcomes of the 14FYP for China’s economy and European businesses
12:30 Most important challenges that need to be addressed
15:19 Core principles of the 14FYP to be adopted in the 15FYP
17:18 Top 5 topics that European businesses hope to see addressed by the 15FYP
21:53 Recommendations to European companies that are caught in the crossfire of global trade frictions
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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At the end of 2024, three of the European Chamber’s Beijing colleagues – Beijing General Manager Carl Hayward, Head of European Affairs Ester Cañada Amela and Policy and Communications Manager Mariann Nagy – sat down with our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager, to review the year and look forward to 2025.
The last episode focused on the keywords from 2024. In this episode, our guest speakers talked about some of the most overhyped and the most under-appreciated things of the past year and gave projections on things we should keep our eyes on in 2025.
What to listen for:
01:29 The most overhyped things in 2024
05:47 The most under-appreciated things in 2024
14:04 Projections on things we should keep our eyes on in 2025
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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At the end of 2024, three of the European Chamber’s Beijing colleagues – Beijing General Manager Carl Hayward, Head of European Affairs Ester Cañada Amela and Policy and Communications Manager Mariann Nagy – sat down with our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager, to review the year and look forward to 2025.
This episode focused on keywords of the year, featuring four of the Chamber’s Executive Committee and board members sharing their choices of keywords followed by comments and keywords from our guest speakers.
In the next episode, our guest speakers will discuss the most overhyped and the most under-appreciated things of the year and look forward to things we should keep our eyes on in 2025. Stay tuned.
What to listen for:
01:24 President Jens Eskelund’s keyword
07:44 Tianjin Chapter Chair Christoph Schrempp’s keywords
19:49 States’ Representative Gianni Di Giovanni’s keyword
23:58 Vice President Massimo Bagnasco’s keyword
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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EU-China Relations after the 2024 Elections2024 has been an extraordinary year of elections. Two of the world’s largest economies, the European Union and the United States, voted for their new leadership. Due to the strong economic ties between China, the EU and the US, the ramifications of both elections could be enormous for European companies operating in China.
In this episode, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, is joined by Stefan Bernhart, vice president of the European Chamber, and Ester Cañada Amela, head of European Affairs at the European Chamber. They will focus on the results of the EU elections and its policy direction in relation to China, and also touch on the implications of Trump’s second term as the US President.
What to Listen For
01:01 Introduction of the general process of EU elections and the its latest update
03:35 The roles of the European Parliament and the main differences this time around compared with the last Parliament.
09:09 The roles of the European Commission and its policy continuities and expected changes.
18:28 Introduction of the Council of the EU and the European Council.Changes to the internal dynamics of the Council in 2024.
22:32 Member states’ and industries’ reactions to the Commission guidelines.
25:50 How have the engagements between individual member states and Chinese leaders impacted the EU’s overall approach to China?
27:10 The impact of Trump’s re-election on the EU’s overall foreign policy as well as its relations with China.
29:08 What could China do to improve the EU-China bilateral relationship?
30:00 Key asks from European companies in China to the new EU leadership.
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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In the past year, the Chinese government has been promoting visa-free policies to boost inbound travel. During this summer, news about the big boom of China’s inbound tourists is all over the Chinese media. Foreign vloggers posted tons of travelling in China videos and some of them went viral on Chinese social media.
In this episode, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, is joined by Remi Paul, chair of Aviation and Aerospace Working Group and Austin Bliss, policy and communications coordinator at the European Chamber. They look at two aspects of inbound travel, the resumption of international flights and China’s visa-free policies.
What to listen for:
01:14 Current situation of air traffic recovery to and from China
03:57 Differences between the recovery of foreign and domestic carriers
09:57 Estimation for the full resumption of international flights
11:32 Influence of visa-free policies on inbound air traffic
14:35 To what extent did visa-free policies boost inbound travel
17:08 Introduction of different visa-free schemes related to business travel
24:34 Common mistakes of using visa-free schemes leading to denials of entry
32:18 Recommendations for improving current visa-free policies
34:39 Other possible policy improvements to boost inbound travel
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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Can European companies stay ahead of competition in China?The European Chamber published its annual Business Confidence Survey in early May. Respondents reported that alongside economic and geopolitical challenges, competition is also a key hurdle for their business in China.
In this episode, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, is joined by Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber, and Amy Niu, vice chair of Energy Working Group. They look at some of the survey’s findings related to competition and discuss challenges for European companies competing with Chinese counterparts, causes for increasingly fierce competition in China, as well as provide suggestions for companies.
What to listen for:
1:20 Competition environment in the Chinese market
4:15 Major challenges for European companies competing with Chinese companies
9:12 Demand situation in energy sector
12:35 Proposed measures to boost demand
15:43 Examples of the industries that are experiencing overcapacity
20:04 Effect of overcapacity on European companies operating in China, the Chinese economy and other countries
23:47 Outlook of competitive pressure facing European companies in China and suggestions for companies in China and considering entering the Chinese market
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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Market access in China: opportunities and challengesThe European Chamber published its annual Business Confidence Survey in early May. It shows a significant improvement in perceptions about market opening: 19% of respondents report significant market opening in their industry, which is the highest level recorded in the past decade; and 26% of respondents report some opening, the same proportion as last year.
In this episode, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, is joined by two industry experts, Mario Huang, Chair of Banking and Securities Sub-working Group, and Johannes Weilharter, Chair of Construction Working Group. They look at some of the survey’s findings related to market access and discuss opportunities and challenges facing European banking and construction industries and their willingness to invest in China.
What to listen for:
1:43 Market openings in banking industry in the past year
3:25 Foreign players in banking still face challenges due to market conditions
5:40 New opportunities for foreign construction companies
7:27 Challenges for foreign construction companies in local market
8:29 Market closing in banking industry and its impacts
10:13 The key challenges that resulted in missing business opportunities in 2023
14:19 Reasons for reduced willingness to investment in China
18:21 Expectations of potential market openings and opportunities
22:36 Examples of difficulties in advocating for change
25:39 Areas of potential market openings and opportunities
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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The Bumpy Road to Carbon NeutralityThe European Chamber published its annual Business Confidence Survey in early May. One section of the survey is on carbon neutrality. It is a key policy priority for the Chinese Government, which targets peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. It is also a key goal of European businesses in China, who not only need to live up to their global corporate sustainability pledges, but also comply with strict EU regulations.
In today’s episode, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, is joined by Christoph Schrempp, Chair of the European Chamber’s Tianjin Chapter, and Xu Zhonghua, Chair of Carbon Market Working Group. They look at some of the survey’s findings on carbon neutrality and discuss companies’ decarbonisation progress, strategies, challenges and areas of cooperation with China.
What to listen for:
2:15 General picture of access to renewable energy in China
3:49 Access to renewables situation in Tianjin
8:45 Examples of companies’ actions to increase energy efficiency
11:13 Policy or financial incentives for companies in China to increase energy efficiency
11:58 How carbon credits work
12:25 Carbon trading is a necessary strategy in the long run
14:27 Uncertainties over China’s national carbon-trading market
15:41 Difficulties for European companies to participate in the current carbon trading market in China
18:41 Lack of low-carbon culture and its impact on companies’ decarbonisation progress
22:16 What European businesses in China can offer to help China achieve its 30/60 goals
24:40 What the European Chamber’s working groups and chapters can do to help members deliver on their decarbonisation pledges
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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With Chinese and global economic growth expected to slow, and China making the transition to long-term management of the COVID-19 pandemic, how are HR professionals’ strategies on workforce management evolving? In this episode, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, is joined by Sunny Sun and Wang Shuhong, chair and vice […]
Joerg Wuttke, passing the batonOne founding member of the European Chamber went on to serve as its president for four terms spanning over a decade and a half, all while balancing an enormous workload, dividing his time between Chamber tasks and his day-job as the head of BASF in Beijing. After stepping down as Chamber president in May, he left big shoes to fill, as well as a legacy that will carry on informing the development of business ties between the EU and China for years to come.
In this episode, our host Mariann Nagy, policy and communications manager at the European Chamber, sat down with President Emeritus Joerg Wuttke to look back at his prolific work at the Chamber and the future he envisages for the organisation at a time when EU-China relations are at a critical juncture.
What to listen for:
01:38 What aspects of the Chamber’s work are you most proud of?
03:28 Are there areas in which you think the Chamber can still make progress?
04:30How far do you go before dropping new ideas?
06:21 How did your most recent term as president compare with the previous ones?
08:24 Could you give some examples of how the Chamber moved the needle the most?
10:12 What was your process for preparing for high-level meetings given that you often only have limited time to deliver the Chamber’s messages?
11:22 Why has the Chamber been able to maintain such good access to both Chinese and European authorities?
12:46 Have you noticed any changes in how you were received by Chinese authorities over the years?
14:33 What are the reasons for the record number of thematic reports launched by the Chamber during your last presidency?
16:33 Which of the Chamber’s thematic papers were the most well-received during meetings with different stakeholders?
17:51 Which of the Chamber’s other publications did you find to be impactful?
20:20 How did you approach the task of conveying a unified message representing over 1,700 members?
22:14 What was your strategy for media engagement and what benefits does this strong media presence bring to the Chamber’s work?
24:07 Can you recall a Chamber event, or guest speaker, that left a particularly strong impression on you?
27:19 Did you ever feel isolated being the president of the European Chamber?
28:27 What will you miss most about working as president of the Chamber?
29:51 What is the biggest challenge that the Chamber now faces?
31:23 What advice would you give to your successor?
32:47 What does the future hold for you, now that you are relieved from your Chamber duties?
34:22 Now that you have more time to relax, what are some of the things you look forward to?
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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European companies’ dilemma about localising R&D into ChinaThe European Chamber, in partnership with the Mercator Institute for China Studies, (MERICS) launched the joint-report China’s Innovation Ecosystem: The localisation dilemma on 21st April. The report was the second of a planned three rounds of surveys and interviews among the Chamber’s members on European companies’ research and development (R&D) activities in China.
In this episode, our host Mariann Nagy, policy and communications manager at the European Chamber, is joined by Kris Van Gasse, vice chair of the European Chamber’s R&D working group, and Jacob Gunter, senior analyst at MERICS’ Economic Research Team. They look at some of the reports’ key findings, such as the different factors influencing European companies’ innovation in China, as well as the wide range of R&D strategies they deploy in the face of the complexity of China’s business environment.
Notes:
Download the report China’s Innovation Ecosystem: The localisation dilemma:
https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/publications-innovation-report
Learn how to subscribe here.
What to listen for:
01:30 What are the key findings in the second report on R&D that differ from the first report?
04:51 What are the factors influencing companies’ innovation strategies?
08:22 What was the impact of China’s ‘zero-COVID’ policy on R&D activities in China?
11:13 What is the on-the-ground perspective of the issues stemming from the pandemic controls that are undermining R&D activities in China?
13:19 How can geopolitical issues like the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine influence companies’ R&D planning in China?
16:17 Are there concrete steps that European companies are taking to mitigate geopolitical risks?
18:44 What are the different R&D-related government support schemes, and what benefits do they entail?
20:32 What does the report suggest about European companies’ actual access to government support and its impact on their R&D strategies?
24:15 What proportion of R&D results from China be commercialised in other markets?
26:45 Are there any discrepancies when exporting R&D results out of China?
28:50 What are the recommendations for companies currently considering doing R&D in China?
32:29 When is the next round of surveys going to be held and the final report being released?
33:32 What are some suggested key topics to explore in the next report?
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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EU Digitalisation Policies and Related Exchanges with ChinaAs policymakers and companies all over the world strive to harness the potential of digitalisation while limiting the risks, what steps have European Union (EU) policymakers taken to position Europe at the forefront of the digital revolution? And what aspects of digitalisation are informing discussions with China, which the EU recognises as a partner, a competitor and systemic rival?
In this episode, our host Ester Cañada Amela, advocacy manager for the EU SME Centre and senior business manager for European affairs at the European Chamber, is joined by EU Ambassador to China, HE Jorge Toledo, to explore these questions and more.
What to listen for:
1:23 Introduction of Ambassador Toledo’s professional career
2:57 Explanation of the von der Leyen Commission’s key digital policy: ‘a Europe fit for the Digital Age’
6:42 What is the EU doing in data protection, usage and governance?
10:16 How is the EU addressing security risks posed by the rise of digital infrastructure, products and networks through policy and regulation?
11:48 How is the EU keeping pace with new technological developments such as Artificial Intelligence and how does it make sure that no one, be it individuals or companies with less resources, gets left behind?
15:45 How is the EU approaching the dialogue with China in digital policymaking?
20:00 How are the market access barriers and lack of reciprocity faced by European business presented in government-to-government exchanges?
23:07 Where does the EU stand on the US-China technology war?
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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EU Tour and the Future of EU-China RelationsAfter an enforced break of nearly three years, the European Chamber’s European Tour took place in-person from 9th to 13th January, to present the Chamber’s messaging to key European stakeholders, including officials from the European Commission and the European Parliament, and representatives from industry associations and think tanks. The Chamber delegation participated in a total of 48 meetings and events in Brussels, 26 of which were with high-level officials, with smaller delegations holding additional meetings in Paris, Berlin and Copenhagen afterwards.
In this episode, our host Ester Cañada Amela, advocacy manager for the EU SME Centre and senior business manager for European affairs at the European Chamber, sat down with three delegates of the tour – Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber, and vice presidents Jens Eskelund, Massimo Bagnasco and Carlo D’Andrea. They discussed their experiences and some of the key outcomes of the tour, as well as their expectations on the future of EU-China relations.
Learn how to subscribe here.
What to listen for:
01:31 What exactly is the EU tour and why does the European Chamber organise it?
03:19 In terms of the overall understanding and attitude of EU officials towards China and its business environment, what has changed between this visit and last one in February 2020?
05:28 Key messaging that the Chamber delegation delivered to EU authorities this year.
07:03 What were some of the pain points for SMEs raised in meetings with EU counterparts?
11:28 What are some of the more encouraging messages received from EU authorities?
15:40 Which misunderstanding about China and its business environment do you find most concerning?
19:36 Based on the conversations with EU counterparts, is there any possibility of resurrecting the CAI?
22:51 What were some of the takeaways from the meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to the EU Fu Cong?
24:48 What are the some of the key takeaways from the visits to Paris, Berlin and Copenhagen?
29:37 Expectations on the future of EU-China relations in the coming years.
35:09 Who is eligible to join the EU Tour, and what are some of the key responsibilities assumed by delegates?
Contact:
We’d love to hear your feedback. Contact us at website@europeanchamber.com.cn.
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Bridging the EU and China with FoodIn this episode, our host Ziting Zhang, the European Chamber’s head of government affairs, is joined by Damien Plan, agricultural counsellor at the European Union (EU) Delegation to China, to talk about the development of the landmark bilateral agreement on Geographical Indications between the EU and China, the introduction of cheese to the Chinese market, and bilateral trade on food.
What to listen for:
1:15 Introduction of Damien Plan and his experience in China
4:08 What is a geographical indication (GI)?
5:17 What is the EU-China GI Agreement, and what benefits does it bring to both sides?
6:32 What has the agreement achieved since entered into force in March 2021?
7:26 Damien’s experience with Chinese GI products
8:54 Introduction of different categories of European cheese and where to buy cheese in China/Beijing
12:00 What’s the international trade situation, and how have Chinese consumers’ attitudes towards cheese changed in recent years?
13:44 Will there be more EU-China food fusion in the future?
15:22 What developments have there been in EU-China trade in agriculture, food and beverage products in the past three years?
17:10 What’s your opinion on the potential development and EU-China cooperation going forward in this area?
Read more:
European Chamber’s advocacy success on cheese standards to allow more cheese into the Chinese market:
https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/advocacy-success/11281/revised_cheese_standard
EU GIs protected in China (in Chinese):
https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/module/download/downfile.jsp?classid=0&showname=1%EF%BC%8E%E6%AC%A7%E6%B4%B2%E8%81%94%E7%9B%9F%E5%9C%B0%E7%90%86%E6%A0%87%E5%BF%97%E4%BA%A7%E5%93%81%E5%90%8D%E5%8D%95.pdf&filename=bde7b40166c34276a14d9daebf1b9a84.pdf
Chinese GIs protected in the EU:
http://eu.china-mission.gov.cn/eng/zgggfz/cega/
Shifting Supply Chain StrategiesIn this episode, our host Carl Hayward, general manager of European Chamber Beijing Office, is joined by Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber, and Jens Eskelund, vice president of the European Chamber. They discuss why and how companies’ supply chain strategies are shifting, what the implications are and what can be expected in the future.
What to listen for:
1:53 What might drive companies to onshore?
3:03 In what ways were supply chains impacted by COVID-19 containment measures?
5:19 What are the aspects of China’s policy-making that might prompt companies to shift their supply chain strategies?
6:41 What could the International Maritime Organization’s forthcoming regulations aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of shipping mean for global supply chains?
8:32 What are some of the most important emerging regulations (especially from the EU and the US) that companies in China need to pay attention to?
14:50 How have businesses shifted their priorities to mitigate supply chain risks?
16:43 How would you compare China-US decoupling to that taking place between China and the EU?
18:39 What do the terms ‘reshoring’, ‘nearshoring’ and ‘friend-shoring’ mean?
22:06 What are China + 1,2,3,4,5 strategies?
24:11 Which countries do you see potentially benefitting, or that have already been beneficiaries, of supply chain shifts?
26:33 What are your key recommendations for companies looking to strengthen supply chains?
28:24 If China’s travel restrictions are removed in 2023, can we expect company’s supply chain strategies to change again?
Read more:
European Business in China Position Paper 2022/2023: https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/publications-archive/1068
EURObiz July/August 2022 edition on supply chain: https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/publications-archive/1022
The Journey to ChinaIn this two-year anniversary episode, we revisit what it is like to travel to China during the pandemic, having also focussed on this topic in the inaugural China Dispatches episode in September 2020. Hear from European Chamber insiders, States’ Representative Peter Ling-Vannerus, and staff members Robbie Jarvis, policy and communications manager, and Charlotte Svensson, policy and communications coordinator, as they discuss their individual experiences and the challenges they faced when trying to come or return to China in the past few weeks. Before the discussion begins, our host Gao Rui, senior marketing manager at the European Chamber, recaps the latest updates to Chinese policies relating to travelling to China from Europe. Robbie also gives a preview of the Chamber’s European Business in China Position Paper 2022/2023, which will be launched on 21st September.
What to listen for:
- 1:58 Latest updates to Chinese policies on travelling to China from Europe
- 4:22 Navigating the requirements for obtaining a work visa for China during the pandemic
- 7:32 Preparation for and experience of taking a China-Europe roundtrip
- 24:27 What happened after landing in China, both at the airport and in the quarantine hotel.
- 37:29 Preview of the soon-to-be launched European Business in China Position Paper 2022/2023.
Notes:
- European Business in China Position Paper 2022/2023 launch on 21st September: https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/upcoming-events/22653
- European Business in China Position Paper 2022/2023 download (available after 8:40am on 21st September):
- https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/publications-position-paper
Outcomes from the EU-China HED In this episode, our host Ester Cañada Amela, senior business manager for European affairs at the European Chamber, sat down with Jörg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber. They discussed the outcomes of the recent European Union (EU)-China High-level Economic and Trade Dialogue (HED) on 19th July, as well as what to expect from EU-China relations going forward.
What to listen for:
- 1:40 What was the status of EU-China relations going into this meeting, and what dynamics were affecting the relationship?
- 3:13 Where do you read into the overlaps, and differences between, the European and Chinese readouts from the HED?
- 6:14 What are some of the notable concrete outcomes for European businesses?
- 14:10 What do you think China was expecting to get from this meeting?
- 22:45 How do you think the US viewed this meeting?
- 23:58 What’s next for EU-China relations, and what should we pay attention to in the coming six months?
Technical terms
- Circuit breaker: A COVID-control policy developed by China’s aviation regulator under which, if the number of passengers who test positive for COVID-19 on an airline’s route reaches five, the route is suspended for one week. If the number reaches 10, the route will be suspended for four weeks.
Background Reading:
- European readout
- Chinese readout
- Chinese Ministry of Commerce spokesperson’s response to the media (in Chinese)
Can carbon neutrality be achieved on time?In this episode, our host Carl Hayward, general manager of European Chamber Beijing Office, is joined by Jet Chang, vice chair of the European Chamber’s Environment Working Group, vice president for Circular Economy Business Development, Tomra Group; Dr Bradley Morrison, senior vice president, Operations and Site Management Greater China, BASF; and Cui Lin, Sustainability and Environment National Representative, Airbus, to discuss decarbonisation strategies and the challenges that lie ahead on the path towards carbon neutrality.
What to listen for:
- 1:45 What are the key drivers for your company to decarbonise its operations?
- 5:56 How significant a role does access to green energy play in your company’s decarbonisation plan?
- 8:41 What are direct power purchase (DPP) agreements and their advantages?
- 10:25 What is a green circular economy?
- 14:43 Why is it so important for the aviation industry to pursue decarbonisation?
- 16:26 When can your company achieve carbon neutrality?
- 17:40 What can the chemical industry do to achieve net-zero?
- 21:25 What are the main challenges of recycling? What can companies do to recycle? What is the best way to raise public awareness of recycling?
- 26:57 What are the main challenges associated with the development of sustainable air travel? By when do you envisage the first zero-emission aircraft to be in our skies?
- 30:28 What do you feel is China’s most significant barrier to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060?
- 34:52 Speaking on behalf of your respective industries, what gives you the most hope that China can achieve carbon neutrality?
Technical terms:
- Carbon neutrality: the point at which net zero CO2 emissions has been achieved, i.e., a balance between carbon emitted and carbon absorbed
- Net-zero: a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere
- ESG: environment, social and governance, which refers to the three central factors in measuring the sustainability and societal impact of an organisation
- ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
- Scope 1 reduction: reduction of direct emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by a company or organisation.
- Scope 2 reduction: reduction of indirect emissions from the generation of electricity that a company or organisation has purchased.
- R-DPP: renewable direct power purchase
- Greenwashing: the practice of companies using advertising and branding to portray a false image of being environmentally responsible
Notes:
- Download Carbon Neutrality: The Role of European Business in China’s Race to 2060 report here.
- Download EURObiz May/June 2022 issue on carbon neutrality here.
- Read EURObiz articles online: eurobiz.com.cn
Communicating with HQIn this episode, our host Ziting Zhang, head of government affairs at the European Chamber, is joined by Jörg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber, and Alex Roberts, counsel at Linklaters, to discuss difficulties China-based branches face when interacting with European headquarters, and provide suggestions on how to increase mutual understanding.
What to listen for:
- 01:32 How the pandemic changed the effectiveness of communicating with HQ
- 07:20 How the current business environment in China impacts communicating with HQ and suggestions for foreign companies operating in China
- 11:19 Suggestions on cross-border data exchange to ensure compliance
- 16:06 Best practices to increase mutual understanding between China and European HQ
Communicating with HQ is the theme of the March/April 2022 issue of EURObiz, the bi-monthly magazine of the European Chamber. Read the EURObiz articles on this topic online, or download a digital copy here.
President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China Jörg Wuttke is invited to join “Bridging the gap” podcast to talk about his past 40 years experience of working in China and the work of the European Chamber. This episode is produced by Mats HINRICHSEN and Philip FISCHER from Peking University.
What to listen for:
00:00 Introduction
01:25 Upbringing and interest in China
02:50 Studying sinology and first trip to China
04:50 How China changed
Reawakening in 80s
06:22 China as the “fitness club” for management
Implications of travel bans
09:21 Founding of the European Chamber
11:47 Jörg’s achievement briefing European leaders on China
13:00 How the advocacy works
17:05 Being credible speaking up for China and EU
19:20 Guanxi
20:50 Ways of communication
22:50 Productive talks with Ministry of Commerce
26:10 Golden advice “You have to be a backpacker”
Preparing SMEs for ChinaIn this episode our host Adam Dunnett, secretary general of the European Chamber, sits down with guest speakers Renzo Isler, director of the EU SME Centre, Helika Jurgenson, project manager at the China IP SME Helpdesk, and Ester Canada Amela, advocacy manager at the EU SME Centre. They discuss China’s business environment for SMEs, and propose recommendations both for those that are looking to invest in China and those already operating here.
What to listen for:
- 00:50–05:11 Renzo introduces the EU SME Centre, and identifies potential opportunities and challenges for SMEs in China
- 05:12–08:26 Helika introduces the China IP SME Helpdesk, defines important terms related to intellectual property (IP), and explains the importance of IP.
- 08:27–11:42 Ester explains what advocacy work involves and how it can benefit SMEs.
- 11:43–16:18 Renzo and Ester explain the difference between the EU SME Centre and consultancies.
- 16:19–21:31 Renzo gives recommendations and useful tools for SMEs looking to invest in China.
- 21:32–27:54 Helika provides IP-related suggestions and tools, with an example to explain what companies need to do.
- 27:55–33:40 Ester recommends SMEs get involved in advocacy and explains how to get started.
- 33:41–36:44 Helika comments on an actual IP-related case presented by Adam.
Additional notes:
- Self-diagnosis tool for SMEs: sdt.eusmecentre.org.cn
- IP tools: intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/ip-management-and-resources/ip-tools_en
- EU SME Centre website: eusmecentre.org.cn
- China IP SME Helpdesk website: intellectual-property-helpdesk.ec.europa.eu/regional-helpdesks/china-ipr-sme-helpdesk_en
- Inter-chamber SME Position Paper: www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/publications-archive/951/Inter_Chamber_Small_and_Medium_sized_Enterprise_Working_Group_Position_Paper_2021_2022
Common Prosperity, a buzzword for 2022In this episode, our host Ziting Zhang, head of government affairs of the European Chamber, is joined by Joerg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber, and Dr Guo Peiyuan, general manager and founder of SynTao, to discuss a buzzword for 2022, common prosperity.
What to listen for:
- 00:13–02:58 Policy background of the common prosperity concept
- 03:08–07:28 Analysis of business perspective by President Wuttke, including suggestions on how to realise common prosperity
- 08:00–23:48 Dialogue with Dr Guo Peiyuan, discussing his understanding of common prosperity, why the campaign was introduced, what is needed to achieve this goal, and the implications and recommendations for companies.
Common prosperity is the theme of the January/February 2022 issue of EURObiz. To read the articles on this topic and find out more about related investment opportunities, download a digital copy here.
Position Paper and China’s 14th Five-year PlanIn this episode, we sit down with Jörg Wuttke, president of the European Chamber, Caroline Chen, chair of the Information and Communication Technology Working Group, and Xu Zhonghua, chair of the Energy Working Group, to look at the recently released European Business in China Position Paper 2021/2022 – the Chamber’s annual flagship report, and discuss the potential impact of China’s 14th Five-year Plan on European businesses.
What to listen for:
- Introduction and key message of Executive Position Paper 2021/2022 – 0:45
- Potential impact of China’s self-reliance tendency for European companies in general and in energy and ICT industries – 3:30
- Based on China’s 14FYP, what are potential opportunities and risks for European companies in the coming years, especially in terms of environment and technology localisation? – 11:20
- EU’s role in the China-EU-US relationship – 23:20
- Key advice for European companies to invest and expand in China – 25:40
If you would like to download the position paper, please click here.
Business Confidence Survey 2021In this episode, Charlotte Roule, board member of the European Chamber, introduces the European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2021. She reviews the results on a range of topics, including financial performance, COVID-19 travel restrictions, supply chain adjustments, the politicisation of business, long-standing market access and level-playing field challenges, carbon neutrality, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). To download the full report, please click here.
Looking back and forwardsIn this episode, Joerg Wuttke reviews his last two years as president and shares his plan for the next two-year term. He starts with the founding history of the European Chamber back in late ‘90s, shares some recent advocacy success stories before moving on to the Chamber’s three pillars: Advocacy, Business intelligence and Community.
Download the Annual Report and Working Group Report to read more about the Chamber’s work in 2020.
Note: This episode was recorded before the new Executive Committee had been elected at the Chamber’s AGM.
On the Ground: The Continuous Boom of South ChinaIn this episode, our South China Chapter colleague, government affairs manager Peter Drucker, sat down with Klaus Zenkel, newly elected chair of the South China Chapter, to discuss the local business environment in South China, expectations of the Greater Bay Area, and his work plan as chair of the South China chapter for the next two years.
In this episode, four European Chamber colleagues —Beijing General Manager Carl Hayward, Beijing Head of Government Affairs Ziting Zhang, Senior Policy and Communications Manager Jacob Gunter and Business Manager of European Affairs Ester Canada Amela—sit down at the end of the Year of the Rat to discuss the most overhyped, the most under-appreciated and the most surprising things of the year, and look forward to things we should keep our eyes on in the Year of the Ox.
Note: One of the topics discussed in this podcast is the European Commission’s new trade policy, which had not been released at the time of recording.
Decoupling Report Main FindingsOn 14th January 2021, the European Chamber, in partnership with MERICS, released a major report, Decoupling: Severed Ties and Patchwork Globalisation, which measures the costs of decoupling for businesses operating in China. In this podcast, Jörg Wuttke, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and Mikko Huotari, MERICS Executive Director, introduce the main findings of the report.
The report finds that while the trade war has largely failed in its goal of forcing firms back to their home countries, the technology war is inflicting real damage on companies and economies alike. With decoupling dynamics showing no signs of reversing, solutions are quickly needed to deal with this new reality of ‘patchwork globalisation’.
The present and future costs of decoupling for European businesses operating in China are examined across nine ‘layers’ in the report:
- political and financial (macro);
- supply chains and critical inputs (trade);
- standards and R&D (innovation); and
- data, network equipment and telecommunications services (digital).
Please click here to download the report.
Digital DecouplingOn 14th January 2021, the European Chamber, in partnership with MERICS, released a major report, Decoupling: Severed Ties and Patchwork Globalisation, which measures the costs of decoupling for businesses operating in China. In this episode, Senior Policy and Communications Manager at the European Chamber, Jacob Gunter, MERICS Senior Analyst, John Lee, and MERICS analyst, Rebecca Arcesati, discuss the state and implications of digital decoupling.
The main findings of digital decoupling are below:
Data governance
- Data governance regimes in China and the EU already significantly restrict the transfer of data across the borders of these jurisdictions, creating significant compliance risks for companies.
- European companies anticipate that further restrictions on privacy and national security grounds will come into force soon, due in part to new legislation and judicial decisions in the EU, and further measures in China.
- As a result, it will be difficult and risky to exploit the potential of data pools across the EU’s and China’s jurisdictional boundaries, even as the importance of data as a tool for innovation and efficiency-building grows.
Network equipment
- US efforts to decouple from Chinese telecommunications and network equipment, and the scrutinisation of any China-originated links found in network value chains under its Clean Network programme are impacting European companies and their offerings in the US market.
- China’s rapidly expanding barriers to foreign telecommunications and network equipment value chains via requirements for “autonomous and controllable” technology is pushing European players out of the market or into niche roles.
- In combination, these dynamics are inadvertently forcing companies to consider firewalling their China and US network operations from one another, with their China operations relying more and more on local solutions and US ones being stripped of China-sourced inputs.
Telecommunications services
- China’s long-standing barriers to foreign telecommunications services and digital solutions now affect a larger number of industries than previously surged, especially with regard to the digital technology at the centre of the fourth industrial revolution, which includes value-added telecommunications services (VATS) like cloud and data centres.
- To offer their digital solutions, which increasingly come from traditional industries outside of ICT/ telecommunications, European companies are forced into joint ventures (JVs) with Chinese counterparts.
- As a result, European companies often have to integrate their products with locally-sourced digital solutions to serve local customers, which can result in the provision of suboptimal offerings that are not globally interoperable.
Please click here to download the report.
Innovation DecouplingOn 14th January 2021, the European Chamber, in partnership with MERICS, released a major report, Decoupling: Severed Ties and Patchwork Globalisation, which measures the costs of decoupling for businesses operating in China. In this podcast, Business Manager for European Affairs at the European Chamber, Ester Cañada Amela, and MERICS Analyst, Caroline Meinhardt, talk about the issue of innovation decoupling.
The main findings of innovation decoupling are below:
R&D
- Although China is an increasingly attractive R&D destination, a number of issues—some long-standing and intensified by decoupling trends, others that have recently emerged as a result—constitute barriers to European companies’ R&D activities.
- In Europe, government stakeholders are re-considering their engagement with China on innovation cooperation, and the EU is working on tools to prevent unfair practices within its internal market.
- As a consequence, European businesses will encounter increased difficulties when developing both their global and China R&D strategies.
Standards
- While access to standardisation bodies in China has improved considerably in recent years, European companies—particularly in key sectors—still face informal barriers that prevent them from effectively engaging in standards-setting in China.
- These access issues become all the more relevant when considering China’s use of standardisation as a tool to advance its industrial and geopolitical agenda both at home and abroad.
- As a result, European companies may see their competitive edge being dulled and their market share reduced, while these standards-setting trends could also lead to distortion, or even fragmentation, of the global standardisation system.
Please click here to download the report.
Trade DecouplingOn 14th January 2021, the European Chamber, in partnership with MERICS, released a major report, Decoupling: Severed Ties and Patchwork Globalisation, which measures the costs of decoupling for businesses operating in China. In this podcast, Senior Policy and Communications Manager at the European Chamber, Jacob Gunter, and MERICS analyst, Caroline Meinhardt, introduce into the chapter on trade decoupling.
The main findings of trade decoupling are below:
Supply chains
- Supply chains were already changing considerably in China before either the COVID-19 pandemic or the trade war, with low-cost production moving elsewhere and most European companies expanding locally and further onshoring their supply chains.
- The trade war and pandemic were disruptive and expensive, but European MNCs proved resilient and made shifts in supply chains to outright avoid many tariffs and maintain operations in China during its COVID-19 recovery.
- Many European companies report a desire to further invest in China and onshore supply chains for the local market to avoid potential future disruptions, though enthusiasm varies by sector based on how welcome they feel in the market.
Critical inputs
- Targeted restrictions on the sale and export of critical goods—such as semiconductors, related manufacturing equipment, software or even rare earths—have become a more pressing concern for companies operating in China and globally.
- European companies have so far felt a limited direct impact due to export controls, but exposure is considerable for most. Pandemic-related shortages have shown how damaging lost or limited access can be, giving companies a taste of what the future may hold.
- Even companies with little to no risk may still be hit if their suppliers/customers can no longer source components or equipment from abroad. China’s new export controls increase risks as well, as locally-developed goods and solutions could be blocked from export.
Please click here to download the report.
Macro DecouplingOn 14th January 2021, the European Chamber, in partnership with MERICS, released a major report, Decoupling: Severed Ties and Patchwork Globalisation, which measures the costs of decoupling for businesses operating in China. In this podcast, MERICS Chief Economist, Max J. Zenglein, and Policy and Communications Coordinator at the European Chamber, Tom Groot Haar, introduce the chapter on macro decoupling.
The main findings of macro decoupling are below:
Political
- The politicisation of business and geopolitical tensions are making the Chinese business environment increasingly difficult for foreign companies to navigate, and act as catalysts for decoupling in other areas.
- The current impacts on European companies in China include increasing risks due to a souring of public opinion in home markets towards China, a drop in business sentiment and uncertainty for operations due to the securitisation of business flows.
- The European business community in China is worried about the increased risk associated with ‘political reciprocity’ dynamics, and the potential for more unpredictable tit-for-tat exchanges of economic restrictions resulting from political/diplomatic tensions.
Financial
- In an effort to further reform its own financial system, China is actively working to integrate into the global financial system by establishing new investment channels into its capital markets and new opportunities for foreign financial institutions and investors.
- As long as China lacks a fully convertible capital account and an internationalised renminbi (RMB), its reliance on the USD remains its ‘Achilles heel’. Efforts to internationalise both its currency and financial markets are likely to accelerate, but liberalisation is needed to do so.
- Any broad restrictions on access to the USD would amount to a ‘nuclear option’ that would bring considerable economic damage to the US and the rest of the world. Only a massive escalation of political tensions seems likely to trigger it, as happened with Russia and Iran.
Please click here to download the report.
Shanghai Internationalisation: Some Way to GoIn this episode, we sit down with European Chamber Vice President and Shanghai Chapter Chair Carlo D’Andrea and Shanghai Working Group and Communications Coordinator Rachel Rapaport to discuss the recently released Shanghai Position Paper. If you would like to download the report, please click here.
Sustainability Matters – Will EU and China Continue to Collaborate on Environmental Issues?
To celebrate the European Chamber’s 20th anniversary, the European Chamber hosted a ‘VIP Webinar Series’ in May 2020 with the world’s leading industry experts, scholars, political consultants and strategists, on a variety of topics including economy, politics, technology, sustainability, EU-China Relation and EU-China-US Triangle.
This webinar was held on 26th May. European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke led a webinar discussion with VIP guests on topics of sustainability, green growth as well as international cooperation on climate issues in a post-COVID-19 world.
VIP guests joining the discussion include:
- *Virginijus Sinkevičius,* EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
- *Isabel Hilton,* CEO of China Dialogue
- Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE)
China’s Trade and Investment Scenario – Looking Back and Looking Forward
To celebrate the European Chamber’s 20th anniversary, the European Chamber hosted a ‘VIP Webinar Series’ in May 2020 with the world’s leading industry experts, scholars, political consultants and strategists, on a variety of topics including economy, politics, technology, sustainability, EU-China Relation and EU-China-US Triangle.
This webinar was held on 22nd May. European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke led a webinar discussion with VIP guests on the challenges and opportunities facing China and the EU as countries around the world look increasingly inward and the multilateralism comes under threat.
VIP guests joining the discussion include:
- *Cecilia Malmström,* Former EU Commissioner for Trade;
- *Pascal Lamy,* Former European Commissioner for Trade, Former Director General of the WTO ;
- *Jürgen Hambrecht,* Chairman of the Supervisory Board, BASF.
China’s Political and Economic Prospects
To celebrate the European Chamber’s 20th anniversary, the European Chamber hosted a ‘VIP Webinar Series’ in May 2020 with the world’s leading industry experts, scholars, political consultants and strategists, on a variety of topics including economy, politics, technology, sustainability, EU-China Relation and EU-China-US Triangle.
This webinar was held on 12th May. European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke led a webinar discussion with VIP guests on China’s politics from different points of view. Listen to the voices from Washington and Singapore.
VIP guests joining the discussion include:
- *David Hoffman,* Managing Director, the China Center for Economics & Business, The Conference Board
- *Christopher K. Johnson,* Senior fellow at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
The Journey EastIn this episode, hear from Chamber Vice President and Southwest Chapter Chair Paul Sives and Shanghai colleague Rachel Rapaport discussing their experiences of trying to return to China and quarantine under the ever-changing COVID-19 management systems in Chengdu and Shanghai.
Cybersecurity MattersIn this episode, we look at China’s cybersecurity and data management framework, mainly the Cybersecurity Law, the draft Data Security Law and personal information protection; how they might impact European businesses operating in China, and the differences between Chinese and European approaches to cyber and data issues. Guest speakers Caroline Chen, vice chair of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Working Group, and Cindi Yu, coordinator of the ICT and Cybersecurity working groups join the discussion.
Abbreviations:
- CII (Critical Information Infrastructure)
- VPN (Virtual Private Networks)
- CAC (Cyberspace Administration of China)
- GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
Please click here to register for the 2020 Cybersecurity Conference.
The Policy ‘Bible’In this episode, we sit down with Chamber President Joerg Wuttke to look at the recently released European Business in China Position Paper 2020/2021 – the Chamber’s annual flagship report. If you would like to download the publication, please click here.
The EU and China in 2020To celebrate the European Chamber’s 20th anniversary, the European Chamber hosted a ‘VIP Webinar Series’ in May 2020 with the world’s leading industry experts, scholars, political consultants and strategists, on a variety of topics including economy, politics, technology, sustainability, EU-China Relation and EU-China-US Triangle.
This webinar was held on 8th May. European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke led a webinar discussion with VIP guests on the impact of COVID-19 on European businesses both in the EU and in China, and listen to them in their search for a way forward in the EU-China relations.
VIP guests joining the discussion include:
- Phil Hogan, EU Commissioner for Trade
- Jacob Wallenberg, Chairman of the Board, Investor AB
- Markus J. Beyrer, Director General, BusinessEurope
EU-China: Straight TalkIn the third episode, we look into the top-level meeting between presidents Von der Leyen, Michel and Merkel and Chinese President Xi. Our head of European affairs, Ester Canada Amela joins to discuss the details of the meeting. Chamber President Joerg Wuttke then provides conclusions and what we can expect on the horizon.
Breaking the Glass CeilingIn the second episode Breaking the Glass Ceiling, we look at the European Chamber’s Cross-industry Mentor Initiative (CIMI). We are joined by mentor-mentee pairing Joerg Wuttke, Vice President and Chief Representative of BASF China and President of European Chamber, and Gloria Zhou, Head of Strategy and Business Portfolio at BP China, who share their mentoring experience and explain how the CIMI is different from other in-house mentor programmes. Guest speaker Sarah Wagner, Project Manager at GIZ, moderates the discussion.
The European Chamber launched this programme at the end of 2019, with a focus on improving female representation at senior management and board level in China. If you want to know more about the CIMI and would like to apply to become a mentee, please visit our website.
The Journey HomeIn the inaugural episode, hear from Chamber insiders Vice President Massimo Bagnasco, and staff members Carl Hayward, Jacob Gunter and Tom Groot Haar as they discuss the ever-shifting policy landscape and the challenges they faced when trying to return to China during the COVID-19 pandemic. On the agenda: Recent policy updates, enduring uncertainty while stuck abroad, navigating the return-visa labyrinth, and tips for surviving and thriving during quarantine.
The Future of EU-China-US RelationsTo celebrate the European Chamber’s 20th anniversary, the European Chamber hosted a ‘VIP Webinar Series’ in May 2020 with the world’s leading industry experts, scholars, political consultants and strategists, on a variety of topics including economy, politics, technology, sustainability, EU-China Relation and EU-China-US Triangle.
This webinar was held on 28th May. European Chamber President Joerg Wuttke led a webinar discussion with three champions of multilateralism to get a better grip on the EU-China-US triangle and the directions that their relations may go in.
VIP guests joining the discussion include:
- Charlene Barshefsky, former US trade representative who oversaw the US side of the negotiations with Premier Zhu Rongji for China’s accession to the WTO in 2001;
- Jyrki Katainen, former EU Commission vice president and former prime minister of Finland, who spearheaded the EU’s work on jobs, growth, investment and competitiveness;
- Mikuláš Dzurinda, former prime minister of Slovakia who led his country through its accessions to both the EU and NATO, and who is known for advancing a series of key market reforms.