This episode covers the recently issued guidelines for establishing national standards in 2023, with comments from Chen Bolei, national chair of the Chamber’s Standards and Conformity Assessment Working Group; high-level visits from the European Union (EU) and several EU Member States to China in 2023; easing of inbound travel requirements; and consumption and urban employment drops in 2022. Join the event on 9^th March on legislative developments in China’s export control regime and companies’ compliance management.

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Note:

The segment on new guidelines for national standards setting was brought to you by Ester Cañada Amela, senior business manager at the European Chamber.

Read more:

Guidelines for establishing national standards in 2023 (in Chinese)

http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2023-02/21/content_5742536.htm

Global Times interview with Ambassador Fu Cong:

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202302/1286161.shtml

Notice on updated travel regulations:

https://www.chinaqw.com/qwxs/2023/02-28/352801.shtml

2022 national and economic development datRUI:

http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/zxfb/202302/t20230227_1918980.html

Chamber hybrid event: Recent Legislative Developments in China’s Export Control Regime and Enterprise Cross-border Compliance Management

https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/upcoming-events/23563/_Hybrid_Recent_Legislative_Developments_in_China_s_Export_Control_Regime_and_Enterprise_Cross_border_Compliance_Management_Bilingual_

Transcript:

RUI: Hello and welcome to China Shortcuts,

MARIANN: the European Chamber’s weekly catchup about the Chinese business landscape.

(MUSIC)

RUI: China’s Standardisation Administration recently issued guidelines for establishing national standards in 2023, calling for further opening up of the national standards system.

MARIANN: The document outlined that China should actively move towards adopting international standards and improve the compatibility of national and international standards. It advised that when submitting standardisation proposals at the national level, submissions should be done at the international level too, in order to advance the use of Chinese technology worldwide. The guidelines also included requirements aimed at   accelerating the transformation of scientific and technological innovation achievements into standards. The document highlights the role of standards in China’s attempts to achieve scientific and technological self-reliance and urged for the advancement of standardisation for the creation, use, protection and management of intellectual property.

RUI: When asked about the guidelines, Chen Bolei, national chair of the Chamber’s Standards and Conformity Assessment Working Group expressed hope that they will help improve the consistency between Chinese and international standards, as they require a systematic analysis of international standards as a pre-condition for standardisation projects. He highlighted that the Chamber’s Standards and Conformity Working Group has been advocating for further harmonisation between international and domestic standards for several years.

(MUSIC)

RUI: In a recent, exclusive interview with Global Times, Fu Cong, head of the Chinese mission to the EU said that the EU and China are expected to resume frequent high-level mutual visits in the near future.

MARIANN: The ambassador said that preparations are already underway for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel’s visit to China to take place in the first half of 2023. A number of high-level visits from EU members states are also expected to take place in the year ahead. French President Emmanuel Macron said he would visit China in early April, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni accepted an invitation for a visit from Chinese President Xi Jinping when they met at the G20 summit last November.

RUI: Resuming face-to-face exchanges at all levels is an important step towards rebuilding trust that was eroded during China’s almost three-year-long isolation. While China is yet to restart issuing tourist visas and further optimising inbound business travel for foreign nationals, recent announcements by some of China’s diplomatic missions overseas provide some scope for optimism.

MARIANN: According to notices released by the Chinese Embassies in a handful of countries, including Hungary and New Zealand, starting from 1^st March, passengers travelling to China will no longer be required to present a PCR test result, but instead can use antigen tests to report their health status to China’s customs authorities. The notice also highlighted that airlines will no longer check passengers’ test results for boarding. However, inbound travellers will still be tested upon arrival in China and, if infected, will be subjected to home quarantine or medical treatment depending on their condition.

(MUSIC)

RUI: On 28^th February, the National Bureau of Statistics released a report about national and economic development in 2022. The data showed unusual drops in consumption and urban employment.

MARIANN: As strict COVID-control measures brought grave challenges to business operations for the most part of 2022, China’s cities shed more than 8 million jobs from the previous year. At the same time, the annual growth of per capita disposable income slowed significantly from 2021. As unpredictable pandemic controls created uncertainty about financial security in China’s households, per capita spending also shrank in 2022, with retail sales of consumer goods and catering revenue both declining compared to the previous year, according to the official dataset.

(MUSIC)

RUI: On 30^th December 2022, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and several other relevant authorities jointly announced a series of amendments to the Catalogue of China’s Prohibited and Restricted Technology Export.

MARIANN: These amendments proposed that certain raw materials or technologies—namely rare earths, integrated circuits, photovoltaic silicon wafers, electronic devices and laser radar—be included in the scope of export prohibition or restriction.

MARIANN: Join us on 9^th March to find out what new regulations can be expected as a result, and what adjustments companies will need to make to ensure compliance.

RUI: Thanks for listening. Tune in again next week.

MARIANN: In the meantime, find useful links in the episode notes.