This episode contains segments on:

• The Action Plan for Stabilising, Promoting and Optimising Foreign Investment;
• China’s January–May fiscal revenue;
• The 4^th China International Supply Chain Expo; and
• Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger’s visit to China.

The EU-China Business Digest is a member-only weekly update on the latest economic, regulatory and political developments of most relevance to European businesses operating in China. Join the Chamber’s membership to receive the newsletter.

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Read more:

Action Plan for Stabilising, Promoting and Optimising Foreign Investment

https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/wgtzgl/art/2026/art_0cfe31a63f9c4bd3869517bc10908c10.html

https://www.news.cn/20260622/11befa2863ce4bd7b74a62e631758bec/c.html

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3357952/china-launches-plan-revive-foreign-investment-fdi-continues-fall

China’s January-May fiscal revenue

https://gks.mof.gov.cn/tongjishuju/202606/t20260622_3992033.htm

The 4^th China International Supply Chain Expo

https://en.cisce.org.cn/overview/basicinfo.html

Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger visits China

https://www.mfa.gov.cn/eng/xw/wsrc/202606/t20260621_11949294.html

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/r1rowtfb/en-20260619-european-council conclusions.pdf

https://www.ft.com/content/e220372c-b20e-418e-9f02-29a5aa269702?syn25a6b1a6=1

The EU-China Business Digest

https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/policy-updates-and-analysis/11301/the_eu_china_business_digest

European Chamber member benefits

https://www.europeanchamber.com.cn/en/membership-benefits

Transcript:

RUI: Hello and welcome to China ShortCuts,

XINHE: The European Chamber’s weekly catchup on China’s business landscape.

RUI: This episode was recorded on 24^th June 2026.

(MUSIC)

RUI: On 22^nd June, China’s Ministry of Commerce, National Reform and Development Commission and Ministry of Finance issued the Action Plan for Stabilising, Promoting and Optimising Foreign Investment. The document details 15 measures across five areas, which include expanding market access, optimising investment-related procedures, enhancing investment promotion efforts, and improving China’s “foreign investment service and guarantee system”.

XINHE: According to Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji, the action plan is in line with the text of China’s 15^th Five-year Plan, which outlines the need for the country to increase its efforts to attract foreign-direct investment—or FDI—and encourage foreign-invested firms to reinvestment their China earned profits back into the county, as well as to further promote market opening, particularly in the services sector.

The Chamber views the publication of the action plan as a positive development. Fully implementing the points contained in the document would go some way towards restoring China’s attractiveness as an investment destination.  

(MUSIC)

RUI: China recorded a 4 per cent year-on-year increase in its fiscal revenue during the first five months of 2026, according to data released by the Ministry of Finance on 22^nd June.

XINHE: Total tax revenue increased by 4.4 per cent compared to 2025’s levels—with increases in earnings of domestic value-added tax, or VAT; import VAT; and, customs duties all contributing to this—while non-tax revenue grew by 2.2 per cent.

Revenues earned from domestic consumption tax fell by 3.1 per cent year-on-year in the period running January to May, while revenues stemming from property-related taxes also fell, with revenues generated from deed taxes decreasing by 14.8 per cent and from land VAT by 14.2 per cent, amid ongoing headwinds facing China’s property sector.

(MUSIC)

RUI: The 4^th China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE)—which will take place from 22^nd to 26^th June—is currently being held in Beijing. The event will be attended by representatives from government, businesses and international organisations, at which they will exchange their views on global industrial and supply chains.

XINHE: Increasing supply chain resilience has emerged as a top priority for European businesses operating in China in recent years, following recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating geopolitical tensions exposing the fragility of global sourcing, production and distribution networks.

In this regard, two-thirds of respondents to the Chamber’s Business Confidence Survey 2026 reported having reviewed their supply chain strategies over the past two years, with:

• a third taking measures to further onshore their supply chains into China;
• 24 per cent taking steps to both on- and offshore into / from China;
• And 7 per cent solely offshoring parts of their supply chains from China and/or establishing alternative supply chains outside of the country.

(MUSIC)

RUI: Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Beate Meinl-Reisinger is currently in Beijing where she is leading a delegation of representatives from Austrian businesses to meet with Chinese stakeholders between 22^nd to 26^th June.

The visit takes place at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and comes shortly after visits being made to China by other EU and EU Member State officials in recent months including, a 12-member delegation led by MEP Engin Eroglu in May and a delegation of EU lawmakers overseeing market and consumer protection in March.

It also comes shortly prior to Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao visiting Brussels next week — which is scheduled to take place between 29^th and 30^th June.

XINHE: Meinl-Reisinger’s visit takes place against a backdrop of escalating EU-China trade and investment tensions, with discussions regarding how to address the EU’s growing trade deficit with China and the distortive impact of Chinese industrial policies on the EU Single Market, as well as strengthen the EU’s own industrial competitiveness increasingly gaining traction in Brussels and Member State capitals.

(MUSIC)

RUI: Since March 2025, the European Chamber has provided its members with the EU-China Business Digest, a weekly update on the latest economic, regulatory and political developments of most relevance to European businesses operating in China.

XINHE: Published on Fridays, the Digest is sent to members via a dedicated newsletter and can be accessed via the Chamber’s website. The service is currently accessible to Chamber members only.

RUI: We invite you to keep an eye out every Friday for new issues of the document.

Should you not yet be a Chamber member, then we encourage you to have a look at the link in the show notes on membership benefits, to find out more if joining the Chamber member would add value to your business. 

(MUSIC)

XINHE: Thanks for listening, and don’t forget to tune in again next week.

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