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Episode 24: Joerg Wuttke, passing the baton

Joerg Wuttke, passing the baton

One 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.

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24th May 2023: resumption of international cruises, unified national market, FDI

This episode covers the resumption of international cruises, with comments from Tiger Young, chair of the European Chamber’s Maritime Manufacturing and Industrial Services Working Group; government plans for establishing a unified national market; and foreign direct investment into China in the first four months of 2023. From the Chamber side, the inaugural Government Affairs Conference will be held on 7th June in Beijing.

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Episode 23: European companies’ dilemma about localising R&D into China

European companies’ dilemma about localising R&D into China

The 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.

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17th May 2023: Carbon emissions, producer and consumer prices, production and consumption data

This episode covers China’s carbon emissions in the first quarter of 2023, with comments from Clement Lix, vice chair of the European Chamber’s Energy Working Group; producer and consumer prices in April; industrial production activity, retail sales and urban unemployment data in April. From the Chamber side, South China Chapter attended a meeting with the Guangdong governor.

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10th May 2023: Manufacturing activity and foreign trade data in April, direction of China’s economy

This episode contains manufacturing activity in April; the direction of China’s economy in the first quarter of 2023 outlined in a third-party report; signals from April Politburo meeting on China’s economy; and foreign trade data in April. From the Chamber side, recent high-level engagements with key interlocutors were introduced.

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26th Apr. 2023: Auto Shanghai, first quarter FDI, EU-China high-level meeting

This episode covers the Shanghai International Automotive Industry Exhibition, with comments from Mr Zhang Hongzhuo, chair of the Automotive Working Group; China’s foreign direct investment in the first quarter of 2023; a high-level meeting between the European Union and China; and measures aimed at stabilising foreign trade. From the Chamber side, a new report and a new issue of EURObiz magazine on research and development in China are introduced.

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19th Apr. 2023: First quarter GDP growth, macroeconomic and foreign trade data in March

This episode covers China’s first quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, macroeconomics indexes and foreign trade data in March. From the Chamber side, join the Nanjing Position Paper 2023/2024 launch on 27th April to learn more about the Chamber’s recommendations on improving Jiangsu’s business environment.

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Episode 22: EU Digitalisation Policies and Related Exchanges with China

EU Digitalisation Policies and Related Exchanges with China

As 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.

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12th Apr. 2023: von der Leyen’s visit to Beijing, economic activity in March

This episode covers European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen’s visit to Beijing, China’s manufacturing and services activity in March, and policies and measures to stabilising China’s exports growth and employment.

From the Chamber side, the second report on China’s innovation system will launch on 21st April, focusing on the localisation dilemma that European companies face.

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29th Mar. 2023: cosmetics new measures, industrial profits, Hongqiao Airport

This episode covers new measures for further optimising the management of cosmetics raw material safety information, with comments from Jacky Zhang, chair of the Cosmetics Working Group; reported profits of large industrial companies in China in January and February; and Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport resumption of international flight services. Join our event on China’s economic recovery beyond the Two Sessions in Beijing on 31st March.

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