On 20^th March, the European Chamber in partnership with China Macro Group published the report Riskful Thinking: Navigating the Politics of Economic Security. In the special edition, we have asked the European Chamber’s current president Jens Eskelund and three former presidents Joerg Wuttke, Mats Harborn and Davide Cucino to share their insights on the topic of risk management from the perspectives of business and policy.

This episode contains segments on:

• China’s foreign trade data in January and February;
• Visa-free travel trial to more European countries;
• Producer price index and consumer price index in February.

Also, listeners are invited to attend the launch of the Chamber’s latest publication, dedicated to the topic of risk management at both the political and corporate level, in Beijing on 20^th March.

This episode contains segments on:

• the government work report 2024 on foreign investment;
• the purchasing managers’ index in February;
• EU-China trade in goods in 2023;
• the mobile payment limits for foreign visitors.

From the Chamber’s side, on 4^th March, President Jens Eskelund met with Dutch Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.

This episode contains segments on:

• the recent State Council executive meeting on economic priorities for 2024;
• the twelfth EU-China Industrial Policy Dialogue;
• the 2023 report of Office of the United States Trade Representative on China’s WTO compliance and
• the revised Law on Guarding State Secrets.

From the Chamber’s side: join us on 7th March online or in person in Shanghai to hear influential business leaders’ insights on closing the gender gap and guidance to those seeking to advance in their careers.

This episode contains segments on the latest forecasts by the IMF and the OECD for China’s GDP growth; on the State Council’s new, temporary regulations for carbon emmission trading and on the Rhodium Group’s note on the lack of clarity on China’s economic policymaking. From the Chamber’s side: a Chamber delegation led by President Eskelund met with Zhao Shitong, assistant minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China; and a reminder for all our eligible members to complete the Business Confidence Survey 2024 before it closes on 9th February.

This episode contains segments on an implementation plan for piloting the comprehensive reform of Shanghai’s Pudong New Area; on 2023 profits at China’s larger industrial firms; on China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index in January 2024 and on a quarterly report by the National Institution for Finance and Development on China’s macro leverage ratio. From the Chamber’s side, on 24th January, the European Chamber co-hosted the first EU-Guangzhou Business Dialogue, which it organised jointly with Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce and Huangpu District Government of Guangzhou focussing on addressing issues related to the city’s most recent policies for foreign companies, as well as challenges faced by the Chamber’s member companies operating in the Greater Bay Area.

This episode contains segments on China’s 2023 inbound and outbound passenger flows and the number of its foreign residents; on China’s intention to extend its visa-free policy to two more European countries; on the country’s actual use of foreign direct investment in 2023; on the restart of trading of voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction credits and on the declining number of privately-owned companies among of China’s top 100 listed firms. From the Chamber’s side: the Business Confidence Survey 2024 opened on 15th January to collect members’ feedback on China’s business environment.

This episode contains segments on producer and consumer prices in China in December 2023; on China’s 2023 foreign trade data; on five measures announced by the National Immigration Administration to facilitate foreign nationals’ visits to China and on China’s 2023 GDP and other key economic indicators. From the Chamber’s side: the Business Confidence Survey 2024 officially opened online on 15th January, with a link to the survey and a unique access code sent to the primary contacts of all member companies. Complete the survey before 9th February to add your company’s voice to the Chamber’s advocacy messaging for the coming year.

This episode contains segments on China’s official manufacturing and services activity in December; on the country’s actual use of foreign direct investment in January-November and on profits at larger industrial firms in China in the first eleven months of 2023. From the Chamber’s side: join us on 16th January online or in person in Beijing to hear economists and industry experts forecasts for the year ahead, and find out what potential risks and opportunities they think businesses and investors should be aware of in the evolving economic landscape of China.

This episode contains segments on China’s November key economic indicators, including industrial production, retail sales, urban unemployment and fixed-asset investments; on a new research note by the Rhodium Group on how China’s slowing economic growth is likely to impact its spending on science and technology and on the State Council’s latest discussion on accelerating the establishment of a unified national market. From the Chamber’s side: the latest issue of EURObiz, which is now available to download for free, introduces the different challenges companies face in talent recruitment.