Category: China Dispatches

Episode 25: HR strategies for a rapidly changing world

HR strategies for a rapidly changing world

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 chair of European Chamber’s Human Resources Forum in Beijing, and Ning Fei, Head of HR and Workplace, Airbus in China. They discuss HR strategies and best practices from European companies’ perspectives.

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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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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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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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Episode 21: EU Tour and the Future of EU-China Relations

EU Tour and the Future of EU-China Relations

After 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.

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Episode 20: Bridging the EU and China with Food

Bridging the EU and China with Food

In 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.

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Episode 19: Shifting Supply Chain Strategies

Shifting Supply Chain Strategies

In 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.

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Episode 18: The Journey to China

The Journey to China

In 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.

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Episode 17: Outcomes from the EU-China HED

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.

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Episode 16: Can carbon neutrality be achieved on time?

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.

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