THE VOICE

The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China will hold its 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 24^th May, in Beijing. At this year’s AGM, elections will be held for the president (1 position), vice presidents (3 positions), and treasurer (1 position). The nomination period is from Thursday 6^th April 2023 until Friday 5^th May 2023. The AGM is a member only event.

Please click here for more information. Please contact Mr Luyang Syvänen at lsyvanen@europeanchamber.com.cn if you have any questions about your eligibility to participate, vote and/or run for the elections.

On 16^th March, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a notice of public consultation on the Green Industry Guidance Catalogue (2023 Edition) (Draft). For the full draft in Chinese, please click here.

If you would like to comment on the draft Catalogue through the European Chamber, please kindly send your input in Chinese and English, using the template (download here), to Ms Phoebe Yang at pyang@europeanchamber.com.cn before 13^th April.

If you have the English translation and are willing to share it, please kindly contact us. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

All comments will be consolidated and submitted to the NDRC in the name of the European Chamber, with all individual company comments remaining anonymous.

EU companies value Tianjin's green energy supply capacity, says European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (original in Chinese)

Xinhua, 16^th March

Chair Christoph Schrempp was quoted as saying that, “In the future, EU companies will increasingly focus on a city's ability to provide reliable green energy when choosing an investment destination in China, and on whether government policies are in line with corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives. This is because achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is crucial for most EU companies.”

FDI shows global firms upbeat about China

Global Times, 18^th March

"We are optimistic about the Chinese economy's prospects for this year. We expect that the impact of COVID-19 will be behind us at some point during the first quarter of this year, allowing for a rebound in the second quarter," said Jens Eskelund, vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

During the week of 13^th March, Irish Minister of Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications Eamon Ryan travelled to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. There he met a variety of industry and institutional stakeholders, including China's Minister for Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu (Irish and Chinese news). 

On 14^th March, European Union Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo met with Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Ling Ji (EEAS LinkedIn post). Ambassador Toledo also joined an online debriefing session with European Chamber members.

On 16^th March, the European Commission published proposals for a Critical Raw Materials Act and a Net Zero Industry Act (European Commission press releases for the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net Zero Industry Act).

Also on 16^th March, Politico reported that Chinese companies had been sending dual-use material to Russia (Politico article). The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), a group composed of like-minded lawmakers from several countries, released a statement on the issue (IPAC statement).

On 20^th March, European Union Ambassador to China Jorge Toledo met with State Administration for Market Regulation Minister Luo Wen (EEAS LinkedIn post).

From 20^th to 22^nd March, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met (Chinese MFA press release on the joint statement and press release on President Xi’s visit).

WATCH OUT FOR:

European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on the EU’s Strategic Compass and on the situation in the Taiwan straits on the 22^nd and 23^rd March (European Parliament meeting page).

European Council heads of state meeting on 23^rd and 24^th March, where among others the current situation in Ukraine and trade policy will be discussed (European Council President Charles Michel invitation letter to heads of state).

Potential discussion between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Chinese President Xi Jinping.