The opening remarks were made by the European Chamber Vice-President Charlotte Roule and the EU Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis. The expert speakers, Chai Qimin (director at the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation), along with Martin Raiser (Country Director for China and Mongolia at the World Bank) analysed the key trends on green development in China from a national and global perspective. During the panel discussion, industry representatives from the European Chamber, ABB and EDF Renewables discussed the major challenges in the past and present for European businesses in China’s energy and environment industries, the impact of the current policy landscape in the EU and China on European businesses (and particularly on SMEs), and recommendations for the EU and Chinese governments in terms of developing environmental policies conducive to economic growth. 

 

Participants agreed that, while there is a long way to go, the policy trends in China are positive and there are opportunities for European companies. Moving forward, it will be important for Chinese policymakers to ensure that change takes place as soon as possible, and that market forces are given the room to play a key role in the move towards a greener economy. From the business side, it will also be important to ensure that there is a level-playing field between domestic and foreign companies, and between state-owned and privately-owned players, and that opening up measures continue.