European Chamber Joins Roundtable with Beijing Vice Mayor Sima Hong
2024-06-13 | All chapters
On 13th June 2024, European Chamber Vice President Stefan Bernhart attended a roundtable dialogue with Beijing Vice Mayor Sima Hong. Also in attendance were officials from the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, the Beijing Municipal Intellectual Property Office, the Exit and Entry Administration of Beijing Municipal Public Bureau and the Government of Tongzhou District.
Bernhart welcomed the opportunity to meet with the vice mayor and discuss the development of foreign business in the city. He outlined the Chamber’s recommendations in five specific areas: cross-border data transfer, healthcare innovation, development of green industries, recruitment of highly skilled foreign professionals and promotion of value-added telecom services.
On cross-border data transfer, he called for the introduction of a green channel to facilitate data transfer and a clear definition of ‘important data’. On healthcare innovation, he suggested optimising policy disclosure and guidance for innovative products and simplifying market access for new technologies and products. On the development of green industries, he recommended encouraging the participation of foreign businesses in Beijing’s carbon strategy. On the promotion of value-added telecom services, Bernhart welcomed the opening up of this sector and urged the implementation of the pilot project announced for Beijing. He added that the Chamber was prepared to work with the Beijing government on this initiative.
Bernhart also suggested improving living conditions for foreign nationals in Beijing to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment, making it easier for companies to recruit and retain skilled foreign professionals.
Sima highlighted the importance of investment access, fair competition, cross-border data transfer and better services for foreign nationals in Beijing. She reiterated the importance of regular communication with the foreign business community, maintaining business confidence and recommendations to the Beijing Government on improving the business environment.