European Business in China Position Paper 2024/2025 Go back »
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Time2024-09-11 | 14:00 - 16:00
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Venue:Beijing Ballroom, 3F, Four Seasons Hotel
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Address:No.48, Liang Ma Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
北京市朝阳区亮马桥路48号四季酒店三层北京厅 -
Fee:Members: Free/100* |
Non Members: 400
*Each member company may receive one complimentary ticket to the Position Paper launch. Additional participants from the same company will be charged RMB 100 per person for admission.
On 11th September, the European Chamber will publish its European Business in China Position Paper 2024/2025 (Position Paper 2024/2025), the culmination of six months dedicated work by our 50 working groups, sub-working groups, desks and fora. This year’s Executive Position Paper focuses on the lack of progress made by the Chinese authorities on pro-business reform pledges announced in the past year.
While doing business in China has never been easy, companies previously viewed the complex challenges they encountered as the ‘growing pains’ of an emerging market. However, with the risks of doing business increasing and the rewards decreasing, many investors are now confronted with the reality that their approach to the China market may require a strategic rethink.
There have been positive signals that China intends to address some of the challenges faced by foreign enterprises, most notably via the State Council’s 13th August 2023 Opinions on Further Optimising the Foreign Investment Environment and Increasing the Attraction of Foreign Investment (Opinions). However, one year on from the Opinions’ publication little to no progress has been made on the implementation of key points contained in the document. In tandem, some European HQs and shareholders are coming to the conclusion that the risks of investing in China are now starting to outweigh the returns, a trend that will only intensify if key business concerns are left unaddressed.
The Position Paper 2024/2025 details the challenges faced by European companies operating in China and provides more than 1,000 constructive recommendations to the Chinese Government on how they can be resolved. In short, it provides a blueprint for rebuilding business confidence in the Chinese market and restoring it as the preferred destination for global investment.
Join us to hear the key concerns of European businesses operating in China.
Agenda:
13:30-14:00 Registration
14:00-14:05 Opening Remarks
14:05-14:35 Presentation on Main Findings (on the record)
- Jens Eskelund, President, European Chamber
14:35-15:10 Panel Discussion (off the record)
- Jens Eskelund, President, European Chamber
- Stefan Bernhart, Vice President, European Chamber
- Gianni Di Giovanni, States' Representative, European Chamber
- Peter Ling-Vannerus, States' Representative, European Chamber
- Ninette Dodoo, Co-opted Board Member, European Chamber
Moderator: Mariann Nagy, Policy and Communications Manager, European Chamber
15:10-15:40 Q&A (off the record)
15:40-16:00 Coffee Break & Networking
*Each embassy and consulate of European member states may receive one complimentary ticket to the Position Paper Launch.
*The presentation is on the record, European Chamber spokespersons are to be quoted in their European Chamber capacity only. The panel discussion and Q&A session are off the record.
*English language with no translation services.
*This is an offline event only with limited onsite seating to be reserved on a first-come-first served basis.
Advisory Council Policy
Advisory Council members will be charged at regular member rate for this event. For further information contact Luyang Syvänen lsyvanen@europeanchamber.com.cn
Terms & Conditions
Events have limited seating so to ensure your attendance we encourage advance online registration and payment. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone not registered in advance.
- Members who need to be charged can pay via wechat QR code once registered.
- Non-members will receive an email with a payment code shortly.
Fapiao will be mailed to you within 5-10 working days after the event.
Cancellation Policy
If you cannot attend the event for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than one business day prior to the event. If you fail to notify us of your cancellation in a timely fashion, you will be charged for event costs.
To cancel you can: 1) email cdu@europeanchamber.com.cn, or 2) cancel online if you registered for the event through the website.
Disclaimer
Please notice that European Union Chamber of Commerce in China might take photographs from the event and post these on its public web-page (or social media platforms) in order to create awareness of these events. By attending this event you consent to European Union Chamber of Commerce in China taking and using such photographs as described above.
Speakers
Mr. Jens Eskelund
Jens Eskelund was born in 1970 in Aarhus, Denmark. He holds an MA in philosophy and has studied at University of Aarhus and University of Texas at Austin. He has also pursued studies in Chinese at Renmin University in Beijing. Coming to Beijing as a student in 1998, Jens Eskelund began his career in China as Commercial Officer at the Danish Embassy to China before taking on a position in marketing for Maersk Line in Beijing in 2000. He has since held positions as General Manager for Public Affairs for Maersk Line in China and later Director of Public Affairs for North Asia before assuming his present role as Chief Representative for Maersk in the Greater China Area and North-East Asia. Primary focus areas comprise engaging government entities, institutions and trade associations on matters of policy, regulatory environment and business development on behalf of the companies within the Maersk Group.
Jens Eskelund is a former Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China as well as the Vice President and Chair of Maritime Working Group of the European Chamber. Jens was elected as the President of European Chamber in May 2023.
Jens Eskelund is married and has two sons.
Mr. Stefan Bernhart
Stefan Bernhart holds a position as Director at Volkswagen Group China and manages the company’s international stakeholder relations. Prior to joining Volkswagen, he served the Federal Foreign Office as Economic and Industry Counsellor at the German Embassy in Beijing from 2016 to 2020. His previous industry experience includes leadership positions with Mercedes-Benz (previously Daimler AG) at HQ in Stuttgart. Stefan Bernhart holds a M.A. in Intercultural Communication and Economics.
Stefan was elected as the Vice President of the European Chamber in May 2023.
Dr. Gianni Di Giovanni
Dr. Di Giovanni was born on July 3, 1963, Italy. He obtained a master’s degree in Energy and Climate Change. He is the States' Representative of European Chamber since 2023.
• 2006-2013: Executive Vice President of Eni Communications.
• 2012-2015: President and CEO of the AGI SPA（Eni Group）.
• 2015-2020: Chairman of the Board of Directors of Eni USA Uptream, Chairman of the Board of Eni USA Downstream, Executive Vice President of Eni USA Branch Office.
• Since 2020, Chairman of the Eni China and Executive Vice President of Eni China Branch Office.
Mr. Peter Ling-Vannerus
Peter Ling-Vannerus is responsible for developing and managing the Bank’s Business in Northern China, as well as monitoring the political and economic development of China for SEB. He studied at INSEAD and Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Ms. Ninette Dodoo
Ninette Dodoo is a partner and head of the Antitrust, Competition and Trade practice of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and is based in Beijing.
Ninette spent over 10 years in Brussels advising on EU and multi-jurisdictional antitrust and foreign investment-related matters before relocating to Beijing in 2009. Ninette has extensive experience advising clients on merger control, antitrust investigations, and foreign investment review across a range of sectors including the technology, healthcare and life-sciences, consumer goods and retail, shipping and energy sectors. Ninette’s practice includes antitrust-related work in mainland China, Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region. Ninette is ranked as a leading lawyer in legal directories for antitrust and foreign investment.
Ninette is a Co-opted Member of the European Chamber Executive Committee.
Ms. Mariann Nagy
Mariann Nagy is a policy and communications manager at the European Chamber. In her role, she contributes to the Chamber’s reports and other publications and to the production of the Chamber’s two podcast series, China ShortCuts and China Dispatches. She is a sinologist by training, with a professional background in journalism and translation.