China Direct

COP26 Explained - UK Govt publishes comprehensive Guide

Dear CBI Members and Partners,

Please find a link below to the UK Government's comprehensive Guide to COP26 explaining the background to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in detail with some useful FAQs and a helpful timeline of key events between June and the event at the end of 2021.

COP26Explained

Thank You

CHINA DIRECT

 

European Business in China - 2021 Business Confidence Survey Summary

Dear CBI members and stakeholders,

Please find bilingual summaries of the 2021 EUCCC Business Confidence Survey below:

Key findings

Prospects, last year, seemed quite gloomy: an early 2020 survey, conducted jointly by the European Chamber and the German Chamber of Commerce in China, found that half of respondents expected 2020 revenue to drop year-on-year (y-o-y), and a mere 0.5% anticipated revenue growth. In fact, only a quarter of respondents to the BCS 2021 reported revenue declines and 42% experienced growth. Strong performance was indicated in other areas as well:

• Three out of four respondents turned a profit in 2020, the same proportion as the last five years, demonstrating that even in challenging times, European companies adapted and found success.
• 68% are optimistic about future growth, a significant 20 percentage point increase y-o-y.
• Commitment to the China market remains strong – a mere 9% of respondents are considering shifting any current or planned investment out of China, the lowest share on record.

Yet, as geopolitical tensions grow, companies are looking for ways to decrease their exposure, particularly to possible cross-border disruptions resulting from either the trade war or the ongoing technological divergence between China and the west.

• Only 21% of manufacturers reported that they do not import critical components. Meanwhile, a third import components or equipment for which there are no viable alternatives. The rest can find other solutions, but at higher costs, lower quality and/or with compatibility issues.
• In response, over a quarter of manufacturers are onshoring at least some of their supply chains, five times as many as are offshoring.
• European companies in joint ventures with local partners are strengthening their positions, with 27% increasing their shares, and two thirds are taking full ownership or a controlling share.

Meanwhile, as China’s reform agenda continues to lag, and external risks surge, it is imperative that reform efforts accelerate and long-standing regulatory challenges are resolved to offset emerging ones.

• Market access barriers are reported by 45% of members, a marginal increase from the 44% that felt the same in 2020.
• Unequal treatment persists for 47% of respondents.
• SOE reform appears to have stalled, with only 15% of respondents expecting the private sector to gain opportunities at the expense of the state-owned sector, and 48% expecting the opposite.
• Compelled technology transfers persisted for 16% of respondents, the same as 2020 despite the Foreign Investment Law coming into force.
• A third of respondents have been negatively impacted by the new regulatory requirements related to “critical information infrastructure” and “autonomous and controllable technology”.

“Our members’ long-term commitment to the China market paid dividends in 2020, but geopolitical tensions are forcing us to reconsider our strategies here,” said Charlotte Roule, Board Member of the European Chamber. “European companies are not decoupling by leaving China, but instead are considering which cross-border ties between China operations and global ones can and must be cut.”

“European companies both contributed to and benefited from China’s strong and speedy economic recovery," said Denis Depoux, Global Managing Director of Roland Berger. "If given the right opportunities, they are ready to deepen their positions here, and have a wealth of technology and expertise to drive not only growth, but also help with China’s decarbonisation goals and its industrial upgrade."

Download 2021 EUCCC Business Confidence Survey Summary CH

To download the full Report please click here.

Our thanks to the EUCCC for kindly sharing this information.

CBI Road to Net Zero Conference 14-15 June

Dear CBI Members and Stakeholders,

The CBI is delighted to invite its members to join next week's Road to Net Zero Conference scheduled for 14-15 June 2021.

For a detailed schedule please visit the Conference link below:

CBI Road to Net Zero Conference 2021

For further information and booking enquiries please contact: ed.mcduff@cbi.org.uk

UK-CHINA Lifestyle Newsletter June 2021

Dear CBI Members and Partners,

Kindly find the latest UK-China Lifestyle Newsletter covering the latest developments in brands, consumer goods and related sectors.

Download China Lifestyle Newsletter - 07 June 2021

Our sincere thanks to Rebecca Li of DIT Shanghai for kindly sharing with the CBI's China team.

China Dialogue - Environmental News Digest 31 May - 03 June 2021

 

Dear CBI members and Partners,

Please review the latest environmental news digest from China Dialogue below.

 

Download News digest China Dialogue 31 May - 03 June 2021

 

For more reports, interviews and insights into a country shaping the world please review China Dialogue directly here.

With grateful thanks to the team at China Dialogue for so very kindly sharing.

 

 

ASEAN-UK Race to Zero Dialogues 24-25 May - Summary

ASEAN-UK Race to Zero campaign brings together businesses to discuss corporate climate action ahead of COP26

On 24 and 25 May 2021, the UK Government, in partnership with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and the UK-ASEAN Business Council, brought together UK and ASEAN businesses to mobilise the private sector to commit to net zero emissions by 2050, through joining the UNFCCC’s Race to Zero campaign.

More than 500 participants joined the two-day event, with businesses from the UK and ASEAN discussing the need for stronger corporate climate action in ASEAN and visible business leadership via the global Race to Zero campaign. The Race to Zero coalition calls for businesses, cities, regions and universities to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest. The event is further proof of our strong cooperation with ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Cooperation Framework on COP26, endorsed by the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN Member States last year.

For a full summary and access to presentations and external resources please visit here.

China Direct would like to thank the UKABC for very kindly sharing this content.

 

China Dialogue - Environmental News Digest 21-27 May 2021

Dear CBI members and Partners,

Please review the latest environmental news digest from China Dialogue below.

Download News digest China Dialogue 21-27 May 2021

For more reports, interviews and insights into a country shaping the world please review China Dialogue directly here.

With grateful thanks to the team at China Dialogue for so very kindly sharing.

China IP Newsletter May 2021

Dear CBI Members and Colleagues,

Please find the latest IP Newsletter below highlighting the latest news and IP developments in China.

Download China IP Newsletter May 2021

For more information kindly contact: leo.zhuang@fcdo.gov.uk

China Direct would like to thank the IP team for sharing this information.

British Business in China 2021 Position Paper - Full Report

Dear CBI Members and Partners,

Kindly find the Full Report below for your convenience.

Download BritCham China Position Paper 2021 ENG-min[7401]

Our thanks to the British Chamber of Commerce in China for sharing the full document.

IP Rights SE Asia Webinar 26 May 2021

Dear Members and Partners,

Kindly find details of an IP Rights webinar covering SE Asia to be held tomorrow, Wednesday 26th May from 1330-1530 (BKK time) and hosted by the IP SE Asia SME Help Desk with support from the EUIPO.

For further information and to register please click here.

Many thanks.

CHINA DIRECT