China Direct

2011 UK-China Trade Policy Discussion - call for business inputs!

 

 

Dear China Direct member,

Please note that the annual business discussion regarding market access and related trade policy issues is now underway.

Your inputs and on the ground experience of the realities of doing business in China provide critical information and policy inputs to the annual bilateral UK-China JETC (Joint Economic Trade Committee) process.

In 2010 we were delighted to learn that more than 18 CBI member companies provided inputs and, with your support, we are keen to see that number increase in 2011.

The CBI would be extremely grateful if members could review the attached documents (1. Invitation to Business 2. Background Briefing 3. Questionnaire) below and submit the questionnaire to our Beijing team (ben.cooper@cbi.org.uk) or UKTI (china.event@ukti.gsi.gov.uk) directly at their earliest convenience - and before the 25th May deadline.

1.Download 2011_04-05_invitation_letter_to_businesses

2.Download 2011_04-05_background_paper_for_businesses

3.Download 2011_04-05_business_consultation_questionnaire

If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact our office directly on 00861085253100.

Thank you as always for your continued support of the CBI in China.

Chinese President Hu Jintao's US visit - key business issues

 

 
[Images courtesy of www.crflags.com & www.mansfield.edu]

On the eve of President Hu Jintao's visit to the US the CBI's Beijing and Washington DC teams share with you below an overview of the key policy issues likely to feature during this important trip.

This follows a highly successful UK visit (09-12 Jan) by Vice Premier Li Keqiang which resulted in more than 2.6 billion GBP in business contracts being signed. 

China Direct would like to thank policy analysts Matt Bricken (matt.bricken@cbi.org.uk) in Washington DC and Ben Cooper (ben.cooper@cbi.org.uk) in Beijing for preparing this briefing.

 Download Hu US visit - key issues Jan 2011  

China's Indigenous Innovation policy & Foreign Business - 'eating bitterness in solitude'?

 

[Image courtesy of www.itic.org]

James McGregor, who hosted CBI members at APCO's Beijing offices in September, provides a fascinating insight into China's indigenous innovation strategy.

This is essential reading for businesses looking at their China strategies for 2011.

To view Mr. McGregor's article please click here.

China Direct would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas!

CBI DG in China for UK-CH Summit & CBI member success story

 
This week China Direct welcomes its Director General, Richard Lambert, to China.

Arriving earlier today Richard accompanied the UK Chancellor and senior executives of the UK's financial services sector on high level meetings with SAFE, People's Bank of China and Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the UK Prime Minister and main business delegation, consisting of more than fifty top businesses and institutions, will arrive in Beijing.

Richard and the CBI team will continue to support CBI members throughout a busy day of engagements with senior Chinese officials culminating in the UK-China Political Summit at the Hall of the People in Central Beijing.

CBI member and international architecture firm Benoy, winner of the 2009 British Business Award for Company of the Year, announced several new and important contracts in China today. Benoy will also be establishing an office in Beijing's Wangfujing district shortly.

Please find a full Press Release below.

Download Benoy China Press Release 08 Nov 10

EU-CHINA Summit Brussels 2010 - A win win summit?

 

 

The EU-China Business Summit took place in Brussels in early October.

Five key business issues were raised:

1. Government Procurement

2. An EU-CHINA bilateral investment agreement

3. Rare Earth Mineral quotas

4. Climate Change

5. Trade Imbalances

For more information please visit the following site or download the Joint Business Declaration below:

Download Joint Decl EU-CH Bus Summit Oct 10

 

EU-CHINA Summit Brussels 06 Oct 2010

 

  

[Images courtesy of www.robertamsterdam.com & www.prophezine.com]

The annual EU-CHINA Summit meets today in Brussels.

In advance of the summit China Direct was interviewed by BBC World News's Asia Business Report.

   

Key items on the EU-China agenda will be:

• A proposed bilateral investment agreement
• Government Procurement agreement
• Rare Earths Quotas (see previous China Direct references to this in Sept 2010)
• Climate Change
• EU-China Trade Imbalances
• IPR (greater enforcement of IP in China)

The CBI's Brussels team will be attending the Summit and will report back on developments in greater detail later this week.

Thank you

 

 

 

 

Indigenous Innovation - Member Event 20 Sept BJ

 

 

[Image courtesy of NY Daily News]

“Indigenous Innovation: What It Means for CBI Companies in China”

Date: Monday 20th Sept 2010

Time: 08:30-09:30

Location: APCO Worldwide, NCI Tower, 16F, 12A Jianguomenwai Ave, Beijing 100022

The CBI invites you to a presentation by Jim McGregor, where he will talk about China’s indigenous innovation policies and the impact they may have on CBI member companies in China. 

Jim is a Senior Counselor at APCO Worldwide and is the author of the bestselling book One Billion Customers: Lessons from the Front Lines of Doing Business in China. 

Jim will talk about China’s indigenous innovation campaign and its surrounding web of industrial policies, and how they are impacting China’s relationships with international business and the developed world. 

Jim recently authored a report on this topic that has already generated a great deal of reaction and comment, and we hope this presentation will continue that debate.  

For further details or to register directly please contact Roger Somerville of APCO directly via:

rsomerville@apcoworldwide.com tel: 010 65055127 ext 222 or M: 00 86 13701062905

Thank You  

Richard Lambert - China Visit & Commentary Sept 2010

 

 

CBI Director General Richard Lambert recently concluded a week long visit to China.

His trip coincided with the UK's National Day at Shanghai EXPO, a visit to meet the Party Secretary of Jiangsu in Nanjing and extensive engagement with CBI member companies in Beijing and Shanghai.

Please download Richard's comments and observations on the Chinese economy and business environment below.

Download RL China Letter 13 May 2010

2010 EUCCC Annual Position Paper - Losing Market Share?

 

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.euccc.com.cn]

The 2010/11 annual EUCCC Position Paper was launched yesterday in Beijing. China Direct attended the launch and has attached the Executive Summary below for members' convenience.

Headlines included:

• Greater transparency in regulatory framework; better implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations required by business
• China's 'Indigenous Innovation' and 'Intellectual Property Policies' are restricting market access to EU business
• Only 3% of EU outbound investment (E5.3 bn) goes to China due to restrictive certification and trade policies (In comparison some 9% of EU outbound investment goes to Switzerland alone)
• Sectors most affected by these discriminatory policies include: Auto, Banking, Construction, Healthcare Equipment, Insurance, IT, Petrochemicals and Telecom Equipment

Policy Recommendations included:

1. Greater EU business involvement in economic & regulatory dialogues and Policy Working Groups
2. Increased consultation and alignment on a common China policy at EU and EU member state level
3. Greater business involvement in consultations leading to the release of China's 12th 5 Year Plan
4. Increased national and municipal engagement between foreign business and Chinese government

Download 2010 EUCCC Position Paper Executive Summary 

 

 

 

 

 

 

China Economic Focus August 2010

[Image courtesy of www.godanriver.com ] 
  
An overview and summary (download below) of key economic and trade figures for Aug 2010.

• China's economy surpassed Japan's to become the second largest after the US
• Economic growth has moderated from 11.9% (1st Q 2010) to 10.3%
• Monthly trade surplus rose to US$28.7 billion in July; RMB appreciated by only 0.4% vs US$
• Consumer inflation rose to 3.3% in July due to food price spike. Target of 3% for 2010
• Continued cooling of property market; prices rose by 'only' 10.3% in July in 70 major cities
• The CBRC, China's Banking Regulator, has strengthened supervision over lending to local government investment vehicles
• Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) listing in Shanghai & HK in July was the world's largest IPO
• Research by the CRF (China Reform Foundation) revealed that 'true' average income levels could be 90% higher than official figures suggest.

      Download CEF Aug 2010

China Direct would like to extend its grateful thanks to Peter Mumford and his team at the British Embassy in Beijing for providing this monthly update.