May
European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy visited Beijing and Shanghai. Commissioner McCreevy had talks with Chinese government officials and met with Chamber members in Shanghai to discuss the Chinese financial sector and the hurdles that European financial services providers face in China.
June
European Commissioner Peter Mandelson held strategic discussions in Beijing with members of our Executive Committee and of the Advisory Council on the future of EU-China relations.
8th November
Members of the European Chamber’s Advisory Council and Executive Committee had lunch with EU Trade Commission Peter Mandelson in Beijing. This provided the opportunity for the Trade Commissioner to inform the Chamber about his meetings with his Chinese counterparts, as well as members to brief the Trade Commissioner on problems faced by European companies doing business in China.
Mandelson first took the opportunity to discuss the current and potential issues that the European Union faces with regards to trade with China. China is the European Union’s second-largest trading partner after the US and is a key priority for the Trade Commissioner. He emphasised the importance of both the European Union and China opening up to trade and the benefits for both countries of a reduction in trade barriers.
The Chamber’s Vice President Joerg Wuttke then opened the discussion about the business climate for European companies in China. Wuttke said that the Chamber continues to support the work of the EU Commission and will keep providing examples of where there has been good progress made with regard to WTO commitments and where improvements can be made.
The lunch provided the Chamber with an excellent platform to highlight to the Trade Commissioner specific issues and demonstrated the continued cooperation the Chamber has with the EU Commission and Delegation here in China. The Chamber continues to be the voice of European business in China.
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