Ministry Drinks at the European Chamber

The European Chamber welcomed officials from a variety of Chi-nese ministries to a drinks reception at the Beijing office, followed by a presentation on the activities of the Chamber.

This event offered the unique opportunity to create stronger relations with the ministries, inform them of recent developments within the Chamber and also enjoy the end-of-summer evening.

Ministries represented included Ministry of Commerce (MOF-COM), China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), Ministry of Information Industry (MII), Ministry of Construction (MOC), State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), State Council's Leg-islative Affairs office (SCLAO), State Intellectual Property office (SIPO), General Administration of Customs (GAC), State Admin-istration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA), Ministry of Finance (MOF), State Administration of Tax-ation (SAT), China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), State Administra-tion of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) and General Admin-istration of Quality Supervi-sion, Inspection and Quaran-tine (AQSIC).

2nd European Chamber Open House in Shanghai

A different welcome back after a long summer break was or-ganized to host over 50 guests interested in art while sipping delicious European wines, teas and canapes sponsored by Tor-res China and Tea Galleria. Up to 20 paintings provided by Yi Yunhu, a skilled artist from Leshan (Sichuan), decorated the office, and his daugh-ter and friends were there to provide further explanations. For this purpose a wonderful prospectus complemented his presentations as a gift to at-tending lovers of traditional Chinese art. Neighbours also joined in to create a truly warm atmosphere with the objective of supporting busi-ness and culture.

Thomas Felber, Shanghai General
Manager, and artist Yi Yunhu
Zhang Zhe of MOFCOM and Giorgio Magistrelli, European Chamber EGM

Lobby Actions

Chamber discusses climate change

European Chamber member companies met with Henry Derwent, Tony Blair's Special Representative on Climate Change, on Tuesday September 6 to discuss the growing EU-China co-operation on climate change. All participants were upbeat, recognizing the progressive steps China has taken over the past year to tackle the growing environmental issues. The Joint Declaration on Climate Change released at the EU-China Summit on Monday paves the way for fu-ture EU-China cooperation in the areas of energy efficiency, energy conservation, new and renewable energy and clean coal, among others.

Members of the Chamber also welcomed cooperation on fur-thering the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in China and look forward to more frequent dialogue on CDM in China. They were hopeful that EU-China dialogue may help to resolve the remaining 51 percent Chinese majority ownership requirement, a key concern highlighted in the 2005 Position Paper. The require-ment has discouraged EU companies from establishing CDM projects in China.

Shanghai Chapter's successful breakfast seminar on Commercial Real Estate

On August 31, the European Chamber successfully organized a Breakfast Seminar in Shanghai on the topic of .Commercial Real Estate in China'. The objective of the meeting was to dis-cuss the complexity of the Chinese real estate market and to achieve a better understanding of the current issues. More than sixty members and guests of the Chamber attended the seminar. Thomas Felber, General Manager of the Shanghai Chapter of the European Chamber, introduced representatives from Sim-mons & Simmons and Chesterton Petty as the key speakers.

The key issue was cooperative property implementation. De-tails were given on Chinese government policy with regard to cooperative land purchasing and leasing, and on the legal issues and restrictions for land user rights and titles. Land transactions and .nancing options should also be considered with regard to their environment impact. The informative seminar was well re-ceived by all who attended. Follow-up events are currently be-ing planned.

European Chamber briefs EU Commissioner Vladimir Spidla

On September 7, the European Chamber was honoured to welcome EU Commissioner Spidla, responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, to the Beijing Chapter office during the Commissioner's first of.cial visit to China. On this occasion the European Chamber had the opportunity to present to the Commis-sioner the views of European business in China. Chairmen and other members of the Chamber represented the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Working Group and the Human Resources (HR) Working Group at this brie.ng, which de-tailed the activities of the Chamber and the current environment in China in these areas.

Areas of interest focused on by the CSR Working Group included the different perspec-tives of CSR, supply chain issues and examples of business engagement with the community. The areas detailed by the HR Working Group included pension plans, vocational training, unemployment and income tax regulations for Chinese national employees overseas.

State Administration of Taxation meets with Trade & Distribution Working Group

The Trade & Distribution Working Group in Beijing welcomed a delegation from the State Administration of Taxation (SAT) at the Chamber on Thursday, August 18. The meeting addressing tax issues related to trade and distribution was very infor-mative, and both parties are interested in further exchange. MOFCOM DG speaks at Chamber Seminar

As agreed after the successful meeting of the Trade & Distribution and Legal Work-ing Groups with the Ministry of Com-merce (MOFCOM) in May 2005, MOF-COM welcomed the European Chamber.s invitation to meet with a larger audience of European industry representatives at a Breakfast Seminar on August 25. In his opening remarks, Mr. Hu Jingyan, Di-rector General of the Foreign Investment Administration, acknowledged the im-portance of this form of direct exchange between MOFCOM and the European Chamber. Further clari.cations and up-dates regarding the implementation of the regulations on foreign invested com-mercial enterprises (FICEs) were also provided.

Upcoming Chamber Events

Dates and times of events are subject to change. For more information about these events and others and how to register for them, please visit our website at www.euccc.com.cn

Beijing

WHO Breakfast Seminar
The Effect of Epidemics on Business Location: Capital Club
Price: 150 RMB Members, 250 RMB
Non-Members
The European Chamber is pleased to welcome Dr Henk Bekedam from the World Health Organization to speak on the effects that epi-demics have on business. The result of SARS on the business environment in China was in-stantaneous but the longer-term effects of this disease took time to become fully evident. With Bird Flu becoming an increasingly evi-dent problem in Asia, there are concerns from many industries as to how this epidemic will affect them.
SME Breakfast Seminar
Time: 8.30am
Location: Capital Club, Beijing
Price: 150 RMB Members, 250 RMB
Non-Members
The 4th seminar for the SME Working Group will be held in October. The SME Working Group offers a platform for European SMEs to network, exchange views and experience, and join efforts to relay their concerns to the Chi-nese government. The SME Working Group will be event-driven, aiming at providing regu-lar updates and practical information about de-velopments in a Chinese business environment particularly challenging for moderate size op-erators.
European Chamber Sectoral Brie.ngs
Date: October - November
Location: European Chamber office, Beijing
Price: No Charge
The European Chamber will be hosting a series of Sectoral Brie.ngs for non-member compa-nies throughout October and November. Focus will be on updates of the Working Groups and an introduction of the Chambers activities. In-vitation only.
European Chamber Charity
Gala Dinner - Touch an
Orphan's Life
Location: Kempinski Hotel,
Beijing
Price: 800 RMB Members, 900 RMB
Non-Members
Following the success of the Charity Gala Din-ner hosted last year by the EU-China Manag-er's Association, the European Chamber has been invited to continue the event and host it in its 5th year. Last year's gala dinner raised 650,000 RMB for charitable projects that ben-e.t orphans. Sponsorship opportunities and ticket purchase information for the 2005 event is available on the Chamber website.

Nanjing

Symposium on Chinese
Organizational Behavior
Location: Xuanwu Hotel 2F
Price: 200 RMB Members, 350 RMB
Non-Members
The European Chamber is pleased to welcome Mr John A Froebe Jr, Managing Director of the member company Nanjing Amertech Com-pressed Air Solutions Ltd, to outline the question of Chinese organizational behavior. The meeting will be made up of Chinese and foreigners with hands-on experience in this area and it will aim at (1) an initial exchange of views as to where the impediments lie, and (2) achievement of a con-sensus on a working approach.
Factory tour
Date: Last week of October
Price: 50 RMB Members
Venue: TBC
Working Group activities of the European Chamber will concentrate on the planning of lobbying action. Special meetings will be called - dates tbc.