Chamber Annual Conference 2016: is Globalisation in Retreat? Go back »
2016-12-16 | Beijing
Held on 14th December, the Chamber’s annual conference, Globalisation in Retreat: Risks and Opportunities for China, was opened by HE Hans-Dietmar Schweisgut, EU Ambassador to China. Addressing the 200 attendees, Ambassador Schweisgut listed the key issues in 2016 that have mapped the future global outlook, including Brexit, G20, Trump’s election and, to a lesser extent, the Italian referendum.
“Populist-fuelled discontent has become a major factor in the political discourse,” said the ambassador, explaining that for the first time the growing backlash to globalisation was addressed at length during the 2016 G20 Summit. Expanding on the EU-China relationship, Ambassador Schweisgut called for reciprocity in trade and investment, as it would confirm China’s commitment to fair and open trade and “would answer the concerns of those who fear that globalisation is a one-way street.”
Also delivering a keynote speech, European Chamber President Jörg Wuttke conveyed a more personal narrative. Having grown up in post-war Germany, which surrendered parts of its sovereignty in the pursuit of globalisation, he lamented, “Sometimes, we should not take things for granted, like globalisation.” On China’s position, President Wuttke noted that while “China has been the biggest beneficiary of globalisation this century”, the future relies on openness and full implementation of the rule of law. “China should not make the mistake of relying on past EU openness,” he cautioned.
Read President Wuttke's speech in full.
Read Ambassador Schweisgut's speech in full.
