European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
SH Construction
Upcoming Meeting and Chair Elections
Friday, 9 March 2012, 10am-12pm
European Chamber Shanghai (Shui On Plaza, Unit 2204, 333 Huai Hai Zhong Road)
Dear Working Group Member,
The European Chamber is pleased to invite you to the next Construction Working Group meeting. It will be held on Friday, 9 March, 10am-12pm, at the European Chamber Shanghai office.
Tentative Agenda
- Presentation, Ms. Yawei Zeng, Chief Representative, China, Scientific and Technical Centre for Buildings (CSTB)
- 2012-2013 Chair elections
- Position Paper 2012-2013 preliminary discussion
- member feedback on WG events for 2012
At this meeting, Ms. Yawei Zeng, Chief Representative, Scientific and Technical Centre for Buildings (CSTB), will give a presentation on the Centre’s recent work in China in sustainable development, one of its core areas of expertise, including its Eco-Home Project for the 2010 Expo. In addition, an overview of CSTB’s first book “The Sustainable Design Handbook”, produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development (MOHURD), will be given as well as a brief introduction of the Centre’s soon-to-be-published second book, which focuses on urbanisation, entitled “Cities and Forms”.
Additionally, we will hold 2012-2013 Chair elections. The Construction Chair and Vice-Chairs play a crucial role in driving the Working Group, which includes a leadership role in the drafting of the Position Paper, communicating key messages to Chinese and European government authorities and steering Working Group meetings. The desired characteristics of a Chair and Vice-Chairs are a senior industry representative with relevant industry expertise and government contacts who has the time and willingness to support the Working Group. Previous participation in the Working Group is essential.
Should you be interested in putting your name forward for election, please, firstly, read the attached Working Group Chairs’ Code of Conduct and Roles and Responsibilities documents. To apply, please send a short biography and motivation letter, stating whether you intend to run for Chair or Vice-Chair, to Ms. Bettina Buck at bbuck@europeanchamber.com.cn by Thursday, 1 March COB. For the Construction Working Group, it is possible to have at most one Chair and two Vice-Chairs.
In accordance with European Chamber internal guidelines, another email will be sent to the Working Group prior to the election, with the biographies and motivation letters of all candidates attached. Voting for the election, one vote per company, must be conducted in person at the Working Group meeting, after each candidate has had the opportunity to give a short speech on why they would like to run for election. The duration of the term for both Chairs and Vice-Chairs is one year. All elected Chairpersons must sign the attached documents, following election.
We will also begin discussions on the 2012-2013 Position Paper. The Position Paper is the Chamber’s key lobbying document and is widely recognised by the Chinese and European governments, EU institutions, business associations and the media as the authoritative voice of EU business in China. It is used extensively for policy considerations, bilateral discussions, cooperation projects and background information. The value and importance of a well-written and well-represented Construction Position Paper cannot be overstated. Members are encouraged to review last year’s Position Paper and identify internally the key issues for this upcoming year. Keeping with the same structure as previous editions, members are requested to come to this meeting with recommendations that the Working Group should consider. Please find attached the Construction Position Paper 2011-2012.
As always, we welcome your suggestions for possible agenda topics and speakers for this and future meetings.
We encourage as many of our members as possible to attend to have their say in the leadership and representation of the Working Group in the year ahead. To participate in this meeting, please register with Mr. Mike Yung at myung@europeanchamber.com.cn by Thursday, 8 March COB.
For more information on the Construction Working Group or the European Chamber in general, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Bettina Buck at bbuck@europeanchamber.com.cn in Shanghai or Mr. Sam Passafiume at spassafiume@europeanchamber.com.cn in Beijing.