European Chamber Calls for Urgent Action to Restore Business Confidence Go back »

2023-09-20 | All chapters

Beijing, 20^th September 2023 – The European Chamber today published its European Business in China Position Paper 2023/2024 (Position Paper 2023/2024). The report highlights how contradictory messaging from authorities over the past year has European businesses wondering what kind of relationship China wants to have with them.

The decision to reopen China’s borders on 8^th January 2023 was a welcome surprise, and many believed that a swift economic rebound would follow. However, this rebound failed to materialise for many companies. Although official announcements aimed at improving the business environment have been released, so has a slew of national security-focused legislation, which has deepened uncertainty and raised compliance risks.

The Position Paper 2023/2024 details the challenges faced by European companies operating in China and provides more than 1,000 constructive recommendations to the Chinese Government on how they can be resolved. It serves as a blueprint for attracting and retaining foreign investment in China, while also addressing many of the structural issues that are hindering the country’s pivot to sustainable, high quality economic development. By engaging with European companies to solve the issues outlined in this report, the Chinese Government could begin to restore both business confidence and the allure of the Chinese market.

“Businesses need an answer as to whether China will focus on self-reliance and on tightening regulations on basis of security concerns or whether the country intends to follow through on its market opening promises,” said Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber. “Our members want to increase their engagement and make bigger contributions to China’s development, but they now need to see concrete action being taken.”

Download the report, please click here

中国欧盟商会倡议中国政府及时采取措施重塑商业信心

         2023年9月20日，北京——中国欧盟商会今日发布《欧盟企业在中国建议书2023/2024》（简称《建议书》）。报告强调 ，近年来相关政府部门出台信息存在矛盾，欧盟企业期望了解中方希望与其建立何种关系？

         2023年1月8日，中国宣布重新开放边境。此举带来意外之喜。多方认为此举将促使经济迅速回暖。然而诸多公司表示经营状况仍未好转。中国政府一方面为改善商业环境发布官方声明，另一方面同时发布与国家安全相关的法律法规，此举加剧了营商环境的不确定性并提高了合规风险。

         《建议书》详细列举了欧盟在华企业经营难题，并向中国政府提供了1000余条建设性的建议，旨在解决相关问题。《建议书》为中国吸引、稳定外资提供蓝图，同时也提出了许多阻碍中国实现可持续、高质量经济发展目标中的结构性问题。希望中国政府不断加强与欧洲公司的接触，解决本报告中所述问题，这将有望逐步恢复商业信心和中国市场吸引力。

         中国欧盟商会主席彦辞表示："中国是将致力于自力更生，基于安全考虑收紧监管，还是打算兑现承诺开放市场？企业需要一个答案。商会会员希望加强其在华业务参与度，为中国发展做出更大贡献，但更拭目以待政府的切实行动。

         点击这里下载报告全文。

For more information please contact