European Chamber Calls for More Action, Not More Action Plans Go back »

2024-09-11 | All chapters

Beijing, 11^th September 2024 – The European Chamber today published its European Business in China Position Paper 2024/2025 (Position Paper 2024/2025). The report focuses on the urgent need for the Chinese authorities to follow through on reform pledges announced in the past year, with business confidence now at an all-time low. 

European companies previously viewed the complex challenges of doing business in China as the ‘growing pains’ of an emerging market. However, with the risks of doing business increasing and the rewards decreasing, many investors are now confronted with the reality that their approach to the China market requires a strategic rethink.

There have been positive signals that China intends to address some of the challenges faced by foreign enterprises, most notably via the State Council’s 13^th August 2023 Opinions on Further Optimising the Foreign Investment Environment and Increasing the Attraction of Foreign Investment (Opinions). However, one year on from the Opinions’ publication, limited progress has been made on the implementation of key points contained in the document. Meanwhile, some European Chamber members have begun both siloing their China supply chains and operations, and shifting investments previously planned for China to other markets to increase supply chain resilience, take advantage of comparatively lower labour costs and hedge against future geopolitical shocks.

The Position Paper 2024/2025 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 provides a blueprint for rebuilding business confidence in the Chinese market and restoring it as the preferred destination for global investment.

“For a growing number of companies, a tipping point has been reached, with investors now scrutinising their China operations more closely as the challenges of doing business are beginning to outweigh the returns,” said Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber. “While China still holds significant potential, this situation urgently requires more action from the Chinese Government, not more action plans.”

Click here to download the report. 

中国欧盟商会呼吁中国政府更加注重实际行动，而非行动方案

2024年9月11日，北京—中国欧盟商会今日发布《欧盟企业在中国建议书2024/2025》（简称《建议书》）。报告强调，如今商业信心处于低谷，中国有关政府部门应及时采取切实行动，践行去年宣布的改革方案。

欧盟在华企业曾认为，在华营商面临的复杂挑战是新兴市场的“成长痛”。然而，随着营商风险增高、回报降低，许多投资者不得不直面现实挑战，重新思考对于中国市场的战略规划。

多项政策释放积极信号，表明中国政府有意解决外资企业面临的相关挑战。其中，国务院于2023 年8月13日发布的《关于进一步优化外商投资环境 加大吸引外商投资力度的意见》（《意见》）尤为瞩目。然而《意见》发布一年至今，政策文件中重点举措落实进展有限。同时，部分中国欧盟商会会员企业开始在华建立孤立于全球体系的供应链和运营，并将计划投入中国市场的投资转至其他市场，以提高供应链韧性、利用相对较低的劳动力成本、防御潜在地缘政治风险的冲击。

《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，以期解决相关问题。《建议书》提出了新蓝图，以重建企业对华市场商业信心，重塑中国作为国际投资首选目的地的地位。

中国欧盟商会主席彦辞强调：“越来越多的公司表示其在华业务已达临界点。营商挑战逐步超过投资回报，投资者开始重新审视其在华运营。诚然中国潜力巨大，但是目前的局面亟须中国政府更加注重实际行动，而非行动方案。”

点击这里下载报告全文。

For more information please contact