China Outlook 2022 Conference: 20 Years of China in the WTO Go back »
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Time2021-12-01 | 09:00 - 12:30
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Venue:The Langham Xintiandi Shanghai
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Address:
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Fee:Members: 400 |
Non Members: 800
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11th December, 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Since then, the country has gradually opened up its enormous market and attracted massive foreign investments. Now two decades on, China has grown into the second largest economy and the world's biggest exporter. How China has lived up to its WTO promises in all aspects, by gradually opening up market access in the agricultural, manufacturing and service sectors, and better protecting intellectual property rights (IPR)?
2021 also marks the first year of 14th Five-year Plan (14FYP), 100th anniversary of the founding of Chinese Communist Party. China’s 14FYP sets a clear course for the country to reduce its reliance on the rest of the world, before ultimately achieving a high degree of self-sufficiency. The increasingly turning inwards is casting considerable doubts over the country’s future growth trajectory. What do experts foresee for China in 2022? What will be the highlights in the upcoming China's Central Economic Work Conference?
The European Chamber welcomes dynamic and diverse speakers that will bring to you an unbiased and reliable economic overview for the coming year. Please note that due to recent epidemic control restrictions H.E. Mr. Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to China, Mr. Joerg Wuttke, President of European Chamber and Mrs Eva Valle Lagares, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade at the European Delegation to China will not be able to join us in person. They will deliver their speeches and engage with the audience via Zoom connection.
Agenda:
Master of the conference, Dr Ioana Kraft, General Manager, European Chamber
8:30-9:00 Registration and networking
9:00-9:10 Opening remarks, Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, Vice President of the European Chamber and Chair of the Shanghai Chapter; Regional Representative Asia, Freudenberg Group
9:10-9:30 Keynote speech from H.E. Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to China (Online)
9:30-9:50 Keynote speech from Joerg Wuttke, President, European Chamber (Online)
9:50-10:10 coffee break
10:10-11:00, Panel Discussion How would you rate China’s performance in fulfilling its WTO commitments?
Moderator: Pius S. Hornstein, Vice Chair of Shanghai Chapter, European Chamber, General Manager, General Medicines and Country Lead, Sanofi China
Panelists:
- Eva Valle Lagares, Minister Counsellor and Head of Trade at the European Delegation to China (Online)
- Holly Lei, Board Member, European Chamber’s Shanghai Chapter; President, Covestro China
- Isabelle Hajjar, Vice Chair of the Cybersecurity subworking Group and Head of Compliance - Cybersecurity & Data Privacy, TekID
- Mattie Bekink, China Director, Economist Intelligence Corporate Network
11:00-11:50 Panel Discussion China Economic Outlook, Challenges and Opportunities
Moderator: Francis Liekens, Vice Chair, Shanghai Chapter, European Chamber; Vice President, Atlas Copco China
Panelists:
- Karolina Horoszczak, Vice President of Corporate Communication & Public Affairs IKEA China
- Thomas Wevelsiep, Chief Financial Officer of Greater China Region, Infineon Technologies
- Roberto Donà, Board Member, European Chamber’s Shanghai Chapter; Professor of Practice in Management, Associate Dean for Corporate Engagement, International Business School Suzhou (IBSS) at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
- Dr. Shengjun Liu, Director of China Financial Reform Institute
11:50-12:00 Closing remarks, Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, Vice President of the European Chamber and Chair of the Shanghai Chapter; Regional Representative Asia, Freudenberg Group
12:00 Networking
Terms & Conditions
Events have limited seating so to ensure your attendance we encourage advance online registration and payment for all events. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone not registered in advance.
All our events are held in English and follow the Chatham House Rule unless otherwise stated.
Advisory Council Policy
Members of the Advisory Council may receive complimentary admission to Chamber seminars, conferences and factory visits up to two attendees per event. Additional participants will be charged at the member rate.
Advisory Council members will still be charged the standard member rate for participation in training courses and special events, such as gala balls, government appreciation dinners, or admission to corporate social events/tournaments.
For further information contact Ms. Maureen Dai at mtdai@europeanchamber.com.cn
Disclaimer 免责声明
Participants must maintain proper social distancing norms and abide by the Shanghai Municipal Government’s Epidemic Prevention and Control Rules (eg. wearing masks and so on). If you do not follow the relevant regulations, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China assumes no responsibility for any of your physical discomfort caused during and after the event. Thank you for your cooperation.
参与活动时，参会人应与他人保持适当距离（防疫考虑）并遵守上海市政府颁布的疫情预防控制要求（例如佩戴口罩等）。如您违反要求，中国欧盟商会将对您在活动中或活动后的任何身体不适，不承担任何责任。感谢您的理解与配合。
Disclaimer: Please notice that European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (as the host of the event) might take photographs from the event and post these on its public webpage (or social media platforms) in order to create awareness of these events. By attending this event you consent to European Union Chamber of Commerce in China taking and using such photographs as described above.
If you cannot attend the factory visit for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than 1 business day prior to the event. If you fail to notify us of your cancellation in a timely fashion, you will be charged for event costs. Walk-ins won't be accepted.
Speakers
Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin
Bettina Schoen-Behanzin entered Freudenberg Group in October 2012. As Regional Representative Asia she has been leading the Regional Corporate Center, based in Shanghai, China and is providing guidance and support for strategic planning and business development for the Freudenberg Business Groups in the region. From March 2008 to September 2012 she served as Managing Director of Wittur Elevator Components, China. She assumed the role of Managing Director of Rittal Electro-Mechanical Technology, China from 2000 to 2008, after having been the General Manager of Rittal in China as well as Sales and Marketing Manager of Rittal in Singapore. She had joined the Rittal Headquarters in Germany in 1992.
Bettina Schoen-Behanzin has acquired a Master degree in Sinology, Business Economics and Political Science at the Ruhr-University in Bochum, Germany. Furthermore, she did Post-Graduate Studies of Chinese and Economics at Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Speaking Chinese fluently, Bettina Schoen-Behanzin has around 25 years of working experience in Asia, mostly in China, leading operational business as well acting in corporate functions. From April 2014 to April 2016 she served as Director of the Board of the German Chamber Shanghai, being reelected in April 2016 and April 2018 as President of the Board of the German Chamber Shanghai. In 2019, she was the first German woman to receive Shanghai Municipal Government’s Magnolia Gold Award.
Mr. Nicolas Chapuis
Mr. Chapuis began his career in the 1980s as the Press Attaché at the Embassy of France in Beijing. In 1983, he was appointed Second Secretary (Political Affairs) at the Embassy of France in Beijing and then Desk Officer for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mongolia at the Asia-Oceania Department of France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). Between 1987 and 1988, he was a CFIA Fellow at Harvard University.
In 1988 and 1989, he held the position of Desk Officer for NATO & European Security at the Political Affairs Department of France’s MFA. From 1989 to 1992, he was the Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Beijing.
Mr. Chapuis's diplomatic career continued in the role of Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of France in Singapore. Following this, he held the position of Personal Assistant to the Deputy General Secretary for European and Economic Affairs at the MFA before becoming the Deputy Director (East Asia) of the Asia-Oceania Department of the MFA from 1995 to 1998.
In 1998, returned to China as the Consul General in Shanghai. Between 2002 and 2003, he was First Counsellor (Cultural Affairs) at the Embassy of France in the United Kingdom and the Director of Institut français du Royaume-Uni.
From 2003 until 2005 Mr. Chapuis served as Ambassador of France in Mongolia and in 2005–2009 he was Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of France in Beijing.
In 2009–2010, served as Prefect of the département of Hautes-Alpes. Following this, held the position of Chief Coordinator of the MFA WikiLeaks Taskforce until 2011.
Mr. Chapuis has been the Ambassador of France to Canada since February 4th, 2015. In September 2018 was nominated as Head of the EU Delegation to China
Mr. Jörg Wuttke
Jörg Wuttke is Chief Representative of BASF China, based in Beijing.
Jörg Wuttke was President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China from 2007 to 2010, 2014 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2023. From 2001 to 2004 Mr. Wuttke was the Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in China.
Since its establishment in 2013, Mr. Wuttke is member of the Advisory Board of Germany’s foremost Think Tank on China, Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), in Berlin. He lived in China for more than 30 years.
Dr. Pius S. Hornstein
Pius S. Hornstein, MSc, PhD, is General Manager General Medicines and Country Lead, Sanofi China. Since March 2019, he leads over 8000 Sanofi China people who focus on introducing more innovative products to China across a broad range of treatment areas including Specialty Care, Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Vaccines, and driving digital innovations to better serve China’s fast growing healthcare needs. Pius is committed to developing people while fostering a company culture of diversity, respect and integrity, and making Sanofi China a real magnet for talents.
Before leading China business, which represents Sanofi’s second largest market worldwide, Pius was the General Manager and Country Chair of Sanofi Brazil. During his tenure in Brazil, he built with the Brazilian team a high-performance organization with great diversity and gender balance, and implemented the highest ethical and integrity standards. Sanofi Brazil was selected among the top 150 best companies to work and named as a Top Employer, both two times in a row.
Pius has extensive experience in the healthcare industry. He joined Sanofi in 1998 and held a variety of key positions over the years, including marketing, sales management and other strategic global managerial positions. He has successfully launched major treatments and led the global team for the anticoagulant that is part of the World Health Organization list of essential medicines. He was Global Marketing Head Cardiology, General Manager in Switzerland, Vice President of Operations Support & Strategic Initiatives for Emerging Markets, and Vice President for the Turkey and Middle East Zone encompassing direct P&L responsibility for 17 countries.
Pius started his career in the healthcare industry at the Cardiology Department of the University of Basel in a research collaboration with Novartis in Switzerland. He also worked at Servier, France.
Pius has a master degree in pharmacy and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Basel, Switzerland, with a PhD degree in medical research. He is also an alumnus of INSEAD and Singularity University. He speaks fluent German, English, French, and Portuguese. Pius is a Swiss national and is based in Shanghai.
Ms. Eva Valle Lagares
Prior to her current role, she was the Head of the Trade Section at the EU Office for Hong Kong & Macau. She joined the European Commission in 1998 and held various positions in the European Commission working on competition, research and development, while also having served in the cabinets of two EU commissioners. For the last eight years she has worked on trade, focusing on strategy first and then leading the China desk of DG Trade in Brussels responsible of coordinating EU trade and investment relations with China. She is a lawyer by training, specialised in EU law.
Ms. Holly Lei
Holly Lei has taken over as President of Covestro China based in Shanghai, effective July 1, 2019. With more than 20 years of experience in cross-cultural management around the world, Lei is the first local female leader for this position.
With a strong technical background in chemical engineering and material science, Lei started her career at Bayer Material Science (the predecessor company of Covestro) in 1999 as a technical representative and has since held various management positions of increasing responsibilities focusing on sales, technical service and R&D in Greater China and the APAC region. As a seasoned leader strong at managing dispersed teams, she devoted her cross-industry insights and customer centric mindset to develop focus industries for Covestro’s Business Unit Polycarbonates in Greater China and the APAC region.
In her role as Global Head of Electrical, Electronics & Appliances (EE&A), BU Polycarbonates, Lei helped Covestro strengthen its industrial leadership by enhancing the global CMF (color, materials, finish) capabilities, transforming Covestro from a material supplier to an innovation partner.
Apart from her business success, Lei is also an affectionate people leader and excels at fostering an environment that allows people to flourish and develop to their fullest potential. As an avid ambassador of diversity and inclusion (D&I) at Covestro, she is actively involved in promoting D&I and equality in the workplace.
Lei holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Dalian University of Technology in China and a master’s degree in material science from Université de Sherbrooke in Canada. She has also received executive training at INSEAD Business School in France.
Lei is also a supervisory board member of GEA Group AG, Vice Chair of the Shanghai Chapter of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, and Vice Chairman of the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park International Experts’ Consultancy Forum.
Ms. Isabelle Hajjar
Isabelle is head of Compliance with Tek-ID China, a Digital Risk Intelligence company. She leads regulatory and operational compliance support, consulting, strategy and program design, implementation and roll-out services for Tek-ID’s clients in the ICT and digital sphere, both locally in China and on a global level (cybersecurity, data protection, infrastructure, market access conditions, organizational issues, policies and procedures, training, etc.), in various sectors (from classic hosting to cloud services, SaaS vendors, e-commerce, retail, banking, automotive, investment funds, health, digital security products, etc.).
She further acts, for certain clients, as outsourced General Counsel / Compliance and Data Privacy Officer.
Isabelle has, since mid-2016, been actively engaged in the European Chamber of Commerce of China, currently she is the Vice Chair of the Cybersecurity Subworking Group - Shanghai, happily offering her support in their mission and lobbying activities.
Isabelle is also the co-founder and co-chair of the IAPP (Internal Association of Privacy Professionals) - Shanghai Knowledge Chapter, focusing on disseminating Knowledge and exchanging experience in all compliance matters for Data and Privacy Protection, as well as for neighboring subjects, such as cybersecurity.
Before joining Tek-ID, Isabelle had already accumulated some 19 years in the ICT - digital field, with 9 years as an Attorney in Europe, followed by in-house experience as General Counsel for ICT Companies, with additional skills in General Management (as COO) & Compliance. She has been based in China for some 11 years.
Ms. Mattie Bekink
Mattie Bekink is responsible for the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network’s China strategy, including programme development and client engagement across China.
Ms Bekink has extensive experience in the public, private and policy sectors. Prior to joining The Economist Group, she was the Executive Director of the Fulbright Commission in the Netherlands. She also ran an eponymous consulting business, advising businesses, universities and non-profit organisations on China policy, strategy, public affairs, and CSR. Ms Bekink practiced law at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, has worked with the US-Asia Law Initiative at NYU Law School and the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative China Program, and served in the legal department at General Motors China.
Ms Bekink has a BA in International Relations from Stanford University and a JD from the Georgetown University Law Center.
Mr. Francis Liekens
Francis was appointed Vice President, Atlas Copco (China) Investment Co., Ltd. in August, 2016. Based in Shanghai, he oversees Atlas Copco’s operations in Greater China and Mongolia, with more than 35 legal entities.
Over the past 23 years, he has held various managerial positions with increased responsibility within Atlas Copco Group and has been working most of his time in different countries in Europe and Asia. Prior to his current position, he was the General Manager of Atlas Copco Singapore & Malaysia.
Francis is a Belgian citizen, and holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration.
Ms. Karolina Horoszczak
Karolina has more than 20 years’ experience in the field of branding, marketing and corporate communication working for internationally renowned brands. Prior to IKEA, she has worked for Dutch energy company GASPOL, in charge of public relation and marketing. She joined IKEA in 2008, starting as PR Manager in Marketing Department of IKEA Poland. After 4 years, she took the role of Corporate Communication Director of IKEA Poland, developing and strengthening communication strategy for all IKEA business units in Poland.
In 2015, Karolina moved to China and took on the new challenge of becoming Vice President of Corporate Communication & Public Affairs of IKEA China. During the past 4 years, she has been credited with building and strengthening IKEA China brand positioning, promoting the business and digital transformation of IKEA Retail China, and securing business growth and success. She is also responsible for securing the strategic use of communication as an enabler to reach positioning, business and people objective with a holistic view of Ingka Group in China.
Mr. Thomas Wevelsiep
Thomas Wevelsiep was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Infineon Technologies Greater China Region since 1 July 2018.
He started his professional career with Infineon in Munich, Germany at Operations Frontend in 1999. After holding various positions in Strategic Planning and Financial Controlling, he joined Automotive Finance in 2006. As Head of Finance for Powertrain & Safety he was responsible for the business line’s profitable growth.
In 2012, Thomas Wevelsiep changed as CFO to Infineon’s Backend site in Batam, Indonesia where he drove the site’s successful development until his appointment to Shanghai.
Thomas holds a master degree in Industrial Engineering and Management of the Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Germany.
Mr. Roberto Donà
Roberto Donà is an academic and a business practitioner with a long experience in China. He is a Professor of Practice in Management at IBSS, the business school of Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University in Suzhou, where he serves also as the Associate Dean for Corporate Affairs. He is also an Honorary Professor at the School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the University of Chinese Academy of Science.
Previously he has been a faculty member of SDA Bocconi School of Management and Bocconi University since 1990, Visiting Scholar (1996) and Visiting Professor (1998) at Stern School of Business (New York University) and Visiting Professor, Fudan University School of Management (2008-2010). Roberto has strong international exposure having worked in Russia, Bulgaria, Argentina, the USA and China. Since the beginning of his career, he worked also as a management consultant for both domestic and international companies serving in several board positions.
Currently, he is also chairman and independent director in a company listed at the Catalyst market in Singapore and chair of the advisory board of a high teach machinery company.
Roberto is a representative of IBSS in the Shanghai Chapter of European Chamber since 2014 and he is a member of the Investment WG. He was elected as the Board Member of Shanghai Chapter in 2021.
Dr. Shengjun Liu (Dr Gary Liu)
Dr. Liu Shengjun is an independent economist well known for his research on China’s economic and financial reforms. He is currently founder of China Financial Reform Institute. As a KOL, his microblog has more than 1600,000 followers and his WeChat has nearly 170,000 subscribers. He was a member of Global Agenda Council, World Economic Forum (2012-2014). In 2014, he was invited to a policy-consultation meeting chaired by the Chinese Premier LI Keqiang. Dr. Liu is a columnist for FTChinese.com, cn.WSJ.com and Caixin.com. Dr. Liu was elected Person of Year 2012 by Bloomberg BusinessWeek China, 2013 Chinese Young Economist by Beijing Newsand Person of Year 2016 of New Finance by Hurun Report, top 10 financial writers by TOUTIAO. His publications include the popular book The Next Decade of China. Dr. Liu has been invited to speak frequently by chambers of commerce and consulates, multinationals, universities and governments.
Dr. Ioana Kraft
Ioana has been based in Shanghai since 2003 where she worked for the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (European Chamber) from 2004 to 2022. From 2009 to 2022 she served as General Manager of the Chamber’s Shanghai Chapter and was responsible for implementation and development of European Chamber objectives, visibility, and advocacy activities on a regional level in Shanghai and neighbouring regions.
Ioana is currently an Associate Director with X-PM Transition Partners, a leading European Executive Interim and Transition Management firm with teams in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. X-PM is part of the WIL group, a network of 13 firms operating in 35 countries that deliver interim and transition solutions to clients around the world and offers a unique international “multi-sourcing” model that leverages the assets of each member firm and ensures the best assignments globally.
A German-qualified lawyer, Ioana practiced with a German law firm in Shanghai from 2003 and 2004. She also holds a PhD degree in law from Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, where she worked from 1999 to 2003 as a Senior Research Assistant focussing on the areas of Civil Law, Insurance Law, Comparative Law, International Private Law and Labour Law.