China Outlook Conference 2023: Managing China’s Post-COVID Rebound Go back »
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Time2023-03-29 | 14:00 - 16:30
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Venue:Swissotel Grand Shanghai
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Address:
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Fee:Members: 400 |
Non Members: 800
Sponsors and partners




The pivot away from zero-Covid policy brings hope for China in 2023, but the lasting impact of this policy; rising geopolitical tensions; high debt levels; and stalling consumption growth might continue to echo throughout 2023. Over the past few years, confidence in the Chinese market has been diminishing. The predictability, reliability and efficiency of the China market—central pillars that helped propel much of its economic success—are being called into question. How will China rebound in a post-pandemic 2023?
Due to its size and untapped potential, China continues to be viewed as an important market for European businesses, however, it is uncertain that all but the very largest companies will put planned investments into the country on hold. Headquarters are now more focussed on building supply chain resilience, the challenges of doing business, avoiding reputational damage and ensuring global compliance. Many businesses have even begun to localise and silo their China operations, often at great expense, as they seek to mitigate their exposure to a growing list of risks, both local and global.
Looking forward, how will opening up impact the China market in 2023? What opportunities does it bring? What are the prospects for the China market at both the industry and aggregate level? What steps do businesses need to take to ensure their operations remain both flexible and resilient? And how can Chinese policymakers shore up the business environment and restore investor confidence?
Join us on 29th March 2023 to hear from leading business executives and experts on these topics and more.
Registration deadline: 23rd March COB
Payment: can pay on-site.
Advisory Council members: two free tickets for each member
Invoice: digital 普票 will be issued to registrants who applied when doing registration, in 10 work days from the event date.
Agenda
Master of the conference: Mr Steven Basart, General Manager, the European Chamber Shanghai Chapter
1:30 - 2:00, Registration and Networking
2:00 - 2:10, Opening Remarks, Ms Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, Vice President of the European Chamber and Chair of the Shanghai Chapter
2:10 - 2:25, Keynote Speech One (recorded video), Mr Joerg Wuttke, President of the European Chamber
2:25 - 3:15, Panel Discussion One and Q&A, China Economic Outlook, Challenges and Opportunities
Moderator: Ms Holly Lei, Shanghai Chapter Vice Chair, European Chamber; Senior Vice President, Covestro Group, President, Covestro China
Panelists:
- Dr Johannes Sommerhaeuser, Regional President APAC Global Business Services, Member of the Board Bosch China
- Dr Bin Xu, Professor of Economics and Finance, CEIBS
- Mr Peter Qiu, Managing Director, President of Deutsche Bank (China) Co., Ltd. Head of Corporate Coverage, Greater China
- Ms Mattie Bekink, China Director, Economist Intelligence Corporate Network The Economist Group
3:15 - 3:35, Keynote Speech Two (recorded video) from Mr Matthew YE, President and CEO of Michelin China, Senior Vice President of Michelin Group, Whether China Remains an Attractive Destination for Foreign Investment?
3:35 - 4:25, Panel Discussion Two and Q&A, The Way Ahead: Rethinking Corporate Investment and Growth Strategies
Moderator: Mr Jens Ewert, Shanghai Chapter Board Member and National Chair of Investment Working Group, European Chamber; Senior Partner, Deloitte
Panelists:
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Mr Björn Sattler, VP Finance/CFO, Boehringer Ingelheim
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Dr Dong-Fang Chen, Vice President R&D Asia Pacific, Firmenich
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Mr Siegmund Dukek, Managing Director, Leica Camera Greater China
- Ms Blair Wei, Head of Venture Investment & Ecosystem Partnership, Shui On Xintiandi
4:25 - 4:30, Closing Remarks, Ms Bettina Schoen-Behanzin, Vice President of the European Chamber and Chair of the Shanghai Chapter
4:30 - 5:20, 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
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
Mr. Joerg Wuttke

Mr. Joerg Wuttke
Mr. Joerg Wuttke
Joerg Wuttke is Chief Representative of BASF China, based in Beijing. Wuttke is President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China – an office he already held from 2007 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2017. Wuttke contributes regularly to the Swiss financial blog https://themarket.ch/. He has lived in Beijing for more than three decades.
Ms. Bettina Schoen-Behanzin
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. Steven Basart

Mr. Steven Basart
Steven has lived and worked in China for over 15 years in the non-profit management industry leading and representing global trade associations, professional societies and business interest groups in the region.
Steven is a Dutch national and a Permanent Resident of China, living in China over 15 years. He is a lawyer and sinologist by training. He has a native level language proficiency in Mandarin, English, and Dutch.
Ms. Holly Lei

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 MaterialScience (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.
Lei is married with a grown-up son.
Dr. Johannes Sommerhaeuser

Dr. Johannes Sommerhaeuser
Dated January 1st, 2023, Dr. Sommerhaeuser has been appointed as regional President Asia-Pacific of Bosch Global Business Services and Member of the Board Bosch China. In this role, he is responsible for stratepy and operations of Bosch Business Services such as accounting, controlling, purchasing, logistics and numan resources.
Being with the Bosch Group for more than 20 years, Johannes worked in various management positions in Germany, Portupal and China, focusing on strategy, business development and commercial responsibilities.
He holds a PhD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from RWTH Aachen in Germany and a Master of Business Administration from University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management in Canada.
Dr. Bin Xu

Dr. Bin Xu
Dr. Bin Xu is Professor of Economics and Finance, Wu Jinglian Chair Professor in Economics at CEIBS. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University. Before joining CEIBS, Dr. Xu was a tenured professor at the University of Florida, and worked as a consultant for the IMF and the World Bank. Dr. Xu’s current research focuses on the global and Chinese economy, multinational enterprises in China, and trade and finance issues of emerging markets. He has published extensively in academic journals and was named to the 2021 list of Highly-Cited Chinese Researchers in Applied Economics released by Elsevier.
Mr. Peter Qiu

Mr. Peter Qiu
Peter Qiu joined Deutsche Bank in 2019 and is currently President of Deutsche Bank China Co., Ltd and Head of Coverage for Greater China. In his president role, Mr. Qiu is responsible for the overall management of Deutsche Bank’s wholly owned subsidiary bank in China, including the development and execution of the bank’s long-term strategy. In coverage role, he is responsible for the strategic development of the business, such as expanding Deutsche Bank’s client portfolio. His focuses include supporting Chinese companies in their global expansion and facilitating multinational companies in enhancing their footprints in China.
Mr. Qiu owns extensive significant industry and market knowledge of banking business, having worked on the ground in China for 25 years. Before joining Deutsche Bank, he was the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, board member, and Head of Coverage at Societe Generale (China) Limited. Prior to that, he held a number of senior roles at HSBC and Citibank.
Mr. Qiu graduated with a Master of Economics and Bachelor of Science from Fudan University.
Mrs. Mattie Bekink

Mrs. 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. Matthew Ye

Mr. Matthew Ye
Matthew YE joined Michelin in 2000 and is currently Senior Vice President of Michelin Group since 2018, President and CEO of Michelin China since March of 2022.
He spearheads the company’s operation and strategic direction in Mainland China, Hongkong, Macao, Taiwan, Mongolia, leading nearly 7,000 employees in growing businesses including Tires, Services and Solutions, Mobility Experience and High-tech Materials.
Since joining Michelin in 2000, Matthew served a wide range of executive positions in China, France and Romania, he held roles spanning Sales, Marketing, Operation and Strategic direction, etc. Prior to relocating to the China zone, he was the President and CEO of Central Europe Region at MICHELIN Group, based in Romania.
Matthew graduated from China Foreign Affairs University and holds a Master‘s Degree of HEC Paris.
Mr. Jens Ewert

Mr. Jens Ewert
Jens Ewert, a Senior Partner with Deloitte China, has over 30 years of working experience in the professional services, based in Shanghai since end 2002 – he has been a member of Deloitte China Eastern Region Management team since then. Jens is the national leader for Deloitte China Life Science & Health Care Industry, leading a dedicated industry team comprising over 1000+ partners and professionals. He also covers our full range of multidisciplinary services, from consulting, risk & financial & tax advisory and audit & assurance, offering to Multinational Clients in China.
Jens has received the ‘Magnolia Silver Award’ from the Shanghai Government in September 2021, recognizing foreign business leaders for their special and outstanding contribution to the City’s development. He is also a Board member at the EUCCC Shanghai and the National Vice-Chair of the Investment Working group at the EU Chamber in China.
Prior to moving to China, he has been working in numerous countries always in professional services, such as France, Hungary, Vietnam and Indonesia. He hold a Master degree from University Paris X Dauphine in Business & Finance and a Diploma of Political Science from Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris. He also attended numerous executive programs at IMD and Insead. He is married to Christine and calls France his home.
Mr. Björn Sattler

Mr. Björn Sattler
Boehringer Ingelheim is a world leading R&D-driven German family-owned pharmaceutical company. Bjoern Sattler is Finance Vice President and CFO of Boehringer Ingelheim Greater China (Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan). He joined Boehringer Ingelheim in 2008 and has held various finance management positions in Corporate and different geographies. He has extensive experience in finance management as well as cross-functional and cross-business expertise.
Prior to coming his current position in China, Bjoern has held positions as Head of Finance & Administration for Middle East Turkey Africa (META), Director Finance & Administration Brazil and also lead the Finance part of the Animal Health Integration project.
Dr. Dong-Fang Chen

Dr. Dong-Fang Chen
Dr. Dong-Fang CHEN is the Vice President in Corporate R&D for Asia Pacific Zone based in Shanghai from 2006 and the President of Firmenich China (2012-2015). He obtained his B.Sc. degree from Shanxi University, Taiyuan, China in Biology; M.Sc. degree from Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in Biology and Biotechnology; and Ph.D degree in Cambridge Laboratory, Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge, UK. He worked in Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology CAS, and in the UK for various organisations including the Plant Breeding Institute in Cambridge, the John Innes Centre in Norwich, the Norman Borlaug Institute of De Montfort University in Leicester, Astra-Zeneca and Syngenta in Berkshire. He has undertaken and led scientific research in the field of Biology, Biotechnology, Food Sciences and Fragrance & Flavor, and published more than 200 research papers in international journals, professional conferences and book chapters. He was also awarded an MBA from Liverpool University, UK.
Mr. Siegmund Dukek

Mr. Siegmund Dukek
Siegmund Dukek is Managing Director of Leica Camera Greater China. He joined Leica as CFO China in 2014 and was appointed as Managing Director for China in 2016.In his assignment, he has transitioned Leica’s business in China from a Distributorship to Leica’s own Brand presence, building up Leica Camera Greater China from Start-up to Maturity level, including the set-up of own Retail, eCommerce, Akademie and experiential Retail. Before joining Leica, Siegmund worked for ACCENTURE as a Consultant and for the METRO Group in various roles in the areas of Strategy, Controlling, Internationalization and New Business Development. He graduated from the International Business School of Hanzehogeschool Groningen in the Netherlands. He has 20 years of retail experience and has lived in China for over 10 years.
Ms. Blair Wei

Ms. Blair Wei
Blair spearheads in building Shui On's innovation eco-system, developing strategic partnerships with top-tier universities, institutions, investors, tech-giants, start-up communities, and venture capital companies. Meanwhile, she is also in charge of RayVC, Shui On's VC platform with two funds currently under management, focusing on how tech start-ups could contribute to the sustainable growth of our future city. Prior to joining Shui On, she worked at a private equity investment platform with experiences in both investment and fundraising. In 2015, she co-founded the co-working start-up "WooSpace", hosting innovation-related events for the start-up community in Beijing. Blair holds a master's degree from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree from Cornell University.