[Offline Only] European Chamber Report Launch | Navigating the Politics of Economic Security Go back »
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Time2024-03-20 | 09:00 - 11:30
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Venue:Beijing Ballroom, 3F, Four Seasons Hotel
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Address:No.48, Liang Ma Qiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
北京市朝阳区亮马桥路48号四季酒店三层北京厅 -
Fee:Members: 300 |
Non Members: 600
* This is a joint media/member event. The media is by invitation only, the presentation and media Q&A session are on the record, European Chamber spokespersons are to be quoted in their European Chamber capacity only. The panel discussion will follow the Chatham House Rule.
* English language with no translation services.
* This is an offline event only with limited onsite seating to be reserved on a first-come-first served basis.
The European Chamber cordially invites you to attend the launch of its latest publication, produced in partnership with China Macro Group (CMG), on 20th March 2024.
European Chamber president Jens Eskelund and CMG co-founder and managing director Markus Herrmann Chen will present the key findings of the report. Following this, president Eskelund and former Chamber presidents Joerg Wuttke, Mats Harborn and Davide Cucino will discuss the impact that state-led risk management and economic-security-focussed policies are having on European companies in China.
The European Union (EU), China and the United States (US) have all been engaged in varying degrees of risk management and efforts to strengthen economic security for several years, however, it would be misleading to use ‘de-risking’ as a catch-all term to describe their respective approaches. The measures being adopted, the desired outcomes and the length of time each actor has been engaged in such activities, are quite distinct.
The EU has so far been careful to build its de-risking toolkit in a way that minimises the impact that it could have on its engagement with its trade and investment partners, and to seek to build resilience through diversification.
The breadth and depth of China’s approach goes far beyond that of the EU’s desire to eliminate critical dependencies and potential distortions in its own market while remaining as open as possible. Since the mid-2000s there has been the convergence of security and development in the eyes of the country’s leadership, culminating in a strong emphasis on national security and social stability today, as well as a desire to achieve a high-degree of technological self-reliance.
For its part, the US has moved away from its rhetoric of ‘decoupling’ in favour of ‘de-risking’, creating the perception that its approach is closely aligned with the EU’s. However, while both economies aim to build their domestic industrial capabilities and bolster their competitiveness in key industries, the US differs in that it perceived by the Chinese authorities to be taking pre-emptive measures with the goal of impeding China’s development in key technological fields.
At the company-level, the volume, complexity and severity of the risks businesses face have grown exponentially, as politics has slowly seeped into the business environment. Corporate planning is now skewed disproportionately towards risk management rather than cost saving, optimising efficiency and/or increasing market share. While Chamber members differ in how they are responding to this, clear sets of strategies are emerging with some pulled into the China market to increase localisation and/or investment, and others pushed to shift investments and/or parts of their operations away from the country.
Agenda:
08:30-09:00 Registration
09:00-09:05 Opening remarks
09:05-09:45 Presentation on main findings
- Jens Eskelund, President, European Chamber
- Markus Herrmann, Co-Founder and Managing Director of China Macro Group (CMG)
09:45-10:25 Media Q&A
10:25-10:40 Coffee break
10:40-11:25 Panel discussion
- Jens Eskelund, President, European Chamber
- Jörg Wuttke, President (2019-2023, 2014-2017, 2007-2010), European Chamber
- Mats Harborn, President (2017-2019), European Chamber
- Davide Cucino, President (2011-2014), European Chamber
Moderator: Mariann Nagy, Policy and Communications Manager, European Chamber
11:25-11:30 Closing remarks
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 Luyang Syvänen lsyvanen@europeanchamber.com.cn
Terms & Conditions
Events have limited seating so to ensure your attendance we encourage advance online registration and payment. We cannot guarantee entry to anyone not registered in advance.
- Members can pay via wechat QR code once registered.
- Non-members will receive an email with a payment code shortly.
Fapiao will be mailed to you within 5-10 working days after the event.
Cancellation Policy
If you cannot attend the event for which you have registered, please cancel your registration no later than one 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.
To cancel you can: 1) email cdu@europeanchamber.com.cn, or 2) cancel online if you registered for the event through the website.
Speakers
Mr. Jens Eskelund
Jens Eskelund was born in 1970 in Aarhus, Denmark. He holds an MA in philosophy and has studied at University of Aarhus and University of Texas at Austin. He has also pursued studies in Chinese at Renmin University in Beijing. Coming to Beijing as a student in 1998, Jens Eskelund began his career in China as Commercial Officer at the Danish Embassy to China before taking on a position in marketing for Maersk Line in Beijing in 2000. He has since held positions as General Manager for Public Affairs for Maersk Line in China and later Director of Public Affairs for North Asia before assuming his present role as Chief Representative for Maersk in the Greater China Area and North-East Asia. Primary focus areas comprise engaging government entities, institutions and trade associations on matters of policy, regulatory environment and business development on behalf of the companies within the Maersk Group.
Jens Eskelund is a former Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China as well as the Vice President and Chair of Maritime Working Group of the European Chamber. Jens was elected as the President of European Chamber in May 2023.
Jens Eskelund is married and has two sons.
Mr. Markus Herrmann Chen
Markus Herrmann Chen (陈瑞华), a Swiss-Chinese, is an experienced advisor to European business and financial investors focusing on effects from China’s political economy and global geoeconomic developments on corporate strategies, organizational design and HQ-subsidiary interactions as well as strategic partnerships and negotiations of foreign business in the Chinese market. Prior to CMG, Markus worked as Government Affairs Director with Bayer MaterialScience in China and as Management Consultant with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in its Shanghai, Hong Kong and Zurich offices. Markus is a Strategic Advisor Europe to Caixin Global, as well as Board member with the Stein am Rhein Symposium (stars) and the Swiss Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) – for the latter leading its policy and government affairs including the interface with European peer organizations and the EUCBA. He is further engaged in the advisory board of CEIBS Zurich and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Expert Network.
Markus holds a B.A. and M.A. in Law focusing on public policy, international public, economic and WTO law from the Universities of Geneva, Bern and Fribourg, plus he studied Chinese at the Peking University as a resident student and holds a Certificate of Advanced Studies from the University of Zurich in applied ethics..
Mr. Jörg Wuttke
Joerg (Jörg) Wuttke is Partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group. He brings over 25 years' experience as a senior executive working in the China market and Europe-China trade and investment corridor. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Wuttke served as the Chief Representative of BASF in China, based in Beijing, where he was responsible for guiding the company’s investment strategies for China, negotiating large projects, and leading government relations. Before BASF, Mr. Wuttke worked with ABB, a multinational power and automation technologies company, for 11 years on the development and financing of large projects in China, Southeast Asia, Africa, and Russia. In 1993, he became Chief Representative for ABB China in Shanghai and in 1994 moved to the President's Office of ABB China, where he was responsible for the development and financing of large-scale industrial projects.
Mr. Wuttke was President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China from 2007 to 2010, 2014 to 2017, and 2019 to 2023. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in China. From 2011 to 2019, Mr. Wuttke was Chairman of the BIAC China Task Force of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC), a Paris-based body of major business associations that advocates with the OECD. From 2013 to 2016, and again from 2019 to 2023 Mr. Wuttke was Vice Chairman of the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, International Cooperation Committee, a group representing Multinational Companies in China.
Among other professional distinctions, Mr. Wuttke has been awarded the Order of Leopold II by King Albert II of Belgium, Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur by President Macron of France, the Order of Italian Star from the President Mattarella of Italy, and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Verdienstorden) by President Steinmeier of Germany. Mr. Wuttke serves on the Robert Bosch Internationale Beteiligungen AG Verwaltungsrat Supervisory Board and is a Member of Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) and the International Board of the Stars Foundation.
Mr. Wuttke earned his bachelor’s degree from DHBW Mannheim and studied Chinese in Shanghai and Taipei. He is based in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Mats Harborn
Mr. Harborn has a proven record of successful introductions of products and companies into China over years. He is now the head of TRATON China Office.
From 2017 to May of 2019, Mats Harborn was elected President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. He had served on the Chamber's Executive Committee since 2013, as Vice President and as States' Representative. Mr. Harborn has been actively involved in Sino-European trade and business relations. In 2005, he was appointed as the Chairman of Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China, a position he held for 8 years. He has been the Chairman China Commercial Vehicles Board of ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers' Association) since 2010.
From 2020 to 2024, he was president of Scania China Group in charge overall strategy and governmental communication in China. Between 2011 and 2020, he worked as the Executive Director of Scania China Strategic Office, responsible for setting strategies and paving the way for high end CV sales.
He joined the company as the Managing Director of Scania China Representative office as well as Scania Sales (China) Co., Ltd in 2004 and held that position until 2010. From 1997 to 2000, he had been working for Swedish Embassy in Beijing as Commercial Counsellor, a key position in Sino-Swedish commercial relations. In June 2000, he became the Marketing and Information Director of Ecolean AB, helping establish Ecolean as a credible business partner in juice and dairy industry and define it as a sustainable packaging solutions provider.
As a multilingual user, Mr. Harborn has a wide-ranging knowledge of Chinese culture and society beyond his business and rich expertise in cross-cultural management
Mr. Davide Cucino
Born in Vicenza, Italy in 1966. Graduated at Venice Ca’ Foscari University in Oriental Studies with highest honors, he has permanently lived and worked in China for more than 30 years since late 80’s before moving to Brussels in early 2020. He has been recently appointed Vice President – Head of EU of Fincantieri for which he manages the Brussels Office since December 2019. Besides carrying out public affairs duties for Fincantieri at the European Institutions and NATO, he is active in a number of organizations and working groups, among them SEA Europe, SEA Naval, Business Europe, Hydrogen Europe, ASD and Business at OECD. From January 2017 to early 2020, he has held the position of Chairman of Fincantieri China. From 2005 to 2016 he has been Head of China Region of Leonardo Spa (previously Finmeccanica), holding the position of Vice President – Global Sales Coordination. He has also held various positions in the BoD of Finmeccanica invested ventures in China. From 2010 to 2016 he has been CEO of Ansaldo Railways Systems in China. He holds the honorary title of President Emeritus of European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) after serving from 2011 to 2014 as President elected and since January 2020 represents the EUCCC in Brussels. Since April 2022 he is chairing the Maritime Chamber of the EC Renewable and Low Carbon Fuels Industry Value Chain Alliance. In May 2022 he has been elected Chairman of SEA Naval, the permanent naval shipyards group of companies at SEA Europe. In January 2020, he has also been nominated Chairman of the Paris based China Expert Group under Business at OECD (BIAC). From 2017 to 2020 he has been Chairman of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce, position that he already held from 2002 to 2010. He has been Member of the Board of the Association of Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad. He has been conferred the Italian Presidential Knighthood honor of “Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana” as well as of “Master of Labor”. Among other awards, the “Cafoscarino in the World 2010” prize and the “Ca’ Foscari University Ambassador in the World prize 2019” by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, as well as the “Capital Elite 2011” prize by the Italy-China Foundation, as the Italian Manager with the greatest responsibility in China.
He is member of the Scientific Committee of "Mondo Cinese" the Italian review on China studies. He has published a book on the geo-political environment in China (“Tra Poco la Cina”, Bollati Boringhieri). He frequently contributes articles to various geo political publications.
Ms. Mariann Nagy
Mariann Nagy is a policy and communications manager at the European Chamber. In her role, she contributes to the Chamber’s reports and other publications and to the production of the Chamber’s two podcast series, China ShortCuts and China Dispatches. She is a sinologist by training, with a professional background in journalism and translation.