On Saturday, 28 August 2010, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) and the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) organized a very interesting ‘Leadership Forum’ with the support of the Province of East Flanders. This successful event took place at the Belgian-EU Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010. The forum focused on differences in management and leadership between East and West. Experts shared their views on the influence of the practical wisdom of Ancient China on Western leadership.

It was followed by a networking cocktail reception at the Belgian Pavilion and VIP visits to other pavilions at Shanghai Expo. Speakers included Mr Marc De Buck, Vice Governor of the Province of East Flanders, Mrs Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce; Dr XU Bo, Assistant Commissioner General, World Expo Shanghai 2010; Annette D.S.M. Nijs, Executive Director Global, Initiative CEIBS and former Dutch Cabinet Minister for Science, Education and Culture, Mr Yves Baetsle, CFO of Agfa Healthcare Asia and Mr Philippe Snel, Chairman of BenCham Shanghai. The seminar was attended by 130 Chinese and Belgian business leaders.

Pictures of the event will soon be online.

East Flanders “excellent knowledge region – top logistical region in Europe” was the topic of  an investment seminar organized by the Development Agency East Flanders in close cooperation with the Provincial Government of East Flanders (Belgium).

The seminar highlighted the main assets of the province of East Flanders as an excellent region to invest in. Clearly defined presentations and an animated panel debate with a number of East Flemish political and socio-economic representatives illustrated the opportunities for Chinese businessmen ready to invest in Europe.

Mr. Marc De Buck, Chairman of the Development Agency East Flanders, opened the seminar. Participants to the panel debate included Mr. Peter Hertog, Member of the Provincial Government of East Flanders in charge of mobility; Prof. Dr. Paul Van Cauwenberge, Rector Ghent University; Mr. Christophe Peeters, Chairman Port of Ghent AMC; Mr. Paul Nelen, Assistant Director, the Scheldt Left Bank Corp; Mrs. Gwenn Sonck, Director Flanders China Chamber of Commerce; Mr. Dirk Bulteel, Manager Voka Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Ir. Margriet Drouillon, Technology Developer, Ghent University / Ghent Bio Energy Valley and Mr. Johan Declerck, General Manager, Development Agency East Flanders. André Denys, Governor of the Province East Flanders delivered the closing remarks. The debate was followed by a buffet reception.

On 25 August 2010, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC), the Province of East Flanders and Agoria, organized a seminar on the Automotive Industry in the Belgian pavilion at Shanghai Expo, with the support of Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT). The aim of the seminar was twofold: attract investment to Flanders and promote new and existing cooperative ventures with Chinese partners. Speakers included, the Vice Governor of the Province of East Flanders, Mr Marc De Buck; Mrs Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director FCCC; Mr Bert Mons, Advisor Agoria. The seminar – covering the unique strengths of our automotive industry, and featuring testimonials from Mr Zhong Zhang, General Manager of Bekaert Steel Cord North Asia; Mr Arjang Roshan, Senior Vice President, Umicore Automotive Catalysts (Asia Pacific);  Mr Danny Martens, Group Business Unit Manager Technical Foams Automotive and Mr Stéphane De Rycke, General Manager, Recticel Interiors Solutions China, was attended mainly by Chinese businesses active in the sector. Two Chinese testimonials, which have both invested in Belgium were delivered by Mr Michael Ning, Assistant to the Chairman of Geely; and Mr Zhang Wanyou, Vice General Manager, Double Coin Tire Co. Mr Jason Lee, General Manager & CEO, KBC Bank, Shanghai Branch gave a lecture on the gateway to Europe and Mr Marc Hendrik, Associate Director, M&A Transaction Services, Deloitte & Touche gave a speech on “8 Good reasons to invest in Flanders”. The successful seminar was followed by a networking reception and visits to VIP pavilions. Pictures will soon be online.

China Life’s net profit increased 7.4% to CNY18.03 billion in the first half, while profit at Ping An grew 27.9% to CNY9.87 billion for the period. China Life’s second-quarter profit, however, fell 27% to CNY7.82 billion as its rising premium income was offset by losses from stock market investments. Ping An said it planned to diversify into the non-insurance sector such as wealth management to reduce investment risk and improve earnings. Premium income at Ping An increased 29% to CNY96.98 billion in the period. China Life’s revenue was up 10% to CNY215.39 billion. At Ping An, a 43% increase in net premiums earned helped offset the company’s CNY1.8 billion in investment losses. Net profit of its non-insurance business rose 180.1% in the first half. Aiming to build an integrated financial services platform, the Shenzhen-based insurer is in talks to merge its banking unit with the Shenzhen Development Bank (SDB) as a step towards becoming a financial conglomerate.

The China Chamber of International Commerce (CCIC) has set up a unit to help exporters recoup USD150 billion in overseas unpaid bills. Credit risks for Chinese exporters have grown as a result of intensifying competition and overcapacity. The estimated USD150 billion in unpaid bills compared with China’s trade surplus of USD196 billion last year. Recovering unpaid bills from overseas customers was too complicated, lengthy and costly to be handled by many exporters, most of which are small and medium-sized enterprises. China Chamber of International Commerce Spokesman Zhu Wenwei said the organization would map out strategies to help exporters recover overseas receivables, but he did not specify what action would be taken. Xavier Farcot, Deputy Regional Managing Director of French credit insurance and management firm Coface, said there were some delays in payments to exporters, but the situation was improving slowly and gradually.