• The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced a list of companies to be targeted in this year’s second inspection round, including the People’s Daily, China Resources Group, China National Travel Service (HK) Group, China Merchants Group, China Eastern Airlines, Anshan Iron and Steel Group, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, and the Ministry of Transport.
• Nearly two years after the launch of China’s pilot-scheme regional carbon markets, authorities are hopeful a national market can be developed as early as next year, despite challenges facing the industry. Technical preparations were under way for the market, which would be similar to the EU Emissions Trading System (EUETS).
• Li & Fung plans to open 300 outlets under a joint venture to develop fashion brands and home products. The Hong Kong-based retail sourcing company will take a 20% stake, with Shanghai Bailian Group Co and Beijing Wangfujing Department Store Group Co each owning 40%. With an initial registered capital of CNY48 million, the business will target sales of CNY1 billion in three years.

His Majesty King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have started their State visit to China in Wuhan. The Belgian royals are accompanied by a large delegation of more than 250, including more than 100 CEOs and representatives of Belgian business. It is King Philippe’s first State visit since his coronation. The royal couple will visit Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Shenzhen. In Beijing, the King of the Belgians will be received by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders, State Secretary for Foreign Trade Pieter de Crem and the Minister-Presidents of the governments of Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels are also part of the official delegation.

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) and BNP Paribas Fortis are organizing a breakfast meeting in Beijing on June 24 focussed on “How strong is China’s economic and financial engine? Business environment outlook for foreign strategic investors”. Minister-President Geert Bourgeois of the government of Flanders will present the conclusions of the breakfast meeting.

On the occasion of the state visit to China of King Philippe, the newspaper De Tijd published a short interview with Mr Bert De Graeve, Chairman of the Flanders China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC).

The interview can be read here. (Registration on the website of De Tijd is required)

The EU-China Business Association is delighted to invite you to join the 10th EU-China Business Summit, taking place on 29 June 2015 at Palais d’Egmont in Brussels. The EU-China Business Summit is a joint initiative by BusinessEurope, the China Council Council of the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), in cooperation with the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) and the EU-China Business Association (EUCBA).
The business summit is recognised as the highest-level platform for exchanges between EU and Chinese business and political leaders and will bring together a number of high-level business leaders from large Chinese and European companies, including several CEOs. President Jean-Claude Juncker and Premier Li Keqiang will be making keynote addresses during the opening session.

Under the overall theme of “Building a Stronger Partnership” we look forward to interesting discussions on topical issues like investment cooperation, the digital economy and green and sustainable growth. Commission Vice President Jykri Katainen will introduce the panel on investment cooperation.

The EU-China Business Association is the EU-wide federation of business organisations in the EU promoting business relations with China. The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce holds the secretariat-general of the association.

For more information on the 10th EU-China Business Summit, including the programme and the registration you are invited to explore the dedicated website: www.eu-china-business-summit.eu The official invitation and programme can be downloaded via this link.

The forum is co-hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission, China Directorate-General Energy, European Commission, and organized by the China Center for Urban Development (Joint Secretariat of China-EU Urbanisation Partnership.

“Leaders announced the establishment of the China-EU Partnership on Urbanisation, which aims at promoting exchanges and cooperation in a wide range of sustainable urban development. The two sides agreed to hold the China-EU Urbanisation Forum.”
Premier Wen Jiabao, President Barroso, President Van Rompuy, Joint Statement of the EU-China Summit, 14 February 2012, Beijing.

The speed and scale of urban development in China is a phenomenon unprecedented in human history. On 12 January 2012, China’s National Bureau of Statistics announced that the Chinese urbanisation level crossed the highly symbolic 50% threshold during the previous year. This mega-trend is far from over: according to some estimates, 350 million people will be added to China’s urban population by 2030.

This is both a major challenge and a unique opportunity, echoing the strategic objectives of economic rebalancing and a more qualitative, smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Managing the challenges of urbanisation is a key task if we move towards a “green growth” strategy, stressing the importance of efficient use of resources and protection of the environment while ensuring economic growth.

Prolonging Shanghai Expo’s “Better City Better Life” spirit for the years to come, the China-EU partnership on Sustainable Urbanisation offers a natural framework for concerted actions.
The central event of the Partnership is the EU-China Urbanisation Partnership Forum. It takes place back-to-back to the EU-China Summit, this year on 29 June at the European Commission’s Headquarters, the Berlaymont building in Brussels.

The event is structured around two axes:
1. A half day Plenary Session in the afternoon, including a 45-minute highlight at which EU and China leaders are expected to attend.

2. High-level thematic conferences in the morning, dealing with:

• Smart Cities

• Sustainable Urban Mobility

• Climate Change and Covenant of Mayors

• EU-China Forum on Sustainable Cities

To download the program and registration details: www.euchinaurban.eu/index.html