On 24 November 2017, the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce, represented by Ms Gwenn Sonck, and the Qingdao Bureau of Commerce, represented by Mr Xing Lizhi, signed a Cooperation Agreement at the offices of the FCCC in Ghent.

The agreement will strengthen cooperation between both sides and will build a platform to facilitate communication between companies from Qingdao and Flanders. Both sides will share business information, promote trade and investment activities and organise delegations with business leaders.

On the occasion of this visit, the FCCC organized a lunch meeting at which the leader of the Qingdao Bureau of Commerce delivered a speech on the economic and investment environment of Qingdao, while the FCCC gave a better understanding of the advantages of investing in Flanders. Leading companies such as the Tsingtao Brewery Group and Shandong Electronic Power Corporation also participated in this activity.

Qingdao, located in Shandong province is a major seaport of China, aiming to build itself into a hub city of “Belt & Road”, connecting China with Europe and Eastern Asia. Pillar industries in the city include electronics, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, automobiles, machinery, metallurgy, building materials, biopharmaceuticals, textiles and garments, and food and beverage processing.

Several of our members have a major investment or activity in Qingdao, such as Bekaert, Beaulieu and Profit Europe. On the other side, we also have major investors from Qingdao in Belgium, such as Haier and Hisense.

If you are interested to receive more information, send an e-mail to: info@flanders-china.be

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce and MedTech Flanders have the pleasure to invite you to a meeting with a Weihai Delegation, led by the Vice-Mayor of Weihai, Mr Ye Liyun.

The aim of the visit is to introduce the Weihai Medical Device & Biological Medicine Park and Weihai’s International Healthcare Town. The delegation is looking for opportunities for cooperation and investment in the medical sector.

This meeting will be held on Thursday 7 December at 14h00 at Het Pand, Onderbergen 1, in Gent.

Weihai City is a coastal city in Shandong and has China’ largest production base of medical devices. There are over 30 pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing enterprises.

The composition of the delegation is as follows:

• Mr Ye Liyun, Vice Mayor, Weihai Municipal People’s Government
• Mr Fu Shitao, Director, Weihai Food and Drug Administration
• Mr Guo Liangtian, Vice Director, Weihai Municipal Bureau of Commerce
• Mr Shan Dazhi, Vice Director, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Weihai Municipal People’s Government
• Mr Hao Xingdian, Medical Devices Administration Section Chief, Weihai Food and Drug Administration
• Ms Zhang Afan, Interpreter, Weihai Municipal Bureau of Commerce

The City of Weihai and the City of Ghent have a sister city agreement, while the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce and the City of Weihai have a longstanding cooperation agreement.

What is the opportunity?

Healthcare reform has become one of the priorities of the Chinese government. China’s healthcare market is growing quickly— around 17% per annum in recent years. It is now the second largest market in the world for medical devices and pharmaceuticals. China’s healthcare service market is also quickly becoming one of the largest in the world.

Programme:

13:45 Registration

14:00 Introduction by Ms Gwenn Sonck, Executive Director, Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce

14:05 Presentation on the Flanders MedTech Market by Prof. Pascal Verdonck, CEO, MedTech Flanders; Chairman of the Board of Directors, AZ Maria Middelares; Vice-Chairman, Belgian Association Hospital Directors

14:20 Presentation on the Opportunities for Cooperation in Weihai International Healthcare Park and the Weihai Medical Devices and Biomedical Industrial Park by Mr Ye Liyun, Vice-Mayor of Weihai

14:40 Questions & Answers

15:00 Networking

If you are interested in participating, kindly register via this link before 4 December.

Participation fee:

• FCCC and MedTech Flanders Members: Free of charge
• Non-Members: 45 € (excl. 21% VAT)

For any further information, please contact: info@flanders-china.be

On the occasion of the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Dialogue With Emperor Qin” at the landmark ‘new Port House Antwerp’ we kindly invite you to attend our China Day 2017. You will discover our strategy for China, One Belt & One Road, our recent developments and future plans.

Network with other Chinese and Belgian participants in a unique atmosphere during the opening ceremony of the exhibition ‘Dialogue With Emperor Qin”. Besides we offer you a ticket to visit the China Light exhibition at the Zoo of Antwerp. Be surprised by the beautiful Chinese light works in the biggest zoo of Europe.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in Antwerp.

Marc Van Peel, Chairman of the Port of Antwerp

PRACTICAL

When? 15 December – 15h00
Where? Port House – Zaha Hadidplein 1, 2030 Antwerp

REGISTER NOW

PROGRAM

15:00 Welcome at the Port House
15:30 Guided tour
16:15 Welcome by Mr. Marc Van peel, Chairman of the Port of Antwerp
16:45 Presentation by Mr. Guojin Liu, East Asia Business Manager
17:30 Opening ceremony of the exhibition ‘Dialogue With Emperor Qin
18:00 Speeches
18:30 Networking
20:30 End

For practical matters:
Nico Wouters
Event Executive
+32 3 205 20 07

nico.wouters@portofantwerp.com

For matters relating to content:
Guojin Liu
East Asia Business Manager
+32 3 205 22 72
guojin.liu@portofantwerp.com

The EU Gateway Business Avenues Programme of the European Commission is organizing a business mission to China:

Environment & Water Technologies
05-09 June 2018 – Beijing
Deadline: 23 Feb. 2018

All participating European companies receive coaching at the application stage, before departure to China, during the Business Mission week, and after returning to Europe.

The European Union encourages your commitment to the Chinese market by co-financing accommodation and customized services.

More information on the program is available on the EU Gateway Programme website www.eu-gateway.eu

To discuss any aspects of application or participation with a representative from the European coaching network, please contact the following: coaching.network@eu-gateway.eu

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce and The Conference Board organized a briefing: ‘China’s 19th Party Congress: What Does This Mean for European Companies in China and Globally?’ at The Conference Board in Brussels on 27 November 2017.

This exclusive event focused on:

• The 19th Party Congress – Key Readouts and Prognostications for multinational business
• President Trump one year on, implications on global trade and economy
• Impact of trade and global value chain transitions for European companies

The briefing was conducted by Mr. Bart van Ark, Chief Economist of The Conference Board, and Mr. David Hoffman, Head of Asia Pacific and The China Center of the Conference Board.

The briefing was followed by a CEO dinner with the speakers organised by The Conference Board and chaired by Mr Bert De Graeve, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bekaert.

The briefing was organised with the support of the EU-China Business Association.