Weihai city in Shandong province is launching this year’s sister city scholarship program. Last September, Weihai welcomed two international students from Sousse, Tunesia and Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to participate in the first session of the scholarship program. After a semester’s study, they are both now capable of basic speaking and writing in Chinese. At the same time they have deepened their understanding of Weihai and enhanced their friendship with the local people by taking part in various activities organized by both their universities and the Weihai Foreign Affairs Office.

Applications are now accepted before April 10 to participate in the international student program starting in September this year. If interested, please contact the Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce at info@flanders-china.be

The 21st China International Fair for Investment & Trade (abbreviated as “CIFIT”) is scheduled to take place during September 8th-11th in Xiamen, China. This event is sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), with UNCTAD, UNIDO, WTO, OECD, IFC and others as co-sponsors.

Themed on “Introducing FDI” and “Going Global”, the 21st CIFIT will highlight the tangible business effect as well as investment policy and environment promotion by integrating exhibition, forums and seminars, B2B project matchmaking, high-end protocol meetings, investment salon, etc.

The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce (FCCC) has compiled a Covid-19 Resources Guide. The novel coronavirus has been officially renamed Covid-19 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The latest version can be downloaded on the FCCC’s website.

The latest statistics of cases and deaths can be consulted on Johns Hopkins University’s CSSE page: https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html

China is currently battling an outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The Flanders-China Chamber of Commerce expresses sincere condolences to all those who have lost loved ones and sympathy to those who are ill and suffering as a result of the virus outbreak. We wish those who are ill a speedy recovery.

The latest statistics of cases and deaths can be consulted on Johns Hopkins University’s CSSE page: https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html

Foreign citizens are being evacuated from Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. Nine Belgian citizens and three Chinese family members arrived at Melsbroek airport on February 2 and have been quarantined at the military hospital in Neder-Over-Heembeek. More info of the repatriation on the VRT website:
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2020/02/02/belgen-worden-gerepatrieerd-uit-wuhan/

The info page of the Belgian federal authorities (in Dutch) is at www.info-coronavirus.be/nl In Belgium the reference lab to test for the corona virus is at the KULeuven. There are two reference hospitals to treat patients: Sint-Pieters hospital in Brussels and the University Hospital Antwerp.

Airlines of several countries – including the U.S. and Australia – have canceled flights to and from China. The prices of tickets on remaining flights – including those on Chinese airlines – have increased substantially. Several countries are prohibiting entry to foreigners arriving from China or having visited China in the past 14 days.Countries neighboring China have closed their borders. Passengers now traveling from China are practically obliged to fly to their country of citizenship, where they are likely to be quarantined for 14 days. This makes travel to and from China very cumbersome in the near future. More info on the impact on the airline industry is available on the website of Simply Flying: https://simpleflying.com/coronavirus-flight-cancellations/ and details of airlines canceling flights to and from China, countries and territories banning entry to travelers from China at:
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3048659/coronavirus-here-are-countries-and-airlines-restricting

Advice of the Beijing authorities can be found in a letter of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Beijing Municipal Government to non-Chinese visitors to Beijing: http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Home/Notice/t1614925.htm

The Chinese New Year holiday, which was expected to end on January 31, has been extended to limit the spread of the coronavirus. In Beijing, the holiday has been extended till February 2, and the local authorities advice companies to allow their employees to work at home till February 9. Shanghai has extended the holiday till February 9, while in Hubei province the holiday will last at least till February 13.

Scientific information about the virus is available on the 2019-nCoV Resource Center page of the famous medical publication The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/coronavirus The World Health Organization (WHO) also has a special page on the virus: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Advice to the public about how to protect oneself against the virus is also available from the WHO:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Advisory from Fiducia Management Consultants: “Coping with the Novel Coronavirus Outbreak”:
http://newsletter.fiducia-china.com/a/s/10966052-27e0ad38312cbfb50e37fa8cba2a1716/537754

Client Alert from Baker McKenzie: “What should employers in China be doing in the face of the coronavirus outbreak?”
https://f.datasrvr.com/fr1/120/84582/Baker_McKenzie_Client_Alert_-_Employment_-_What_should_employers_in_China_be_doing_in_the_face_of_the_coronavirus_outbreak_-_Feb_2020.pdf

Newsletter of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China on the coronavirus:
http://mailings.europeanchamber.com.cn/form.do?agnCI=1&agnFN=fullview&agnUID=1.71z.24v6.5y6m.dytdinkl97

The CIEIC is an international innovation competition, which is held by the city government of Shenzhen in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.
 Shenzhen is one of the most innovative and dynamic cities in China and is known as the “Silicon Valley” of the People’s Republic of China. About 180 of the 500 international top companies in China established their head offices in Shenzhen. To promote the European economic relationship with China further, the German-Chinese Business Association (DCW) organizes the European preselection of the innovation competition for the city of Shenzhen. The preliminary decision will be held in Berlin and worldwide in London, Sydney, Toronto, Tokyo and Silicon Valley (USA).

4th China (Shenzhen) Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition (CIEIC) March 2020 in Berlin

Who can participate in the competition? Individuals, research groups or companies – including start-ups – are invited with an innovative idea or a future-oriented concept for the following sectors:
• Internet and Mobile Internet (including
Information Technology)
• Electronic Science and Technology
• Biological and Life Science and Technology
• Advanced Manufacturing
• Material & Energy (including Energy Saving and Environmental Protection)

The application deadline is 29 February 2020!

At the beginning of March we will inform participants whether they are admitted to the preliminary round in March. After the preliminary round in Berlin, a total of six teams will have the opportunity to compete in the final on April 12, 2020 in Shenzhen. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us: info@dcw-ev.de, Tel.: +49 221 120 370