A new paper by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in  China is calling for more reforms in the Chinese market. That came at an event in Chengdu celebrating the chamber’s 20th anniversary on Wednesday. Meng Qingsheng reports.

An independent voice for European businesses in China. The European Chamber gathered its members and local departments to mark its 20th anniversary in China.

MASSIMO BAGNASCO Vice President EU Chamber of Commerce in China “Twenty years ago, we were just 51. Nowadays, we’re over 1,750. So, the rise of number of members means the Chamber has a meaning. The Chamber provides support. The Chamber also has some results in terms of our work activity.”

At the event, the Chamber released its annual position paper with over 8-hundred suggestions to improve China’s business environment. The document says the long-term issue of limited market access and complex regulations restrict their involvement in the Chinese market.

MASSIMO BAGNASCO Vice President EU Chamber of Commerce in China “What we ask is not just about a specific sector. What we ask is just an opening-up as we have in Europe, in terms of reciprocity and opening a new condition.”

JEAN MICHEL TOMAS General Manager Sichuan Services Aero-Engine Maintenance Co. “Things are probably more complex than before. We’ve seen more and more regulations coming. And probably, it’s more and more complex to move on quickly in China. Even we feel support from the Chinese government, and really, we’re supported by Chinese government, but these regulations can probably make things more  difficult.”

The paper calls for bold commitments in the  EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment or CAI by the end of this year. It also warns of the looming threat of economic decoupling.

FRANK SHI Senior Advisor Chengdu International Chamber of Commerce “Chinese government, and local municipal governments like Chengdu, are very welcoming the foreign investment from across the world, especially from Europe. Currently, we all face a lot of challenges like global supply chain, and cooperation. I think the most important thing is to strengthen  understanding, and build further trust.”

Last month, Chinese companies operating in the EU expressed concerns of their own. In an annual report, the Brussels-based China Chamber of Commerce to the EU outlined some of the key issues Chinese companies face. They include fears over the COVID-19 pandemic and its fallout, the politicization of technology and the issue of 5G security.

It also says there are barriers to enter Europe’s green energy market while the EU’s overlapping review system and understanding its market policies can pose a challenge.

MENG QINGSHENG Chengdu, Sichuan “China and the European Union are two of the biggest traders in the world. The release of this position paper is expected to bring the two markets closer, and contribute to China’s sustainable development. Meng Qingsheng, CGTN, Chengdu, Sichuan Province.”