What kind of relationship does China want to have with foreign enterprises? A conversation with EUCCC president Jens Eskelund

MERICS hosted a closed-door conversation with the President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC), Jens Eskelund. 
We discussed what kind of relationship China wants to have with foreign enterprises – a question the EUCCC prominently raised in its latest position paper.

Published in September, the European Business in China Position Paper is the EUCCC’s most important publication and the cornerstone of its annual advocacy plan. Compiled by its 48 working groups, sub-working groups, desks, and fora over a nine-month period, the 1058 recommendations contained in the Position Paper illustrate both the depth of the challenges faced by European companies in China and their commitment to improving the business environment. A special focus is on how China’s post-COVID-19 recovery has faltered and what Chinese policymakers can do to address this. In the course of 2023, many areas of China’s economy failed to perform as hoped. Although official announcements aimed at improving the business environment have been released, so has a slew of national security-focused legislation, which has deepened uncertainty and raised compliance risks. This has sent mixed messages to the business community, leaving many companies questioning what kind of relationship China wants to have with them.

Speaker
Jens Eskelund, President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China 

Moderator
Mikko Huotari, Executive Director, MERICS