On 7 August, Blandine Cressard, Vice Chair of the South China Chapter Board of the European Chamber, attended the Guangzhou Foreign-Invested Enterprise Roundtable chaired by Mayor Sun Zhiyang, with Party Secretary Feng Zhonghua delivering remarks.
Ms. Cressard raised three key advocacy points on behalf of the Chamber:
1. Extension of the IIT policy on allowances and subsidies for foreign nationals – set to expire at end-2027, the Chamber requested a five-year extension, early policy clarity by the first half of 2027, and streamlined administrative procedures.
2. Support for SMEs – the Chamber called for continued efforts to streamline business procedures, strengthen government-business communication, and enhance support services for smaller companies, which are more sensitive to operating costs, talent access and administrative efficiency.
3. Position Paper 2026/2027 launch and mayoral meeting – the Chamber plans to launch its annual flagship report in Guangzhou on 22 October 2026 and requested a mayoral meeting on that morning to send a positive signal to the European business community.
Party Secretary Feng Zhonghua and Mayor Sun Zhiyang listened attentively and instructed relevant departments to follow up on the requests raised. Mr. Feng expressed gratitude to foreign-invested enterprises and encouraged them to seize Greater Bay Area opportunities, while emphasising continued efforts to create a world-class business environment.Both sides agreed to maintain close communication and continue strengthening cooperation.
