Our annual flagship Understanding China Conference is coming back to Brussels on 29 and 30 October 2024. On the first day of the Conference, policymakers from the EU institutions, economists, industry experts, and think-tank analysts will share their insights into EU-China trade relations, China’s economic outlook, the current policy environment, green technology’s rise and trends, and how these factors impact European SMEs.
On the second day, we will narrow in on practical cross-sectoral information for SMEs in China. Presentations will include an assessment of industrial dynamics, new developments in IPR protection, as well as the evolution of connectivity and cybersecurity issues in recent years, with analysts and business representatives already active in the Chinese market.
The Understanding China Conference is an annual event organised by the EU SME Centre as part of the Europe-based activities implemented with the lead of our Phase IV consortium partner the Italy-China Council Foundation.
Opening remarks
– Bonifacio Garcia Porras, Head of Unit, DG for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Directorate A, GROW Unit A2 – SMEs, European Commission
– Igor Kalinic, Head of Sector, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency – EISMEA, European Commission
China’s Economic Outlook
Keynote speakers and panellists:
– Dan Wang, Ex-Chief Economist, Hang Seng Bank China
– Alicia García-Herrero, Chief Economist for Asia Pacific, Natixis (joining online)
– Jacob Gunter, Lead Analyst Economy
Panel discussion moderator:
Liam Jia, Team Leader, EU SME Centre
Coffee break
EU-China Trade Relations
Keynote speaker:
Eva Valle Lagares, Head of Unit Far East, DG Trade, European Commission
Lunch
Implementing the EU SME Centre: A Discussion with Consortium Partners
– China-Italy Chamber of Commerce (CICC)
– European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC)
– Italy-China Council Foundation (ICCF)
– Sociedade Portuguesa de Inovação (SPI)
– Trade Promotion Europe (TPE)
– EU-China Business Association (EUCBA)
Policy Environment and Business Confidence
Keynote speakers and panellists
– Ester Cañada Amela, Advocacy Manager, EU SME Centre
– Luisa Santos, Deputy Director General, BusinessEurope
– Andrzej Juchniewicz, Head of Foreign Trade Office in Shanghai, Polish Trade and Investment (PAIH)
Coffee break
Green Technologies
– Massimo Bagnasco, Vice President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
– Wanyuan Song, Section Editor (China), Carbon Brief
SME Participants in the 2024 SME Business Mission organised by the EU SME Centre:
– Lukas Jasiunas, CEO, ecorbio
– André Godinho Luz, CEO and General Manager, Infinite Foundry
Networking cocktail
Cybersecurity and Connectivity
Tom Nunlist, Associate Director, Trivium China
Simone Ciampi, General Manager, Exprivia IT Solutions Asia
Coffee break
IPR Protection: Recent Developments
Simon Cheetham, Team Leader, China IP SME Helpdesk
Industrial Dynamics: Local Governments, Regional Clusters, Free-Trade Zones, High-Tech Zones
Alessio Petino, Business Advisor, EU SME Centre
Mirko Turrina, General Manager, Goglio (Tianjin) Packaging Co. Ltd.
To register to this free event, please fill in the form here. The Understanding China Conference is organised in a hybrid format: onsite in Brussels with online livestreaming.
Please note that onsite attendance on the first day is reserved to partner organisations of the EU SME Centre and intermediary organisations such as government agencies, industry associations, business support organisations (BSOs), trade promotion organisations (TPOs), chambers of commerce, and clusters.
The Understanding China Conference is a two-day annual series of keynote presentations, panel discussions, and workshops organised since 2011 by the EU SME Centre. The Conference’s objective is to inform stakeholders on the most recent developments and trends observed in China and discuss potential impacts on European small and medium-sized enterprises.
This event has been developed for intermediary organisations in Europe such as government agencies, industry associations, business support organisations (BSOs), trade promotion organisations (TPOs), chambers of commerce, and clusters.
Participation is free of charge and all sessions are organised in English. Ask our EU Partnerships Manager Davide Orlandi your questions about this event by email at: davide.orlandi@eusmecentre.org.cn.
Stream the sessions of the 2023 Understanding China Conference here >
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