Entering the new year often means setting new goals and objectives for the country: would that be the case for China, too? As it seems, the Chinese government plans to continue taking big and steady steps towards a greener and more innovative economy as we enter the new decade. In the annual Central Economic Work Conference, held lately on from the 10th to the 12th of December 2019, President Xi sets six main tasks for the first year of the new decade, all with one conclusion: China needs a stimulus and 2020 will be a crucial year.
As GDP growth weakened in 2019 and the future is less predictable in 2020, China sees necessary setting up a contingency plan for 2020. Thus, in this context, questions arise over the economic outlook for China in 2020. What is the GDP plan for China? What would a Plan B look like? Should we be positive or negative about this new year?
The EU SME Centre and the European Chamber are thus delighted to invite you to join our next Policy Meeting, where Mr. John Russell, Managing Director at North Head, along with Ms. Dan Wang, Analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit, will hold a discussion on the China Economic Outlook in 2020 from the viewpoint of China experts. The conversation will be moderated by Mr. Peter Pronk, Director at the EU SME Centre. The event will take place on the 15th January from 9:30 – 11:30 at Hilton Beijing and will be held under Chatham House rules.
Agenda
9:00-9:30 Registration
9:30-9:40 Opening Remarks
9:40-11:00 Presentation by John Russell and Dan Wang
11:00-11:30 Discussion and Q&A moderated by Peter Pronk
About the speakers and moderator
John Russell
John Russell is Managing Director of North Head, a leading strategic communications and public affairs consultancy headquartered in Beijing. He has more than 25 years’ international consultancy and government relations experience working in Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia, and Australia. He has been in China since late 2005.
John is a member of the international business advisory committee of the APEC China Business Council and is a strategic counsellor to the Global Times Business Leaders’ Roundtable. Prior to forming North Head in 2010, John was Executive Vice President Asia Pacific at Weber Shandwick, based in Beijing. In 2008, he was adviser and trainer at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in preparation for Japan’s chairmanship of the G8.
Dan Wang
Dan is an analyst at The EIU’s Access China service, which offers analyses of China’s provinces and cities. She leads regional research and forecasts, and advises clients on economic and policy developments in China as well as global outlook.
Dan joined The EIU in 2015. She is the main writer for several special reports including China Consumer 2030 and China’s Emerging City Rankings. She is also one of the authors of the Belt and Road Quarterly report available to EIU clients. Dan is also a regular commentator in international media (CNBC, BBC, Al Jazeera, Channel NewsAsia, CGTN).
She holds a PhD in economics from University of Washington. Before joining the EIU she was a post-doctoral fellow in the Chinese Academy of Sciences as an economist. Dan holds a BE in International Economics and BA in law from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
Peter Pronk
Peter, who is originally from the Netherlands, has been working with China since 1995. He gained a strong knowledge and network within the Chinese business and SOE environment. Since 2004 he developed a relationship between a Dutch wind turbine manufacturer and China Academy of Launch and Vehicle Technology (CALT). He moved to China with his wife and youngest child in 2008 to be the Director of a marketing and sales company of wind turbines in China (BECD). In 2011, Peter started his own consultancy firm to help European SMEs do business with China.
During 2012 to 2017 Peter was the executive board member and Vice President of BenCham. From 2016 to 2017, he was the General Manager of BenCham. Peter was also appointed as a member of the European Chamber for two years as the Netherlands representative.
Meeting Registration and Cancellation
This is a closed meeting open to consortium partners’ management and relevant stakeholders of EU SME Centre Phase II including embassies or consulates only. If you meet the criteria and would like to attend, please send your information to Cindi Yu (cindi.yu@eusmecentre.org.cn)with subject line and your information by Tuesday, 14th January COB. You will receive a confirmation email. A maximum of two representatives from each stakeholder may attend if the capacity allows it.
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