NQP Forces Promoting Soc. (HK) Limited’s Post

🌍 China is the EU’s Largest Trading Partner 🌍 In 2023 alone, EU-China trade reached an incredible €739 billion, accounting for 15% of all EU goods trade. Beyond the numbers, the values and living standards between Europe and China are closer than ever—a testament to decades of progress. As we look to the future, the path forward is clear: build trust, foster collaboration, and pursue continuous improvement—just as we do in business every day. Join us at Navigating China in Stockholm on October 3rd and hear from experts on how to successfully navigate China-EU relations in an increasingly complex world. Don’t miss this chance to gain invaluable insights! 🎟️ #EUChina #Trade #Collaboration #NavigatingChina #BusinessGrowth #StockholmEvent

"However, while dialogue is good, we cannot have dialogue purely for the sake of dialogue. Now, it is high time to make progress and make sure these dialogues lead to results.  And I am afraid there has been very little progress in the more competitive side of our relationship, in trade and investment. The European Chamber of Commerce listed 967 market access barriers in its report in 2022. In 2023 they were 1058. And in Europe, there is increasing pressure to react to what is widely seen as a worsening lack of level playing for our companies and investors. The enormous imbalance in our trade relationship, which is the largest in world’s history, is to a large and increasing extent, the result of a lack of level playing field, which is becoming economically and politically unsustainable. We must make progress and eliminate and lower the barriers that our companies encounter in China lest this becomes politically toxic. The European Union is the largest and most open single market in the world, but, paraphrasing President Von der Leyen in Paris on Monday, we cannot accept to be the ones to absorb the Chinese industrial overproduction caused by massive subsidies and lack of Chinese internal demand and not act to avoid the destruction of European industry. We just demand reciprocity and a level playing field." https://lnkd.in/eu4XkDxH

🌏 𝐄𝐁𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 & 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 🌏 The EBOs in the East Asia and Pacific region have been actively fostering economic ties, driving key initiatives, and promoting European business interests across diverse sectors. Here's a look at some recent impactful activities: 🇦🇺 𝑬𝑩𝑶 𝑨𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂: European Australian Business Council (EABC) hosted an insightful session with Shadow Treasurer Hon. Angus Taylor MP, focusing on the Opposition's economic strategy for the upcoming election. Key topics included competition policy, industrial relations, energy, and fostering trade and investment partnerships with the EU and UK. He underscored the significant impact of European investment and the necessity of a contemporary, mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement for future prospects. 🇨🇳 𝑬𝑩𝑶 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒂: European Union Chamber of Commerce in China President Jens Eskelund and VP Stefan Bernhart visited Brussels to present the European Business in China Position Paper 2024/2025 and engaged with key European stakeholders. They met with figures such as Stefano Sannino from the European External Action Service, Kerstin Jorna of DG GROW, and other notable representatives from Bruegel, CCCEU, and ACEA. This visit highlighted important discussions on the EU-China business environment and the role of European enterprises. 🇭🇰 𝑬𝑩𝑶 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒐𝒏𝒈: The European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong's Digital Innovation Council contributed to the "ReThink HK 2024" with a panel on "Driving ESG Through AI and Financial Innovation", emphasising the integration of emerging tech in sustainability practices, , in line with the EU’s commitment to the European Green Deal and Digital Decade policies. 🇯🇵 𝑬𝑩𝑶 𝑱𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒏: European Business Council in Japan (EBC) held discussions with Maria Cristina Russo from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation during a visit to Japan. The meeting highlighted the critical role of research and innovation in tackling global challenges like climate change and sustainability. The European Commission's commitment to advancing materials science innovation for economic development was reaffirmed, underscoring the strategic importance of these efforts for future growth and global collaboration. #EBOWN #EconomicCooperation  #Sustainability #TradeAndInvestment #BusinessInnovation  #EUDelegation #TeamEurope #EuropeanBusiness

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend a lunch hosted by International Business Foundation Amsterdam to hear Mrs Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate answer questions on the current status of the business and investment climate in The Netherlands. As you can imagine, this was a great topic for our Global Location Strategies’ Europe office as we continue to support companies with their expansions into Europe. A few key takeaways: ✨ The Netherlands ranks #5 for the most competitive economy worldwide which can be attributed to its high skilled labor and infrastructure. Under Minister Adriaansens’ leadership, the ministry will focus on ensuring its competiveness through innovation, digitalization, and sustainability. ✨ Strategic investments to support the growth of industry is top of mind. In March, the Netherlands announced plans to invest €2.5 billion to strengthen the business climate for the chip industry in Eindhoven. The investment will target the development of talent, affordable housing, and infrastructure to support the semiconductor industry and its suppliers in the region. ✨ Similar to many countries, geopolitical tensions have impacted how businesses operate and the approach to policy particularly when it comes to trade. ✨ Power, power, power. The Netherlands is no different when it comes to the need for more grid capacity but a collaboration at the EU level is necessary to provide a long term, sustainable solution.

The Belt and Road Summit Will Be Held on Sep 11-12 On September 4th, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) announced in a press release that this year’s Belt and Road Summit, a key platform for Hong Kong to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is bringing together more than 80 officials and business leaders to discuss collaboration opportunities in BRI markets. The Summit, which is taking place on 11-12 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, is organized by the Hong Kong SAR Government and the HKTDC. The main theme for this year’s Summit is Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road. The Business Plenary meeting on the first day will focus on market prospects in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, while that on the second day will look at opportunities in the Middle East and nearby regions. “The Belt and Road Summit will deepen international business cooperation and consolidate Hong Kong's position as the preferred business platform for the Belt and Road Initiative,” said Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development for the Hong Kong SAR Government. As China looks for ways to drive more collaboration between Belt and Road markets, Hong Kong can play an even more active role as a global hub for investment, trade and innovation, Mr Yau explained. Dr Peter K N Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, highlighted the business support that HKTDC provides to foster closer cooperation, including business delegations and outreach activities to Belt and Road countries and regions.

Earlier this week, a strategic partnership between Singapore and Germany was announced following a meeting between Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and German chancellor Olaf Scholz at the G-20 Summit. 🤝    The joint declaration of the strategic partnership also mentions support for cultural institutes, such as the Goethe-Institut Singapore, which act as mutual hubs for cultural communication. Read the full text of the Joint Declaration here: https://lnkd.in/g5WMH8z8   Our Director Dr. Asma Diakité on the importance of the strategic partnership: “The strategic partnership is an important step towards strengthening the relations between Germany and Singapore and expanding the cooperation not only in areas like digitalisation and energy but also cultural exchange. The Goethe-Institut serves as a platform, initiator and catalyst for this cultural exchange, which is never just a one-way street but a dialogue based on mutual respect and understanding.” Read the article on Straits Times here: https://lnkd.in/gQHSnpPA

“As China welcomed foreign and local delegates at the World Economic Forum’s ‘Summer Davos’ in Dalian this week, Beijing’s number-two official struck a defiant tone. First in a speech and then in private with a smaller group of executives, Li Qiang insistedthat a recovery in the world’s second-largest economy was on track despite investors’ misgivings. The premier said participants ‘should be confident about China’s economy’, said one person who attended the private gathering. In the past, such a sentiment would have been an easy sell at the WEF’s China conference. Held in a giant purpose-built conference centre with a lobby the size of four football fields, the ‘Annual Meeting of the New Champions’ was once a magnet for the global business elite. One US executive recalled corporate jets fighting for space at the city’s airport in pre-pandemic years. This year’s summit drew 1,600 attendees, a slightly bigger crowd than in 2023 when China was emerging from pandemic controls.” “But western executives made up only about a fifth of those present, and global chief executives were few and far between. The most senior foreign politicians were Poland’s President Andrzej Duda and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The agenda included topics such as artificial intelligence and climate change, but discussions on the sidelines were focused more on the economy and the EU’s recent decision to increase tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles by up to almost 50 per cent. Li countered complaints that China’s production of new energy goods was distorting trade, saying that exports of EVs and lithium batteries ‘enriched supply in the international market’. Li’s presence for most of the day in Dalian was a sharp contrast to the China Development Forum in March — the country’s biggest event for foreign executives — which the premier left after delivering his keynote, bucking a tradition of privately meeting business leaders.” “Separately in Beijing this week, a government-backed ‘Invest in China’ event touted successful foreign investments including from Airbus, BMW, Intel and Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company whose weight-loss drug Wegovy was approved for sale in China this week. Another big topic of sideline discussion was the US presidential election, and what the outcome would mean for US-China relations. ‘The American and European political cycles and hangover anxieties from the pandemic have combined to produce protectionist sentiment,’ said David Adelman, managing director at Krane Funds Advisors in New York and a former US ambassador to Singapore. Most investors privately predicted that China’s economic growth would continue to be ‘two-track’, with exports offset by patchy domestic demand. They will also be closely watching July’s third plenum, where China’s leadership sets out medium-term economic policy.”

Delighted to reflect on our participation in the "China-Netherlands-China-EU Economic and Trade Portal" forum held in The Hague on December 17th. Hosted collaboratively by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the European Union and the Dutch Association of Chinese Enterprises, this forum was a testament to the enduring importance of global collaboration in trade. Our General Manager had the privilege to present our sustainability initiatives, showcasing GIA Centre's commitment to positive change. This event provided a platform for rich discussions and connections, emphasizing the vital role of businesses in fostering economic cooperation. Keynote speakers, including esteemed figures like Tan Jian and Peng Gang, highlighted the significance of collaboration in driving prosperity. We were particularly encouraged by discussions on strengthening ties between China and the Netherlands, echoing our own dedication to fostering mutual understanding. The forum's insights, including the presentation of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the EU's flagship report, are invaluable as we navigate the evolving global landscape. Let's draw inspiration from these discussions to continue driving positive change. At GIA Centre, we remain steadfast in our commitment to dialogue and collaboration for a sustainable future. #GlobalTrade #Sustainability #Collaboration

Well, results of this kind of analysis always depends on the factors that are taken as criteria. However article presents interesting combination of leaders and showcase a nuanced picture of global innovation dynamics, revealing that both smaller nations and developing countries can contribute meaningfully to innovation.

There is a strong correlation between innovation and equal opportunity. The relationship between equal opportunity and innovation lies at the core of an inclusive economic and social system. Equal opportunity allows individuals, regardless of their background, gender, age, or social status, to access the same resources and fully utilize their talents and creativity. This diversity brings together different perspectives and innovative solutions, fueling innovation. The free and equal participation from all segments of society not only fosters technological advancements but also drives innovations in social and cultural domains. Therefore, when equal opportunity is ensured, innovation becomes richer, more sustainable, and widely beneficial. #EqualOpportunity #Innovation #DiversityAndInclusion #InclusiveGrowth