PAST EVENT: EUCCC-EIAS Briefing Seminar on the Business Environment in China for European Companies

INVITATION
IN-PERSON EVENT 

Date:  Thursday, 25 September 2025
Time: 17:30 – 19:30 CET
Venue: EIAS, rue de la Loi 26, 10th floor, B-1040 Brussels

*The Event was followed by a Networking Reception

Dear Sir/Madam/X,

A delegation of European industry representatives, led by Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, travelled to Brussels from 22nd to 26th September 2025 for a week of meetings with EU officials. 

An on-the-record session took place during the visit, on Thursday, 25th September 2025, from 17:30-19:00 CET. This event was held by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China in partnership with the European Institute of Asian Studies (EIAS), at the EIAS’ office (Rue de la Loi 26, 10th Floor, B-1040 Brussels) and was followed by a Networking Reception.   

Chamber President Jens Eskelund shared his insights on the business environment in China. He focused on how headwinds facing the Chinese economy—including relatively slower economic growth, persistent producer price deflation, a continued mismatch between supply and demand growth, and longstanding market access and regulatory barriers—are fuelling trade tensions between the EU and China. He also highlighted the key issues that businesses hope to see addressed in China’s forthcoming 15th Five-year Plan, which will set the course for the country’s economic and social development until 2030. 

Lin Goethals, Director of EIAS, then moderated a panel discussion with members of the Chamber’s Executive Committee, who detailed the picture for their respective sectors, as seen by European companies operating on the ground in China. 

Event Agenda

17:30–17:40 Opening remarks 

17:40–18:00 Keynote address

• Jens Eskelund, President, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC)  

18:00–18:30 Panel discussion

• Fabian Blake, Vice President and South China Chapter Chair, European Chamber
• Massimo Bagnasco, States’ Representative, European Chamber
• Markus Borchert, European Chamber Executive Committee Member
• Adam Dunnett, Secretary General, European Chamber
• Moderator: Lin Goethals, Director, EIAS 

18:30–19:00 Q&A Session

19:00— Networking reception 

*Please note that all information provided was on the record. European Chamber speakers are to be quoted in their European Chamber capacity only. 

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

The European Chamber of Commerce in China and the European Institute for Asian Studies

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