In the difficult times we go through in China, not to say particularly in Beijing, reading the Weekly News Update of CER makes me feel a bit better. For sure 99% of the Chinese readers have no clue what they are talking about, which is a good thing for CER. Sarcasm (Western style) has never been a strong point here. So, here the latest one:
“Dreaming of Beijing’s blue skies”
It is possible to wonder whether any living human being has ever seen clear skies over Beijing. Maybe one person has, a 127-year old woman living in Xinjiang, although why she would have travelled so far East is up for debate. Blue skies are so rare in fact that they would likely replace Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall as the capital city’s biggest tourist attraction.
But soon we might become the first generation to witness this great miracle. This week central government officials issued a decree to curb pollution through the closure of dirty mills and factories and a reduction in coal-fired power. They envisage huge wind turbines on top of the Temple of Heaven and solar panels spread out across the gardens of the Summer Palace.
Skepticism about the success of such plans abounds. For a start, any reduction in industrial emissions will be more than offset once every single adult in China is driving a gas-guzzling SUV, one of the most popular models of cars in the world’s biggest auto market. Porsche certainly hopes so: The luxury German automaker forecasts strong growth in this sector.
Chinese nationals however are expected to vote with their feet on this one, and Thailand is positioning itself to capture as many of the rich ones as it can. Bangkok has said it will scrap import taxes on a range of luxury goods to encourage wealthy Asian visitors to swing by. From this it is not hard to imagine the country offering a luxury goods investor immigration scheme to turn weekend shoppers into permanent on-the-ground consumers.
While locals are plotting their escape route, foreigners are complaining bitterly about their inability to inhale the Chinese Smog, a Traditional Chinese Medicine updated for the 21st Century. Apparently a new visa law is causing delays in the visa application process . Still, there is one bright spot: Sources say the government might scrap burdensome mandatory health checks for new arrivals.
Note: as far as I understand, Chinese nationals no more need a visa for Thailand as from this month.

On 10 September 2013 I joined our client, Mr. Liu Jia (CEO of Jiamei Dental) to the French Embassy for the Dassault Falcon event.
Madame Sylvie Bermann, French Ambassador hosted the well-attend party on the embassy grounds. I admit the embassy building is indeed a great place for a party. Security checks were not much of a hassle (in some embassies, not that smooth…).
|It was good to connect with the aircraft company, finding out a former colleague is now working there.

Much champagne, red wine… and good food.
The private ownership of planes in China still faces enormous restrictions (especially flying them) but that does not seem to stop (very) rich Chinese to buy the top of the range in private jets…

On Monday 9 September 2013 our friend Barry invited us for the signing ceremony of a venture he is involved in: a Finnish company ROVIO signing an agreement in China World Hotel with 123 Education for the cooperation on a chain of kindergartens (5 now in Beijing). Rovio, the company behind hit game Angry Birds, announced a new venture to condense Finnish educational success into a game product. The project was announced in Beijing, where company representatives were joined by Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen. See the PM arriving and giving his speech.
The Angry Birds Playground title will initially be used in schools in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, but is intended for worldwide export. It is based on the Finnish curriculum in maths, language, interaction, music, arts and crafts, and physical and social education. The program was developed in conjunction with Helsinki University.
The former Australian Ambassador to Beijing also attended the event

From there I jumped on my bike, suit and all, heading to the Belgian Embassy.
The occasion: Kris Peeters, Minister-President of the Government of Flanders, who heads a business and an academic delegation from Flanders to China, Chengdu and Chongqing.
The Ambassador of Belgium Michel Malherbe and the Vice-President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Mr. LI Jianping also spoke to the crowd of about 150 in the garden of the Belgian embassy.
The reception was organized by the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs and Flanders Investment & Trade.

I graduated at the University of Ghent in 1973 as master in electronic engineering. I highly appreciate the education I got there to become an engineer. The most important aspect of the 5 years: I learned to learn. We learned not be afraid of anything new; we just delve into it and try to grasp the essence in a short time. That has allowed me to be involved in the most diverse technical sectors. Never being an expert but always good enough to deal with the business and to see the bullet points (and to figure out something does not add up!).
On Sunday 8 September I attended the Chinese Alumni Network of Ghent University Reception at the Embassy of Belgium, hosted by our Belgian Ambassador Michel Malherbe.
From Ghent University I had the pleasure to meet Professor Paul Van Cauwenberge, vice-chancellor of Ghent University,  Professor Dr. Luc François and Luc Taerwe, Ph.D. (Faculty of Engineering and Architecture).
There was also a speech by professor Tang Huajun, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and alumnus of the university.

See my picture with the Rector!
I guess I will be probably the oldest alumnus in Beijing… And now I finally also have a pin of Universiteit Gent!
Domien Proost is the Representative of East Flanders & Ghent University China Platform in Beijing. The University is very active in China and has several agreements with Chinese institutions.
Currently around 350 Chinese students are studying in Ghent.

The European Chamber’s highly-anticipated and influential annual Position Paper was  launched on 5 September in the Fours Season’s Hotel. I attended the morning Press Conference as Chair of the Public Procurement Working Group.
This year’s paper includes 26 vertical industry working group papers with more than 800 recommendations. It draws directly from the knowledge and expertise of the Chamber’s 1,700 member companies following a six-month consultative process.
European Chamber President Davide Cucino introduced the Position Paper at a press conference attended by more than 100 members of the media. He then provided an overview of the Executive Position Paper — which highlights many of the main issues raised in the working group papers — illustrating his points with clear examples and proposing constructive recommendations to promote China’s sustainable economic growth. The pillars of the Executive Position Paper are as follows:

• Strike a new balance between market forces and government control through strengthening the Chinese Government’s role as regulator while reducing the role of government in terms of its control over the financial system, implementation of industrial policies and the role it gives to SOEs.
• Reassess the Chinese Government’s approach to technology and innovation and the top-down approach to guiding technology choices that, contrary to intentions, serve to distort markets and prevent China from creating an innovative society.
• Bring China’s investment environment closer to international norms and increase levels of openness to foreign investment by integrating international practices into domestic policies through better engagement with, and leadership in, international standards and regulatory bodies.

For a more detailed summary of the Executive Position Paper, read more at EURObiz Online:
http://www.eurobiz.com.cn/european-chamber-position-paper/

Pictures by Gilbert, text by the EUCCC.
See also Bruno Gensburger, the chair of the Pharmaceutical Working Group, being interviewed by the media (not difficult to guess what was the subject, or?)