In light of the celebration of the Chinese National Day and ahead of the upcoming Official Trade Mission to China in November, the Chamber of Commerce organised on the 26th of September 2024 a country seminar dedicated to offering Luxembourg companies key insights into the latest developments in the Chinese economy and market opportunities.
The seminar was kicked off by the welcome remarks of Ms. Cindy Tereba, CTO and Director of International Affairs at the Chamber of Commerce, where she gave a review of the bilateral relations between the two countries and announced the upcoming trade mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou from 23 to 30 November 2024, aiming to provide new impetus to the connection with China.
His Excellency Mr. Hua Ning, Chinese Ambassador to Luxembourg, opened the seminar by an insightful keynote speech, stating a slew of data released over the last days from China that painted a bleak outlook for its economy, his economist-like analysis has tapered the expectations for the country’s full year GDP growth. During his speech Ambassador Hua has also shared his recent experiences in travelling in different regions in China this Summer, outlining the Chinese government's strategic and political vision as well as his personal enthusiasm for the Chinese culture heritage promotion and his optimism for the trade and investment future outlook between the two countries.
The opening session was followed by a comprehensive presentation from Mr. Zhao Feng, Deputy Chief Representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in the EU, who provided an in-depth overview of the Chinese economy and the market opportunities available to Luxembourg businesses interested in expanding into China. Mr. Zhao introduced the second edition of China International Supply Chain Expo, that the Luxembourgish business delegation has planned to visit and host a business forum during the mission.
Chinese E-commerce giant Alibaba Group, represented by Ms. Margherita Mistura, EU Strategic Partnership Manager, highlighted the immense potential of China’s digital marketplaces. Additionally, Cebi, a Luxembourg-based leader in pumps and washer systems, shared its successful journey in China through a presentation by Mr. Raymond Mohrbach, Member of the Executive Board.
The seminar, which drew over 50 attendees, concluded with a networking lunch and 20 pre-arranged B2B meetings, where participants had the opportunity to engage with experts from CCPIT EU, Alibaba Benelux, and CHINALUX, the accredited bilateral chamber, to further explore the Chinese market.