china-britain december 2009.qxp 10/12/09 2:30 pm Page 19
CBBC NEWS
Merger strengthens CBBC
China’s think
CBBC expansion
valled government Peter Thong
access; extensive tank
“Unrivalled” government access, better mar- connectivity to
ket intelligence and more business contacts BCCC’s members
are now available to CBBC corporate mem- and wider business Chinese govenmrent delegation
bers, following the signing of a cooperation network; more
Representatives of an influential policy
agreement with the British Chamber of access to insightful
advisory body to the Chinese Government
Commerce in China (BCCC). business informa-
met CBBC in London in November. Tian
CBBC and the Bejing-based BCCC are mem- tion and market
Chengping, honorary president, intro-
bership organisations with the common intelligence; and
duced China Society for Research on
objectives of providing business representa- the opportunity to network with a greater tal-
Economic Development as a comprehen-
tion, information and support to their mem- ent pool. We shall be a one-stop shop for
sive policy research and consulting insti-
bers who are researching, considering, or con- British business in China, capturing more
tution. CSRED studies and advises on
ducting business in the PRC. Under the new British business ‘energy’ in China.”
policies concerning national economic
agreement, the two organisations are integrat- Peter Thong has been appointed as manag-
and social development, as well as on
ing and merging operations in Beijing. ing director of the British Centre in Beijing,
foreign trade and foreign investment in
Corporate members of CBBC now enjoy full where he will lead the merged teams of CBBC
China, Mr Tian told the meeting chaired
reciprocal rights and benefits of membership and the BCCC. An industrial engineer with
by Sir David Brewer. The Beijing-based
with BCCC. over 35 years experience in a variety of indus-
body also supplies decision-makingpro-
Brian Outlaw, CBBC executive director, tries, Peter has spent the last 23 years in
posals for regional development policies.
China, said, “We are committed to delivering China and is a fluent Chinese speaker. Peter
Mr Tian was accompanied by officials
better services to our members. This exciting said, “I am looking forward to leading the
from CSRED’s agricultural administration,
development will provide them with a power- team in Beijing and helping British companies
who were concerned with food security,
ful advocacy of UK businesses in China; unri- develop their business in China.”
food safety and quality; and sustainable
development in agriculture. While in the
UK, CSRED also met DEFRA and explored
Sichuan visit proves productive
opportunities for cooperation in live-
stock, crops, and food processing.
CBBC CEO market visit
leaders and spoke at an international busi-
ness summit. He signed an agreement with
Premier Wen Jiabao has reaffirmed the CCPIT and Sichuan on deeper cooperation. At
CBBC services
Chinese Government’s policy of opening up the concurrent EU-China Fair he signed a
and developing Western China and says it will cooperation agreement with the Chengdu Hi- IP Newsletter
not change. He was speaking at the opening Tech Development Zone and the EU In order to keep British business up-to-date
of the West China Economy and Trade Fair on Incubation Centre. The CBBC delegation was about the great improvements being made in
in Chengdu on October 16. able to meet and discuss current issues with intellectual property protection in China,
The UK was there in force, with a CBBC busi- senior provincial officials. CBBC is producing a quarterly IP newsletter.
ness delegation headed by CEO Stephen Stephen Phillips commented, “This was a Automatically distributed free of charge to all
Phillips, a CBBC-arranged agriculture delega- productive visit for CBBC and our members. CBBC members, the newsletter is available on
tion and a delegation from East Midlands We consolidated and progressed relation- request to UK companies and companies ben-
China Business Bureau. Additional compa- ships with key partners in Chengdu and efiting the UK economy. For more information
nies took space on the UK exhibition stand. Sichuan, and added significant value to the contact Duncan Levesley, ipr@cbbc.org, tel
Stephen Phillips met party and provincial interests of a number of companies.” 020 7802 2000.
To reform or
repeat the failures of previous cycles, its ward and inward,” he said. The next decade
lead-ers needed to “build the pillars of a new would be critical, perhaps even the most
not to reform
house, founded not just on economic devel- important decade that China had ever faced.
opment but on political reform. “If they don’t, China Road: One Man’s Journey into the
modern China might go the way of ancient Heart of Modern China, published in 2007,
China.” tells of his 3,000 mile odyssey across China.
China Association
This was a considerable challenge, he said.
The paradox was that the key reform of
Rob Gifford (right) with China Association chairman
Will China repeat the cycle of history or will it political change that could save China would
Hugh Davies
break out of the cycle to become a different also be the reform that destroyed the current
type of nation? That was the question posed political system. But the dangers of not
in a stimulating talk given by Rob Gifford, reforming outweighed the threats posed by
journalist, broadcaster and author of China reform, such as instability, he postulated.
Road, speaking at the China Association lunch Overall, he believed that China was chang-
held at SOAS in London on October 13. ing and that, on balance, the change was such
After reviewing the ‘ups and downs’ of that China would not fall into the trap of previ-
China’s achievements over the past 60 years, ous eras. “China is looking forward and out-
Rob Gifford concluded that for China not to ward and not, as it has done in the past, back-
China-Britain Business Review December 2009/January 2010
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