Since the opening of our Beijing office in 2006, we have been actively representing and networking on behalf of and providing intelligence to our members with a presence or interest in China.
We hope you find the following pages useful and please do not hesitate to contact us.
Latest news
Helen Alexander CBE formally elected CBI President
Helen Alexander CBE has been formally elected President of the UK’s leading business organisation at the CBI's annual general meeting held in London on Tuesday 2 June. Ms Alexander, a senior advisor at Bain Capital, takes over the reins from Martin Broughton, Chairman of British Airways. She is expected to serve a two-year term in the unpaid role.
Welcoming her appointment, CBI Director-General Richard Lambert, said:
"Helen’s appointment is an exciting development for the CBI and its members. She will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to the many challenges facing British business today."
The President is a key voice for members of the CBI, playing an important part in the organisation’s lobbying activity, meeting with ministers, promoting UK business internationally, chairing the CBI Board and taking the lead role in appointing the Director-General.
Ms Alexander added: "It is a great honour to become CBI President, particularly at such a critical time for UK business. I look forward to working with Richard Lambert and all the CBI team to ensure that the voice of business continues to be clearly heard and understood. Helping to create the right conditions for business recovery will be at the very top of my agenda."
Ms Alexander joined Bain Capital in July 2008 after 11 years as Chief Executive of The Economist Group. She is currently serving as chair of the remuneration committees of both Rolls-Royce and Centrica. She has been a non-executive director of Centrica since 2003 and of Rolls-Royce since 2007. She is also senior trustee of the Tate.
Martin Broughton has been formally elected Deputy President at the annual meeting. Mr Lambert added: "I am delighted Martin is continuing his work with the CBI as Deputy President. He’s been a strong champion of members’ interests as president and has done a fantastic job of raising the profile of the CBI both nationally and internationally."
Updated 3 June, 2009
Food Safety Law into effect on 1 June
The Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) passed the food safety law on 28 February, 2009. The law came into effect on 1 June, 2009. The new law gives the Ministry of Health (MOH) a greater coordinating role and so, seeks to clarify and streamline the monitoring processes. However, overlapping responsibilities remain and, as CBI member APCO Worldwide concludes, it is not clear the restructuring will achieve substantial efficiency goals.
Updated 1 June, 2009
CBI shared China insights with members in the UK and Belgium
CBI Chief Representative in China, Guy Dru Drury, held a series of meetings and briefing sessions with members in London, the Southwest of England, Wales and Brussels in early May. Updating members on the current economic, political and social situation in China, Guy discussed the opportunities and challenges that China holds for CBI members across sectors. For more information about what was discussed during Guy's visit to Wales, read CBI Wales director David Rosser's article (PDF 29kb).
Updated 19 May, 2009
New UK Ambassador to China in 2010
Mr Sebastian Wood CMG has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to The People's Republic of China in succession to Sir William Ehrman KCMG who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Wood will take up his appointment in January 2010. For more information, visit the FCO website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/newsroom/latest-news/?view=PressR&id=17796588
Updated 19 May, 2009
British Business Awards 2009 launched
The British Business Awards is an awards programme recognising success, innovation and entrepreneurship across all industry sectors. For its second edition, launched in April, the awards honor British’s businesses that operate in China through the acknowledgment of innovative business processes, business excellence and overall business success.
The awards are open to any British owned company or organisation operating in Mainland China, regardless of size or industry. This year’s categories will be "Company of The Year", "Most promising new business", "Product/Service of the Year", "Green Award", "Excellence in Partnership: choose the right partner" and "Alumnus of the Year". We encourage all UK companies operating in China to apply at http://www.britishbusinessawards.cn/.
For more information, please read the attached presentation (PDF 184kb).
Updated 11 May, 2009
CBI reinforces climate change messages in China
The CBI attended a number of events organised during the China visit of the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband in May. Several CBI members joined the minister for a private breakfast in Beijing as well as a luncheon in Guangzhou. The minister highlighted the great successes China has achieved in terms of energy efficiency and energy intensity, and the importance of China taking a lead in climate change globally to influence other developing and developed nations to take positive action. A number of business agreements were signed during the minister’s visit between British and Chinese organisations.
Updated 8 May, 2009
UKTI priority regional city mission to Changsha 18-19 June
UK Trade & Investment Guangzhou and China Britain Business Council Shenzhen are organising a multi-sectoral delegation to Changsha, Hunan Province on 18-19 June. The delegation will be lead by HM Consul General, Brian Davidson and there will be opportunities to meet with senior leaders, network with local (city and provincial) government and businesses, matchmaking with potential partners as well as a high-profile event to mark the Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday and site visits to Zhuzhou and Xiangtan.
For more details, please read the attached brochure (PDF 430kb) or contact Ms Scarlett Huang at scarlett.huang@fco.gov.uk; fax: 8620 83336485.
Updated 8 May, 2009
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