CCG VIP Luncheon on Opportunities and Challenges of Green Trade
▲ CCG VIP Luncheon Video
On November 5, 2024, the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) held the 2024 sixth edition of the “CCG VIP Luncheon” at the historic Xianhe Hall of the Beijing International Club. This high-profile luncheon gathered a significant number of senior Chinese experts who shared in-depth insights on the opportunities and challenges facing China-Europe green trade.
The event was moderated by Henry Huiyao Wang, CCG Founder and President and Former Counselor to the State Council of China. Over 40 Chinese and foreign guests participated in the discussions, including Pascal Lamy, Coordinatorof the Jacques Delors think tanks network (Paris, Berlin, Bruxelles) and Former Director-General of WTO; ambassadors to China from six countries—Malta, Latvia, Egypt, Jordan, Portugal, and Spain—as well as ministers and senior diplomats from 11 embassies, including those of Canada, Sweden, Norway, Israel, Switzerland, Turkey, New Zealand, Argentina, Germany, Poland, and Japan. Several representatives of international organizations in China, senior executives from multinational corporations, and prominent media figures from both domestic and international outlets also attended.
This event took place on the eve of the U.S. election, amid a stalemate in the China-EU electric vehicle tariff dispute, and at a time of new shifts in the global landscape. It aimed to promote a deeper understanding within Europe and the international community of the potential for China-EU cooperation, to advance collaboration in the field of green trade, and to provide new perspectives and ideas for resolving trade deadlocks.
At the luncheon, CCG Secretary-General Mabel Lu Miao first briefly introduced all the distinguished guests and extended a warm welcome and sincere thanks for their presence. She highlighted that the “CCG VIP Luncheon” is dedicated to sharing the latest developments in China’s economic policies with embassies in China, international organizations, chambers of commerce, multinational companies, and academic experts, while also providing insights into China’s future development direction. As a high-end platform for international exchanges, this event offers opportunities to explore global cooperation. Having been successfully held several times in the past, it has garnered widespread attention and positive feedback from the international community. This luncheon focuses on discussing the opportunities and challenges of green trade. She was honored to have two distinguished guest speakers provide in-depth analysis on these topics and share their unique insights and perspectives with the audience.
In his remarks, Henry Huiyao Wang, CCG Founder and President and Former Counselor to the State Council of China, warmly welcomed the guests once again. He highlighted that green transition and green trade are critical issues demanding urgent attention. Against the backdrop of profound global changes, regardless of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, the world’s business, economic, and geopolitical landscape is entering a new era. As is widely known, China and Europe are currently in discussions regarding cooperation in green transition and the electric vehicle sector; negotiations continue, and the door to collaboration remains open. In this context, CCG is honored to host distinguished scholars from the renowned European think tank, the Jacques Delors Institute, along with prominent Chinese experts with deep expertise in trade, to explore the opportunities and challenges facing China-Europe green trade.
Pascal Lamy, Coordinatorof the Jacques Delors think tanks network (Paris, Berlin, Bruxelles) and Former Director-General of WTO, emphasized that the core of this discussion is to look toward the future and explore whether a more collaborative approach can be found, allowing the EU and China to achieve a win-win outcome in electric vehicle production rather than a zero-sum scenario. While there are geopolitical differences between the EU and China—some of them profound—both sides are committed to seeking solutions within the WTO framework. He stated that efforts will continue to propose viable options and recommendations, aiming to establish a more cooperative framework in the electric vehicle sector than the current model, while also taking related issues into account to more accurately chart the future course of China-EU cooperation. He expressed his hope that the scope for collaboration between China and the EU will broaden in the future beyond what it is today.
JIN Xu, President, China Association of International Trade, recalled that in the 1960s, China was once known as the “Kingdom of Bicycles,” whereas today, bustling streets are filled with millions of cars. With support from other countries, especially European friends, China has achieved remarkable development. Although there are currently some challenges between China and Europe in the electric vehicle sector, he firmly believes these difficulties are temporary and that a bright future is on the horizon. He looks forward to continued cooperation between China and Europe to build a better future together.
HUO Jianguo,Vice Chairman, China Society for World Trade Organization Studies and Former President, MOFCOM Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, noted that today’s global trade landscape is increasingly complex, and in this chaotic and volatile environment, WTO reform is becoming all the more crucial, requiring focused efforts to drive progress. First, emphasis should be placed on strengthening the WTO’s core functions. Subsequently, incremental improvements to rules and provisions on areas like e-commerce and subsidies can be explored. Progress in WTO reform could foster global trade and investment, bringing tangible benefits to economies worldwide. When economic conditions are favorable, communication is relatively easier; however, in today’s challenging global context, constructive dialogue and fair competition have become more difficult, with antagonistic stances and hostile rhetoric increasingly prevalent. Thus, it is essential for all parties to reach a consensus on WTO reform as soon as possible and work together to promote its positive development.
SUN Yongfu, CCG Senior Fellow and Former Director-General of MOFCOM Department of European Affairs, emphasized that the world is constantly changing, and China is developing rapidly. Over the past 20 years, technology transfers and investments from the EU have led to significant advancements in China. Looking ahead, he hopes that China and the EU will continue to focus on cooperation and maintain a positive relationship. While there is competition between China and the EU, he believes that moderate competition can drive progress. China has made significant strides in areas like electric vehicle technology and is willing to strengthen cooperation with EU member states. He hopes that the EU will embrace a similar attitude, as collaboration requires effort from both sides. He pointed out that currently, there is an overemphasis on confrontation, while competition and cooperation are not given sufficient attention. He hopes this will improve, leading to a brighter future for China-EU relations.
Nicolas Köhler-Suzuki, Associate Researcher of Jacques Delors Institute, pointed out that the EU’s automotive industry is currently facing a strategic triangular dilemma, requiring a balance among three distinct goals. First, the EU is committed to achieving decarbonization, with ambitious targets in place. Second, industrial competitiveness remains a crucial issue, as the automotive industry requires economies of scale and support from global markets to maintain its competitiveness. Third, economic security is particularly pressing, as the supply of raw materials needed for electric vehicle production faces uncertainty in an increasingly fragmented geopolitical environment. Thus, finding a balance among these three aspects and determining a new development direction for the EU’s automotive industry is an urgent topic for exploration.
Elvire Fabry, Senior Research Fellow of Jacques Delors Institute, stated that the automotive industry holds a crucial position in the EU economy, directly impacting social and political stability, and thus occupies a central role in the EU’s economic security strategy. Recently, the EU approved tariffs on electric vehicle imports from China, sparking widespread discussion, yet this is merely the initial stage of the EU’s strategy. How this strategy is adjusted and support for the automotive industry is strengthened will profoundly influence the direction of policies in other sectors. In promoting win-win cooperation, the EU expects China to propose concrete plans and commitments. Previous discussions on joint ventures and third-country cooperation have been insightful, and a forward-looking cooperation plan needs to be developed based on these discussions.
TU Xinquan,Dean of Institute for WTO Studies of University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and CCG Non-resident Senior Fellow. In the past, European companies laid a critical foundation for China’s automotive industry; today, some Chinese companies are leading in the electric vehicle sector. In future cooperation, Chinese and European companies can work alongside each other, sharing technology and expertise. Furthermore, they have complementary strengths in developing and expanding third-party markets. By jointly exploring broader markets, they can help ease the pressure of direct competition. Europe has long-established connections in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Central Asia, while China has unique advantages in resources and partnerships, making it entirely feasible for both sides to collaborate in these emerging markets.
ZHOU Yunlei,Director at MOFCOM Department of WTO Affairs, stated that WTO members have reached a certain level of consensus in discussions on green policies. First, all green policies, regardless of their form, must strictly comply with WTO rules. Second, countries should make every effort to minimize the negative spillover effects of green policies and their impact on trade. Therefore, the green transition and climate goals are challenges faced globally, and it is crucial to call for collaboration among WTO members. From his perspective, green competition is a race to the top, while protectionism and tariffs represent a race to the bottom. He believes that China-EU cooperation remains the only path to addressing this issue.
Frank Niederländer, Vice President Governmental Affairs Europe of BMW, stated that the automotive industry is undergoing a profound transformation, and current challenges stem from a fear of perceived threats. Over the past five years, discussions around the Green Deal have focused mainly on transformation, while overlooking competition factors. Now, there is a need to accelerate progress, accept technological differences, and find strategies for joint responses. In China-EU cooperation, European companies need to strike a balance, reach a consensus, appropriately address global subsidy issues, and explore collaborative opportunities.
The insightful speeches by the distinguished guests, along with the commentary from Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang, provided valuable references and inspiration for the participants, sparking lively discussions and exchanges. During the Q&A session, H.E. Assem Hanafi, Ambassador of Egypt to China; H.E. Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of Jordan; HE Weiwen,CCG Senior Fellow and Former Counselor for Economic and Commercial Affairs at the Chinese Consulates General in New York and San Francisco; Pascal Lamy, Coordinator of the Jacques Delors think tanks network (Paris, Berlin, Bruxelles) and Former Director-General of WTO; TU Xinquan, Dean of Institute for WTO Studies of University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) and CCG Non-resident Senior Fellow; and Jonathan Cheng, China Bureau Chief of the Wall Street Journal, shared their remarks and posed questions on pressing issues, such as balancing trade openness and economic decarbonization.
Through in-depth discussions and interactions, the participants gained a more comprehensive and objective understanding of the current state and development trends of China-EU green trade. The luncheon concluded successfully in an atmosphere of active exchange.
Ambassadors attending the event include (alphabetic order):
H.E. Ambassador John Busuttil, Ambassador of Malta
H.E. Kārlis Eihenbaums, Ambassador of Latvia China
H.E. Assem Hanafi, Ambassador of Egypt to China
H.E. Hussam Al Husseini, Ambassador of Jordan
H.E. Paulo Jorge Nascimento, Ambassador of Portugal
H.E. Marta Betanzos Roig, Ambassador of Spain
Ministers and senior diplomats from the embassies attending the event include (alphabetic order):
Jean-Christian Brillant, Minister, Embassy of Canada
Tomas Dahlman, Counsellor of Agricultural Affairs, Embassy of Sweden
Kaja Glomm, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Norway
Marjut Hannonen, Head of Trade, Delegation of the European Union to China
Yifat Inbar, Minister for Economic Affairs, Embassy of Israel
Martin Matter, Head of Economic Section, Embassy of Switzerland
Atakan Ozdemir, Chief Trade Counsellor, Embassy of Turkey
Jennifer-Lee Pritchard, Second Secretary, Embassy of New Zealand
Cristian Sokolowski, Minister, Embassy of Argentina
Thomas Weithöner, Head of the Economic Department, Embassy of Germany
Katarzyna Wilkowiecka, Head of the Economic Department, Embassy of Poland
Yoshiyuki Yamada, Minister, Embassy of Japan
Guests from multinational corporations and associations include (alphabetic order):
Sacha Courtial, JacquesDelors think tanks network
SUN Xiansheng,Chairman, the International Society for Energy Transition Studies (ISETS); CCG Non-resident Senior Fellow
Adam Dunnett, Secretary General, European Union Chamber of Commerce
Magnus Giese,Senior Government Relations and Public Affairs Representative NIO Europe
Elisa Hoerhager,Chief Representative China, BDI
Oliver Oehms,Delegate and Chief Representative, AHK Greater China
ZHANG Lin,Chief Representative and General Manager, VDA China
Guests from the international media include:
Laurie Chen, China Correspondent, Reuters’ Beijing bureau
Jonathan Cheng, China Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal
HONG Jianru, International Business Daily
YIN Mingyue, Reporter, China Daily
The “CCG VIP Luncheon” series, initiated and hosted by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), aims to establish a premier platform for international exchange in Beijing in the post-pandemic era. This event series is designed to introduce China’s latest development prospects and policies to embassies, international organizations, multinational companies, chambers of commerce, and academic experts in China. It also seeks to provide forward-looking predictions on China’s development prospects and explore cooperation between China and the rest of the world on globally significant issues.
