2015年CRI EU Firms Still See Great Potential in China: European Chamber

 

Joerg Wuttke, president of European Chamber¹ of Commerce in China, says the Chinese government's economic reforms have won recognition among a majority of the chamber's members.

Wuttke has made the suggestion while outlining the Chamber's annual business climate report.

"In the Chinese government's decision in 2013, part of the final decision is the addition of a roadmap until 2020. Of course, it actually is taking into consideration that most of the reform steps have made progress. The majority of members signaled that some achievements have been done in the reform. Ten percent of the members believe the target has been basically achieved and important plans have been worked out in certain areas."

The report offers advice to Chinese policy-makers based on surveys conducted by the European Chamber's 18-hundred members.

Addressing specific reforms, E.U. Chamber President Joerg Wuttke says some progress had been made in areas such as streamlining government administration.

"The reduction of government approval procedures has a massive influence on how operations (of European companies) are conducted and how investments are made. The second is the expansion of pension and health care insurance coverage², which is very important for Chinese citizens and the stability of the system. The third part is the budget and local debt reform. We saw the establishment of special IPR courts which is of course very important. The good news is the foreign investment catalogue is shortened."

Joerg Wuttke also says the progress made in the negotiations³ connected to a China-EU bilateral⁴ investment agreement suggests both sides understand the importance of working together.

"The EU-China comprehensive agreement on investment is to us the most important economic key opening market access and also for the Chinese vital in how to safeguard China's investments in the largest economy of the world – the European Union. So we want this agreement to have a robust⁵ market access, real benefits for European businesses as well as for the consumers of China. Second a very strong investors⁶-state dispute settlement mechanism⁷ that is vital for us as well as for the Chinese investors coming to Europe. And third, stronger transparency in improving regulatory environment means the rule of law."

Despite sluggish⁸ growth prospects⁹ in China in the months ahead, of the European companies with research centers in China, over 4-in-5 of them say they're likely to increase their presence in China in the near future.

The overall message of the new EU Chamber report suggests the government should stick to its reform plans to ensure a successful rebalancing of the economy.

For CRI, I'm Luo Wen.

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

3 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

4 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

5 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

6 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

7 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

8 sluggish   

adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的

参考例句：

• This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
• Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。

9 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。