Government Affairs for a European company in China: Navigating uncertain times Artwork

Conversations on Asia

I have conceived this podcast as a personal endeavour to bring interesting topics that I have encountered through my professional and academic life to the table. Each episode will take place as conversations with relevant guests who can shed light into the issues being discussed. The podcast will cover economic and political issues with major impact in the countries of the region. EU-Asia relations will feature prominently. I am currently working in Public Affairs in Brussels (Belgium). I have lived and worked in Shanghai (China) until October 2021 where I was working as a Working Group Coordinator for the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC). Before that (and until the summer of 2019), I worked and lived in Yangon (Myanmar) as an Advocacy Officer & Business Development Associate. Previously, I worked as a trainee in the European External Action Service (EEAS), in the Asia Pacific division. I have also lived in Taipei (Taiwan) and Tianjin (Mainland China) for two years, doing research and studying the Chinese with scholarships. I undertook a Master in Politics of China at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) of the University of London. Back in Spain, I undertook two bachelors at the Autonomous University of Madrid, one in East Asian Studies and another one in History.

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Conversations on Asia

Government Affairs for a European company in China: Navigating uncertain times

July 17, 2022 • Pablo Galvez • Season 1 • Episode 5

In this episode of Conversations on Asia, I talk to Ms. Xinyi Xie about the intricacies of navigating the complicated waters of government affairs for a European company operating a business in China and the plethora of issues and challenges that European industry players face in the country . Xinyi is currently working in Shanghai as a Government Affairs Officer for Wuerth Group. Previously she worked for the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China as a Working Group Coordinator.

We start the conversation by discussing first the current situation in Shanghai and the recent changes the city has undergone. After that, we dive right into the topic at hand. I learn from Xinyi how foreign companies are faring after the lockdown. We talk about the role of government affairs within foreign companies operating a business in China and things to consider before a company decides to invest in this function in the country. We discuss the current attitude of government officials towards European companies in the country. We chat about the role of different platforms when doing government affairs in China (from national chambers of commerce to the European Chamber of Commerce, as well as member states' trade offices in the country, the European Union Delegation, etc.). We talk about the impact of the current geopolitical situation on European companies doing business in China.
We look at the current state of affairs of Sino-German relations and the impact of those evolving relations on German companies in China. Finally, we have a brief conversation on the future of EU-China relations.
This episode was recorded on July 3rd, 2022.
0:00 Introduction; 1:41 The current situation in Shanghai (Covid measures/controls); 11:46 A discussion on the dynamic Zero Covid policy; 25:59 How are foreign companies faring in China right now?; 30:47 How important is the role of a Government Affairs Officer for a foreign company doing business in China? What do they need to consider before setting up this function?; 35:51 What is the current attitude of government officials towards European companies in the country?; 40:25 Which platforms are useful for European companies to lobby further in China?; 44:20 The impact of the current geopolitical scenario on European companies in China; 49:32 The future of Sino-German relations and the impact on German companies in China; 56:12 The future of the Strategic Autonomy policy for the EU and the future of EU-China relations