Looking ahead to 2022 - a message from BritCham's Chair

Happy New Year!

As a Chamber all of our endeavours revolve around?community, knowledge and advocacy, the three pillars at the heart of our strategy. Steven Lynch?summarised the incredible programme?of events, publications, briefings and meetings this team delivered in 2021 (link to post). It is a breathless list, and I am immensely proud and grateful to everyone for the continued support, energy and enthusiasm throughout. We have an exceptional team, all dedicated to deliver another ambitious programme for us in 2022.

As businesses here we all know the importance of?focusing our energies on the things we can control. We have few resources and little time spend on anything beyond our control, even when it affects business. Our purpose as the British Chamber of Commerce in China is to provide a?representative view of the challenges and opportunities British businesses face in China?and to have a positive influence on such external factors where possible. 2022 marks the?50th?anniversary of diplomatic relations between the UK and People’s Republic of China. My wish is that in this auspicious year, we see further opportunities open and steps taken to temper some of the challenges we face in 2022.

As you, our members, have repeatedly pointed out, the single most immediate challenge facing us is?the ability to travel with certainty into and out of China, to see family and friends overseas, to restore our personal connections with colleagues in the UK and elsewhere, and to bring foreign staff into China to work. We all crave for the resumption of international travel, and without it, I know even some of the China ‘stalwarts’ among us are increasingly struggling to balance a personal need to go with business needs to stay. The Chamber has campaigned relentlessly to raise this issue in 2021. Our wish for 2022 is that travel restrictions can ease and we are able to?re-integrate our lives and businesses into the rest of the world.

For everyone here, the Chamber will continue to?support our vibrant community, build our knowledge and understanding of business matters in China, and to champion the interests of our members?in 2022. I encourage everyone to get involved.

See below for what we have coming up in 2022 - please feel free to get in contact with me if you would like to get involved.

All the best,

Julian MacCormac, Chair of the British Chamber of Commerce in China

January

As we move into a new phase of the pandemic, what is the outlook in 2022 for key themes like UK-China relations, tech, and travel?

Join us next week for this exclusive opportunity to hear from top media commentators and journalists such as David Rennie from The Economist and Melinda Liu from Newsweek on their predictions on what is to come in 2022.

March

Following China’s Two Sessions, CHINA NOW invites a panel of renowned experts who will address recent policies, economic opportunities and challenges for doing business in China. Previous speakers have included Tom MacKenzie (Bloomberg), Yan Mei (Brunswick), James McGregor and Gordon Orr.

The British Business Awards is a high profile event, recognising and promoting excellence in innovation, enterprise and endeavour, in the British business community in China. Join us for a reception to celebrate the launch of the Awards, as we open for applications from companies all over China and the UK.

April

The British Chamber's annual Sustainability Summit gathers together Chinese and British business leaders, policymakers and thought leaders to discuss the latest trends and the future of sustainable best practice in China and around the world, as we draw ever closer to a critical juncture in the battle against climate change. Join us to explore how business, government and society can contribute to sustainability.

May

The Position Paper?is a report that provides advocacy?and?representation?on behalf of British businesses operating in China, allowing businesses to come together to raise the?regulatory barriers?that they face, areas of opportunity for bilateral cooperation and recommendations for?market access reform. Join us for the launch of the Position Paper to learn more about its findings and their implications.?

June

The Highland Games have been part of Scottish culture for hundreds of years, and we're delighted to bring them to Beijing every year!?The Beijing Highland Games will be a day of activities, competitions, tug-of-war, ceilidhs for both adults and children, and of course a great selection of food and drink from Scotland and beyond.?

The Annual General Meeting is a pivotal event as our members elect the new Executive committee that will set the direction of the Chamber for the year ahead. The Summer Garden Party, held at Her Majesty’s Ambassadors Residence, is our flagship social event of the year. The 2021 party attracted over 350 members of the Chamber, with Pimms on the lawn, BBQ, live band, and vital speeches from the Ambassador and Chair of the Chamber.

September

The British Business Awards showcase outstanding organisations and individuals who are making a contribution to Sino-British relations, trade and investment across a variety of sectors.?Join us for this high-profile awards ceremony and gala dinner to find out who the winners are and to celebrate the achievements of all these organisations.

The British Chamber's Employability Week features a Jobs Fair, with roles available from leading global companies, SMEs, start-ups and universities.?This is the central event of Employability Week, a week-long programme of workshops, speaker events and other activities to improve your employability with guidance from industry leaders.

The Young Professionals Development Programme is a high-profile training programme, aiming to elevate young professionals' key employability skills, develop UK-China relations, and benefit both businesses and their emerging young talent. Participants will enjoy a series of enriching interactive workshops with mentors across a range of industries.

October

The British Ball is a highlight for the community, taking place in Beijing every year for more than a decade - join us for another night of drinking, dancing, great food and entertainment! What's this year's theme? You'll have to wait and see...

December

The British Chamber's annual Business Sentiment Survey assesses how UK companies have fared over the past year, and tells you all you need to know about their outlook for the coming year and the challenges they'll face.?

Bringing a traditional Christmas celebration from the UK to China - join the British Chamber's Christmas Party for a night of festive food, drinks, live music and fun!

Celebrate Christmas at the annual Christmas Market with a great selection of food, drinks, souvenir and gifts from Beijing and Britain's most loved vendors throughout the day, as well as an exciting range of Christmas activities, workshops and performances for kids and families to enjoy!