Over 100 companies attend 2025 China-Europe Business Forum

China’s Ambassador Fei Shengchao: Free trade is a global consensus, and China’s market openness offers fresh opportunities for European businesses

Brussels, 27 June 2025 — The China Chamber of Commerce to the EU (CCCEU) convened its 2025 China-Europe Business Forum in Brussels today under the theme “Europe-China Markets: Thriving Together, Shaping a Brighter World”. Marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, the event brought together representatives of more than 100 Chinese and European companies and institutions for extensive discussions on the current state of bilateral trade, emerging challenges, and future cooperation pathways.

Chinese Ambassador to Belgium Fei Shengchao delivered a special address, joined by CCCEU Chairman and Chairman of Bank of China (Europe) Liu Jiandong, who welcomed the participants. Former Portuguese Minister of Labour and President of the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) Maria João Rodrigues and Liu Yu, Minister Counsellor of the Chinese Mission to the EU, also addressed the forum. The event was chaired by CCCEU Secretary General Fang Dongkui.

Ambassador Fei congratulated the CCCEU on hosting the forum, noting that the global trade landscape is undergoing profound shifts. He highlighted that the Global South’s share of world trade has risen from less than one-third 25 years ago to 40–45% today. Significantly, global trade in services is booming, outpacing the growth of goods trade, and offering fertile ground for deeper China–EU economic cooperation. 

Confronting rising protectionist tendencies, Ambassador Fei stressed:

“Globalization is a historical trend following the laws of the economy, with market forces as its major driver, whether people like it or not. We cannot turn the world back to 20, 30 or even 50 years ago.Openness and free trade continue to be the strong desires for many businesses everywhere—from China to Europe and beyond.”

Fei added that China’s economy maintained robust growth of 5% last year, a notable achievement for an $18 trillion economy — the world’s second largest. China will continue its policy of high-level opening-up, further improve the business environment, and drive innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. He underlined that China–EU cooperation has vast potential, with China’s openness and dynamism offering European businesses new opportunities for growth.

In his welcoming remarks, CCCEU Chairman Liu Jiandong emphasised that China and Europe are partners rather than competitors, with tightly connected markets and intertwined interests. He pointed to significant synergies in clean energy, the circular economy, artificial intelligence, and smart manufacturing as both sides strive for a greener and more digital future. Cooperation and dialogue among industry, chambers of commerce, and stakeholders, he argued, will unleash vast potential for joint innovation and sustainable development. The 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties injects new momentum, offering a vital platform for deepening cooperation in trade, technology, and green transformation. The CCCEU, Liu said, would actively support this process and work with governments and businesses to seize opportunities in a new chapter of China–EU relations.

In her keynote address, Maria João Rodrigues reflected on the profound historical and cultural foundations of China-Europe relations. She drew poignant parallels between Europe's post-war integration journey and China's extraordinary developmental achievements, noting how China's peaceful rise stands as a testament to what great nations can accomplish through determination and vision.

Looking to current global challenges, Rodrigues emphasized that in our increasingly multipolar world, enhanced cooperation between Europe and China is not just beneficial but essential for effective global governance. She particularly highlighted the upcoming China-EU summit as a pivotal moment to elevate bilateral dialogue to new heights. 

Liu Yu, Minister Counsellor at the Chinese Mission to the EU, said the 50th anniversary of China-EU diplomatic relations marks a historic milestone for the comprehensive strategic partnership. Over the past half-century, bilateral relations have maintained robust and steady growth, with economic and trade cooperation serving as both cornerstone and engine for development, delivering mutual benefits through complementary advantages.

"China-EU economic and trade cooperation faces important opportunities offered by China's higher-level opening up," Liu noted. "We see particularly strong potential in emerging sectors including green energy, artificial intelligence, big data and e-commerce."

The Chinese diplomat emphasized China's commitment to fostering two-way investment, welcoming European businesses to share in China's development dividends while supporting Chinese enterprises' sustainable operations in Europe.

"China stands ready to work with the EU to properly manage differences through dialogue, jointly safeguard multilateral trade systems, and oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism," Liu stated, reaffirming China's dedication to an open world economy.

The first breakout session, titled “Business Chambers: Platforms for cooperation,” was moderated by CCCEU Vice Chairman Wang Zhisheng. Participants discussed how business associations could further facilitate China–Europe exchanges and practical cooperation. Speakers included Sébastien de Brouwer, Executive Director of the European Banking Federation (EBF); CCCEU Vice Chairman Fu Xiangyang; Ma Teng, Secretary General of the Ethiopia China Chamber of Commerce; Luis Neves, CEO of the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI); Gao Chen, President of the Korea China Chamber of Commerce; Li Wenguo, Deputy Representative of CCPIT in France; and Luigi Gambardella, President of the ChinaEU. Representatives from associations in China, the EU, Asia and Africa exchanged views on supporting local business growth and global development.

The second breakout session, titled “50th Anniversary of China-EU Diplomatic Relations: Thriving Together, Shaping a Brighter World” was chaired by Chen Fei, Vice Chairman and President of Seef Capital. Speakers included Prof. Bart Dessein, Director of the ReConnect China programme at Ghent University and a member of the Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations and the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences of Belgium; David Spence, Head of Government Relations at NIO Europe; Michael Schumann, Chair of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA); and Zhao Yi, Member of Executive Management Committee，Assistant CEO at Bank of China(Europe) S.A and Bank of China Luxembourg Branch. They exchanged views on the opportunities and prospects for bilateral cooperation.

CCCEU Chairman Liu Jiandong delivered closing remarks, bringing the forum to a successful conclusion. The event attracted more than 150 participants from business, academia, and policy circles across China, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Korea, Ethiopia and other countries, representing over 100 companies and associations. Delegates exchanged views on prospects for China–Europe cooperation and built consensus for the future.

The forum was held shortly after the CCCEU’s annual assembly. A dinner and networking session followed, deepening ties and fostering more concrete collaboration going forward.