The attractiveness of each other's market and business environment is still one of the key elements that will shape Europe-China relations in 2023 and beyond. In fact, providing an open and fair business environment has been a core common goal in Europe-China relations over the past decade. In this context, China’s only tropical island province, Hainan, is building the world’s largest free trade port (Hainan FTP), encompassing the entire island. Rich in biodiversity and marine resources, the island province pioneers a liberalizing and open business environment as well as a vibrant “green” and “blue” economy, offering promising opportunities for trade and investment between Europe and China.

What are the specificities of Hainan FTP’s unique attractions in terms of the business environment? What are the major policy and financial incentives for foreign businesses? What are their implications for the European business community? How can European entrepreneurs already active in Hainan share their feedback? Are there expectations or suggestions from the European business community for Hainan FTP?

The hybrid event "Doing Business with the World's Largest Free Trade Port", taking place on April 20, 2023 at 10:00 CET (16:00 CST), orgnaized by  China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Representatinve Office in the EU( Belgium), the Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES), the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Bank of China (Europe) S.A. Brussels Branch, will be organizing will bring together experts and practitioners from both Europe and China (Hainan in particular) for a two-way exchange and discussion on the above topics, to further enhance mutual understanding and explore potential opportunities and challenges in order to contribute to a more dynamic and mutually beneficial Europe-China economic relationship.

Agenda:
10:00-10:15 : Welcoming remarks by

• Mr. Yang Li, Executive Director of the Institute for China-Europe Studies (ICES)
• Mr. Zhao Feng, Deputy Chief Representative, Representative Office in the EU (Belgium), CCPIT

10:15-10:40: Keynote speeches by

• Mr. Peng Gang, Minister in charge of Economic & Commercial Affairs of the Chinese Mission to the EU
• Mr. Bernard Dewit, Chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce ( BCECC)
• Mr. Wang Sheng, Senior Advisor on the Hainan Free Trade Port program of ICES & President of NISCSS, Hainan

10:40-11:40: Panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Bernard Dewit of the BCECC with panelists:

• Ms. Amelia Si, Senior Consultant Government & Public Service of Deloitte Consulting (Hainan) Ltd.
• Mr. Wang Fanghong, Senior Research Fellow of Bank of China, Hainan Financial Institute
• Mr. Wim Poot, Executive Vice-President of PB Leiner 
• Mr. Luc Arnouts, Vice-President of International Relations & Networks of Port of Antwerp-Bruges
• Mr. Yu Tao, Director of the Research Center for Hainan Free Trade Port, NISCSS

11:40-11:50: Q&A session
11:50-11:55: Closing Remarks by Ms. Sophie Zhuang, General Manager, Bank of China (Europe) S.A. Brussels branch
12:00: Lunch Buffet 

Venue:
Press Club
Froissartstraat 95 Rue Froissart
B-Brussels

Registration:
Free of charge, but registration is mandatory ( Before April 18).

Registration link: https://bcecc.be/doing-business-with-the-worlds-largest-free-trade-port/

The video link for audience: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84344289418?pwd=YVVoamFGVENhRk52UzVqUW93ak1tUT09