A delegation of leaders from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) met today with the Premier of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang in Beijing. Led by USCIB and ICC Chairman Terry McGraw, chairman of McGraw Hill Financial [now S&P Global], the delegation included Jean-Guy Carrier, ICC’s secretary general; Jiang Zengwei, chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade; Lin Shunjie, secretary general of ICC China; and ICC executive board member Andrea Tomat, CEO of Lotto Sport Italia.
Joined by Chinese government officials, the high-level meeting focused on ICC’s work to promote multilateral trade and investment. World business leaders praised Li for China’s new pathway to economic reform and encouraged greater focus on trade and investment initiatives, including working to implement the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement, protecting intellectual property, lowering barriers to trade and investment, and fighting corruption.
“China is a vital economy and a key player in helping design global economic governance and reform in key forums such as the G20,” said McGraw. “One important step now for China to pave the way for greater market opening that creates more opportunity and higher growth throughout the world, is to demonstrate strong support for implementing the WTO agreement reached last year in Bali.”
ICC’s Products and Services
The meeting also raised awareness of ICC’s essential products and services that can support Chinese companies expanding to international markets and meet the challenges and opportunities of an increasingly integrated global economy. These include ICC’s world renowned commercial dispute resolution services, practical trainings, and voluntary rules, guidelines, and codes that facilitate cross-border transactions and help spread best practice among companies.
McGraw and Carrier briefed Keqiang on the value of ICC as a key player to help Chinese companies operate internationally through close ties with ICC representatives and partners in the country. During discussions, the ICC delegation underscored objectives to increase the use of ICC’s international rules and procedures by Chinese companies to resolve business disputes that arise when doing business across borders. They also highlighted ICC’s practical suite of corporate governance and anti-corruption tools as well as tools to help businesses understand the importance of the intellectual property system and IP rights management.
The delegation also drew attention to the first official Mandarin translation
of the Consolidated ICC Code of Advertising and Marketing Communications Practice (ICC Code), launched in Beijing just a few days before the meeting during the 43rd World Advertising Congress.
Asia-Pacific CEO Forum
Ahead of the meeting with Keqiang, ICC leaders participated in the 2014 ICC Asia-Pacific CEO Forum in Kunshan to explore ways in which the Asia-Pacific region can help stimulate the global economy as it rebounds from crisis and garner the views of business leaders in the region. Combining interactive panel discussions and networking opportunities for some 300 business leaders from around the world, the Forum took place during the third China Import Expo, and this year served as the ICC World Business Leaders Conference.
“The Forum and the Expo are excellent examples of the vibrancy of business in China and the Asia-Pacific region and demonstrate the role it plays in shaping the world economy,” Carrier said.
Forum participants also joined an ICC G20 policy consultation, contributing business views from the region into ICC’s business recommendations to G20 leaders.
ICC events and meetings in China this week are in line with objectives of the organization to establish a greater presence in this important region and secure more participation in ICC’s work program from businesses in Asia.
McGraw Calls for Post-Bali World Trade Agenda at CEO Forum in China
USCIB and ICC Chairman Terry McGraw advocated for a post-Bali World Trade Agenda to create jobs and growth during the opening of the 2nd ICC Asia Pacific CEO Forum in China on May 14.
Regional leaders and CEOs from around the Asia-Pacific region gathered at the Kunshan Expo Center in Kunshan, China for the first day of the ICC Asia Pacific CEO Forum. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural event in New Delhi, the two-day forum aims to demonstrate the vibrancy of the business community in the Asia-Pacific region.
Staff contacts: Rob Mulligan and Justine Badimon
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