IP/06/616
Brussels, 15 May 2006
EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy in China 15 – 19 May 2006: Advancing the International regulatory agenda EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy starts the first day of a six day visit to China. The Commissioner will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong where he will have discussions with the Chinese authorities and business leaders on macro economic and financial regulatory issues, public procurement, accounting and intellectual property rights.(see Annex for outline programme)
Speaking before his departure Charlie McCreevy said: “I am visiting China this week to strengthen regulatory cooperation between EU and China. China and Europe are global partners. The EU sees China as a valued and important partner, one from which it wants to learn, one with which it is ready to share. As leading global players, China and Europe need to work in concert to try to secure a "friendly" and open business environment and a global economic framework that promotes competitiveness; facilitates cross-border business and gives our people freedom and space to innovate and take risks.
We are doing this out of a shared sense of enlightened self-interest. A more open, freely trading world will benefit us all. The accelerating pace of international economic integration makes this work increasingly vital. As markets become ever more interdependent, the case for international standards and cooperation has never been stronger
Whether we are in China or in Europe, the decisions we take as policy-makers have implications far beyond our own borders. With the increasing growth of international trade, the differences between regulatory regimes are pulled into sharper focus. A shared understanding of how the game is played is a vital to a dynamic and confident business environment. Creating that understanding is an increasingly important part of the work of political leaders and policy-makers.”
Visit of Charlie McCreevy, Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, to China, 15 May to 19 May 2006
Beijing
Monday, 15.05.2006
Meeting with Mr. Jin Renqing, Minister of Finance of the People's Republic of China 09.00- Welcome and Address by Commissioner McCreevy, at the opening ceremony of EU-China Dialogue on macroeconomic and financial regulatory issues Meeting with Mr. Tian Lipu, Commissioner of State Intellectual Property Office Lunchtime discussion on financial issues with President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China and Chairpersons of the EUCCC financial working groups Meeting with Mr. Liu Mingkang, Chairman, China Banking Regulatory Commission 17.30 Closing Remarks at the closing Session of EU-China Dialogue on macroeconomic and financial regulatory issues
Tuesday, 16.05.2006
09.00-9.30 Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, key speech at opening ceremony (open to press) of EU-China Conference on Public Procurement Meeting with Mr. Shang Fulin, Chairman, China Securities Regulatory Commission 14.00 Meeting with Vice Minister Wang Jun, Ministry of Finance on EU-China Cooperation in Accounting with statement to press by Mr. Charlie McCreevy (open to press) 14.30- Opening by Commissioner McCreevy and Assistant Minister Zhang Hongli of the EU-China Dialogue on Public Procurement (open to press) Meeting with Mr. Wu Dingfu, Chairman, China Insurance Regulatory Commission 17.00-18.00 Press Debriefing
Wednesday, 17.05.2006
Shanghai
Lunch discussion with President and members of EU Chamber of Commerce in China, Shanghai
Thursday, 18.05.2006
Meeting with Mr. Zhang Jian Guo, Chairman of the Bank of Communications Speech and encounter with students and faculty (including open discussion) at the China Europe International Business School Visit of Shanghai Stock Exchange and Luncheon with Mr. Geng Liang, Chairman of Shanghai Stock Exchange 16.00-17.15 Reuters Newsmaker event for Mr. Charlie McCreevy, at Grand Hyatt, Shanghai
Hong Kong
Friday, 19.5.2006
09.30 Meeting with Mr. Joseph Yam, Chairman of Hong Kong Monetary Authority Visit of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited and meeting with Mr. Paul Chow, Chief Executive Meeting with Mr. Frederick Ma, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Luncheon Speech "Doing Business in a Globalised World - Why International Standards Matter", hosted by European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong Meeting with Mr. Martin Wheatley, Chairman of the Securities and Futures
