The Ireland China Institute cordially invites you to attend our virtual “The Europe-China Climate Collaboration Forum” on Thursday 16th December from 09:15am until 1.45pm. In the wake of the COP26 conference, the Ireland China Institute will host, in partnership with Renmin University of China and the Confucius Institute, a highly prestigious half day virtual event to identify how Ireland and China can collaborate to promote ongoing and deepening links between the world’s three largest economic blocs - the EU, US and China - to progress and harmonise climate action efforts. Opened by President of the Ireland China Institute and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny, His Excellency Mr. He Xiangdong Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland, Her Excellency the Ambassador of Ireland to China Ann Derwin and former President of the EU Parliament Pat Cox and include contributions from Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister of State Sean Fleming, Irish Times Environment and Science Editor Kevin O’Sullivan, Deputy Director of DG-Fisma Alexandra Jour Schroeder, Stephen Nolan MD of the UNDP FC4S and A&L Goodbody and from the Chinese perspective Li Junfeng, Founding Director, National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, SHI Yan’an, Director of International Office, Renmin University of China, Xu Qinhua, Director International Energy Strategy Research Centre, Renmin University of China, Luo Yu, Deputy Director ‘Belt and Road’ Research Centre, National Institute of Development and Strategy and Associate Professor School of Finance, Renmin University of China and Wang Ke, Deputy Director ‘Belt and Road’ Research Centre and Associate Professor School of Environment at the [...]

I have prepared this short note at the invitation of our chairman, Ken Duggan. Its focus is on the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). The note is written to inform. It is not academically rigorous and caution is advised in interpreting FDI flows into Ireland between what one might categorise as real flows and phantom flows of a purely financial nature.  What is the scale of this investment? The level of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in both directions has grown considerably in the past two decades with European FDI spread across the entire period while Chinese FDI has grown in the past ten years from a very low base in the first decade of this century. From 2000 to 2020 the EU 27 and the UK accounted for $204 billion cumulative investments in China, $173 billion from the EU and $31 billion from the UK. Over the same period Chinese investment in the EU was $141 billion and in the UK $59 billion. There is a broad balance in cumulative FDI in both directions. The top five European investors in China are Germany, the UK, France, Netherlands and Belgium. These accounted for almost 80% of all European FDI in China. Germany alone accounts for 33% of theses investments. In sectoral terms automotive investment was the largest sector at 25%. In reverse, the top five recipients of Chinese FDI in Europe were the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Finland, accounting for nearly 70% of the total, with the UK alone, as the biggest recipient, [...]

“China will grow old, before it grows rich” is one of those things people like to say at conferences — usually followed by a dramatic pause. The implication is that China’s rise to global dominance will soon hit a giant barrier: demographics. Read the full article at Financial Times website

Former vet and one-time chief economist at the Department of Agriculture Ann Derwin is to become Ireland’s next ambassador to China. Ms Derwin, who is currently assistant secretary general at the Department of Foreign Affairs, has been nominated to replace Eoin O’Leary as the State’s chief envoy in Beijing. Read the full article at irishtimes.com