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Merry Christmas from AustCham

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AustCham Beijing Newsletter
23 December 2015
 
Not only have we just survived two airpocalypses, but Christmas is also just around the corner. Before you get into holiday mode and start preparing your mulled wine, we want to keep up to date with next year’s events, the latest talking points, members news and podcasts. This December has been a great way to end the year, so let's take a quick look at what's been happening over the past month.

Early last month AustCham Beijing prepared a submission to the Australian Government regarding the Productivity Commission’s review into Australia’s Intellectual Property Arrangements. AustCham members have provided a comprehensive overview of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) issues and recommendations for the Australian Government to strengthen support to Australian businesses navigating intellectual property issues in China. 

December 10th
AustCham Beijing in partnership with AmCham China hosted a panel with the presidents of major oil & gas companies to discuss the energy outlook in China and the world, in addition to the impacts of the 13th Five Year Plan. The speakers, Craig Hrabar, President of Weatherford (China) Energy Services, Glenn Corrie, Chief Executive Officer of Sino Gas and Energy and Mark Wheeler, President of Conoco Phillips China, each presented their respective company’s outlook in the face of the 13th Five Year Plan and the drop in oil and gas prices. The panel discussion and Q&A were moderated by Nick Wadhams, Bureau Chief of Bloomberg.

December 11th
To bring out the Christmas spirit, AustCham Beijing hosted the annual Aussie Christmas Party at Redmoon, Grand Hyatt Beijing. The event was supported by CPA Australia, ACYA and ACYPI, allowing  the Aussie Community in Beijing to be treated to a Christmas themed-mouthwatering buffet, drinks and a live band busting out Christmas carols. KONPLOTT also had a booth at the Christmas Party, providing jewellery rental services to help ladies accessorise themselves for this festive season. All proceeds of the Christmas Party raffle went to the International Center For Veterinary Services (ICVS).

December 14th
On the 14th of December, AustCham Beijing hosted The Hon. Adam Giles MLA, Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, at a lunch with key Chinese and Australian representatives of industry. The Chief Minister spoke of the potential for investment into the Territory, highlighting its rich endowment of natural resources waiting to be exploited. Chief Minister Giles also emphasised the proximity of the Northern Territory to Asia, where stronger trade ties between Asia and the Northern Territory would be mutually beneficial.

Finally the big news for this month, Australia’s Trade and Investment Minister Andrew Robb AO MP, announced that the China – Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) will come into force shortly with the first round of tariff cuts having already begun on December 20 and a second round on January 1 2016.
 
We would like to thank everyone for their continued support and engagement with AustCham Beijing throughout 2015, and look forward to next year being the Chamber's biggest year yet! Please note that the AustCham Beijing office will be closed from December 24 2015 to January 3 2016.
 
Make sure you have bought your ticket for the 2016 Australia & New Zealand Rock & Roll Ball on the 23rd of January 2016 at Sofitel Wanda Beijing. 

From the entire AustCham Beijing office, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and we will see you all in 2016!
 
 For more EventsNews and all things China-Australia please see below
This month AustCham Executive Committee met with Haidian District Party Secretary Cui Shuqiang to touch base and discuss future activities for AustCham Beijing and our members.
 Featured Event

 

Australia and New Zealand Rock & Roll Ball 2016!


23rd January | 6:30PM
Sofitel Wanda Beijing

 
Early Bird Promotion

1100RMB / Ticket
11000RMB Table of Ten

-Complimentary corporate branding for company tables-

 

4-Course Dinner



Free Flow drinks



Guest Live Band: Mental As Anything



DJ & Dance floor till late



Raffle Prizes


 Come rock through the ages to all your favourite tunes from the 1950s until now!
 

RSVP

Photos from AustCham Beijing Events this December
AustCham Tianjin AGM & Christmas Drinks
9 December | The Westin Tianjin
President’s Oil and Gas Dialogue and Reception
10 December | Sofitel Wanda Beijing
2015 Aussie Christmas Party
11 December | Grand Hyatt Beijing
Lunch with Northern Territory's Chief Minister
14 December | Four Seasons Beijing
 

Online nominations are now open for The AustCham Westpac Australia-China Business Awards (ACBAs) 2016. The ACBA program has for the past 23 years recognised Australian and Chinese companies working in the Greater China region.

Drawing nominations from companies operating across a range of industries, the ACBA program is a high-profile celebration of success amongst small and big business in Greater China and Australia. In April 2016 the winners will be announced at the Awards Gala Dinner in Shanghai during Australia Week in China.

Working Groups
Industry working groups news - here are some of the biggest stories for our industry working groups, drawn from our weekly talking points in December and sources around the world. 
Education
Australian university research 'world-class'
Turnbulls calls for ideas boom
Half the world's mobile students from Asia
Energy
China the new leader in climate change
CNPC to sell assets

Crude oil prices plummet
Chinese shale proving difficult
Financial Services
Yuan accepted into IMF's group of global reserve currencies
Inaugural ACRI-NAB Australia-China Business Engagement Index Published
Trade-weighted index to keep yuan stable
China's State Power Investment Copy Buys Pacific Hydro
Food & Agribusiness
DuPont to merge with Dow Chemicals
Sheep export quota filled again
NZ Dairy Herd Shrink
Australia exports Maccas to China
 

 
Retail and E-commerce
Resettling China's Poor
Alibaba promotes foreign goods for Spring Festival
SME's
Healthcare and Life Sciences
    Podcasts
Tax reform in ChinaWilfred Chiu, Grant Thornton
 
IP concerns with doing business in China- Patricia Kelly, IP Australia
 
Chefs of Sofitel Wanda Beijing's Vic BistroSofitel Wanda Beijing 

Chinese investment update seminar from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia- Commonwealth Bank of Australia

Tasmania in China Trade Update- Matthew Groom, Tasmanian Minister for State Growth
 
Chinese companies expanding into Australia- Chris Tang, Huntsworth Asia Pacific 
 
China Tax updateRussell Brown, LehmanBrown

 
To listen to the full podcast, please visit AustCham Podcast Series
Member News & Events

Member Events: Christmas Eve Dinner at Heritage French Restaurant, Sofitel Wanda Beijing - Sofitel Wanda Beijing


Member Events; Christmas Eve Dinner at Capital M Beijing - Capital M

Member Events: Christmas Day Brunch at Capital M Beijing - Capital M

Member Events: YCIS Beijing Whole School Open Day - YCIS

Members News: Argyle Hotel Group Signs its 78th property in Tangshan, China - Argyle Hotel Group

Building for the Future- Selling Construction Materials in China - Dezan Shira & Associates

Australia-China healthcare opportunities - NAB

Selling, Sourcing and E-Commerce in China - Dezan Shira & Associates

Members News:Vista Medical Center, a comprehensive medical clinic in the heart of the CBD, is proud to be a part of Austcham. We were founded in 2000 as a full service international clinic and are located in the Kerry Center adjacent to the Kerry Hotel. We offer top level medical services with rigorous international standards. We have ​exceptional doctors, direct billing with over 60 national and international insurance companies, and a bilingual staff to assist you throughout your visit. Come see what sets us apart from the rest!
Mates Rates

Westin Tianjin is offering Family Weekend Deals. Treat yourself and the children. More information.

Inovaair is offering 30% off Australian made Air Purifier. More information.

Servcorp is offering a 30 Days Risk Free Trial of the Virtual Office, plus other benefits. More information.

 Jobs

Events & Communications InternAustCham Beijing
Social Media OfficerDFAT, Australian Embassy Beijing

Duty DriverAustralian Federal Police, Australian Embassy
 
For more details about these positions and to see the full listing of jobs with AustCham Beijing member companies, please visit our Recruitment Page.
 
Did you know that Job Vacancy listings with AustCham Beijing are complementary for Corporate Members and are available for non-members at special prices? Click here to see your job vacancy advertised in our next newsletter and on our website!
 

Thank you for reading the AustCham Beijing Monthly December Edition

Do you have member news or events you would like included in our next newsletter?
Please contact AustCham Beijing.
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