Dear Friends: We hope you’re staying well in these tumultuous times. The Chinese word for “crisis” evokes ideographs for both “danger” and “opportunity”. Despite uncertainties and disruptions, RASBJ has seized the opportunity to launch a popular series of online events on Zoom. Since March 9, we’ve had eight wonderful talks – from award-winning author Paul French on “Murders of Old China” to an evocative discussion of Jung Chang’s book about the Soong sisters. Please join the RASBJ! If you follow instructions (below) to become a member you’ll get free access to the ongoing Zoom talks – plus their youTube recordings – as well as the RAS China journal and discounted entry to in-person events and excursions when they resume. Upcoming Zoom talks include:

4/25: Tario Perez Vila on UK and China ties post-1997;

4/29 Joerg Wuttke on EU-China relations and the pandemic (below);

5/4 Prof. Robert Bickers on the Swire story;

5/8 Matthew Hu Xinyu on “Rediscovering Beijing”;

5/20 Guiseppe Cuccia on “Turandot and Western opera in China”;

5/27: Michael Humphries “Contagion: History and How Covid will End”

 WE HOPE YOU CAN JOIN OUR UPCOMING EVENT!

HOW WILL EU-CHINA ECONOMIC RELATIONS BE AFFECTED BY COVID? by Joerg Wuttke

WHAT: Zoom talk organized jointly by RAS Beijing and RASChina on the impact of Covid-19 on EU-China economic relations

WHEN: April 29, 2020, Wednesday 19:00-20:00 Beijing Standard Time

WHERE: Online via Zoom

HOW MUCH: free and accessible to RAS members and affiliates worldwide. If you’re not an RASBJ member but become one by April 27, you’ll be sent the login details for this event.

HOW TO BECOME AN RASBJ MEMBER: If you’d like to become an RASBJ member (or, for PRS passport-holders, to become an Associate) please befriend Membership Secretary John Olbrich on Wechat at johnobeijing and send him your name, nationality, mobile number and email address plus the annual subscription amount (or, for Associates, the suggested donation) of RMB 300 for those resident in China, RMB 200 for those resident overseas and RMB 100 for students. See www.rasbj.org for details.

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT: In February this year, during the early stages of the outbreak of Covid-19 in China , Europe sent 50 tons of personal protective equipment to China in a show of solidarity, while EU companies in China donated millions of euros to their Chinese communities. As the virus took hold in Europe, China reciprocated by sending masks, equipment, and doctors there. Europe is China’s largest export market.  The EU has delivered a €750 billion stimulus to boost demand. Now Europe needs China to reciprocate by increasing supply.  Will China succeed?

MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Jörg Wuttke is Vice President and Chief Representative of BASF China, based in Beijing. Since joining BASF in 1997, Mr. Wuttke has been responsible for helping guide the company’s investment strategies for China, negotiation of large projects and government relations. He is the president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. He is also vice chairman of the CPCIF International Cooperation Committee, a group representing multinational companies in China’s chemical association, and member of the Advisory Board of the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin.