According to Yao Yang from Peking University there are four significant areas of change being expected. These four areas will define China’s economic future for the next 10–15 years. China will likely spend more on R&D and education and use structural policies to support targeted sectors. These four key areas are below.

Autonomous technologies. Building autonomous technologies in key areas has become the top priority of China’s domestic circulation. Many predict there will be more of a policy push for higher spending in the coming years in emerging sectors, such as biotechnology, semiconductors and new energy vehicles. A new direction for urbanization. China’s urbanization has lagged behind the pace of economic development. The government plans to increase China’s urbanization rate from the recent 60% to 75–80 % over the next 15 years. Most of the new urban dwellers will be concentrated in a few urbanized regions, including the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta regions, as well as in Beijing, Tianjin, and other surrounding regions. Equal provision of public goods; To make China’s pension system sustainable, the country needs to raise the general age of retirement, particularly for women. Another task of equalization is to increase the provision of public goods in the countryside. China aims to become a fully modernized country by 2035. Universal coverage of social security is a key feature of modernized countries. Greener production. The environment is a key commitment. China has announced its aim to achieve “carbon neutrality” by 2060. China is expected to set a higher standard for environmental protection, which means demand for related equipment, services and investment.

What does this new FYP mean for foreign companies? Will technological self-reliance and promoting domestic demand lock international companies out of the playing field? According to Bloomberg experts building a self-reliant economy does not mean that China will close its doors to other countries. The plan in expected to implement policies to further open up two-way financial markets, strengthen trade competition, and improve international cooperation.

Among Finnish companies these themes (innovative technology, sustainability, R&D, education) are good news for many industries. The future looks bright, as long as we are able to grab onto these opportunities. In the beginning of March our TF China webinar will focus on China-US-EU relations, and what it means for Finnish/European companies in China. In March we will also have our kick-off for the new TF China term, and we’ll share and discuss about the draft of our new term plans with Finnish companies.

Although springtime is already here in Beijing, let’s not forget the winter sports and the approaching Winter Olympics. Our February guest writer comes from LADEC, one of our newest member-companies. Read how Lahti, leading sports city and European Green Capital 2021, is connected to Beijing Olympics.

Ulla Nurmenniemi

Executive Director

Finnish Business Council Beijing

The goal of Lahti region is to become Europe's leading international hub of sports business, research and expertise. With it’s unbeatable location and the variety of sports expertise and facilities, Lahti forms a special gateway and innovation forum between European and Asian markets.

Lahti has a history of almost 100 years of arranging international sports events. For the first time Lahti hosted Nordic Skiing World Championship Games in the year 1926. Since then, Lahti has been the scene of Nordic skiing World championships a total of seven times. As a traditional city of sports events, Lahti has diverse expertise also in sports business development. In addition to winter sports, Lahti is also a major event venue for many other sports, such as the host city for the international Ironman and Moto GP competitions to be held in July 2021.

Lahti Region represents the know-how of more than 400 sports disciplines, multipurpose sports facilities and a wide range of interesting natural sites suitable for self-exercising. Destinations are located within a maximum radius of only 30 minutes from each other. Helsinki and the international airport are also less than an hour away. Our goal is to develop new business, research and know-how around the existing sports infrastructure, which will bring international visibility and local well-being to the region.

Lahti is aiming to be the leading area for innovation and development in the Nordic countries for sports business. Our goal is to form a platform of international research and testing activities in the Lahti region through the cooperation of universities and Olympic Training Centres. The new test and research centre with high level research expertise and facilities serves the needs of top athletes and international manufacturers of sports equipment and technology.

Top-level research, world-class sports conditions and innovative business development in local universities and companies make Lahti one of the most interesting areas for Asian companies to develop business in collaboration with Nordic experts. In addition, Lahti also provides Chinese operators a gateway to the EU market. One important part of Lahti sport ecosystem and a special platform for sports business development is the SMASH Lahti event, which annually brings together sports technology and environmental expertise, as well as start-up activities linked around them. The concept will be developed into a permanent and year-round sports business startup accelerator and innovation platform that brings together the best know-how on a Finnish, Nordic, European and Asian scale.

The Lahti region's international co-operation in the Asian market and good connections to the Nordic and EU sports business, research and coaching networks create a special position for Lahti as a development area for sports business between Europe and Asia.

In the near future, international innovation activities will also be strengthened with international partners in the Asian target markets by organizing sports business startup and innovation events with our Chinese friends in connection with the Olympic games in Beijing 2022.

Lahti is a leading sports city, but above all Lahti is a sports city that takes into account sustainable development, carbon neutrality and environmental aspects in all development work. Lahti has been chosen as the European Green Capital of 2021. The nomination, awarded by the European Commission, is awarded each year to one European city that is a pioneer in environmental actions, setting an example for other cities and developing innovative solutions to environmental challenges. Lahti takes sustainability seriously in sport business development and can act as a key partner when planning the carbon neutral future in Chinese sports centres and facilities.

Finnish Business Council Beijing is part of Team Finland in China, and an outstanding platform for all Finnish businesses in China. For those companies which need more visibility, we have launched a Premium Membership. It's an upgrade from normal membership, as you can see from the table below.

For those companies in Finland, who are planning to expand their businesses to China, or are in the early stage and don't have an office in China yet, we have a distant membership. It's called Proxy Membership. A very cost-effective way to make your company known to a large audience, and get essential contacts for your future.

See all membership options HERE