英国在华商业信心调查报告 2024–2025

2024–2025 CONTENTS CHAIRS’FOREWORD 4EXECUTIVE SUMMARY6ORGANISATIONAL PROFILE8BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND INVESTMENT OUTLOOK12SECTOR BREAKDOWN22REGIONAL BREAKDOWN28A FULL AUDIT OF UK-CHINA RELATIONS30POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TRENDS34REGULATORY CHALLENGES38LOCALISATION AND DIVERSIFICATION50TALENT AND INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL56METHODOLOGY62ABOUT THE BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN CHINA63 CHAIRS’FOREWORD While this new focus on engagement provides greatercertainty, the election of Donald Trump in the US will – ifhe stands by his proposed actions – create both ruptureand opportunity for the UK. The number of UK companiesseeing growth in supporting Chinese companies exportingto the UK, and other third countries, is one of the successstories of this year’s survey, evidenced by greater activityfrom Chinese investors, students and business in the UK.Financial services, energy, business advisory, and creativeservices are just some of the key UK subsectors that areseeing both actual and predicted growth in supportingChinese companies going global. It is with great pride that the British Chambers of Commercein China present the seventh annual Business SentimentSurvey, offering a comprehensive, nationwide perspectiveon British business sentiment in China. China’s global importance will not wane – the countryis not only the world’s second largest economy, butalso the second largest population and the number onetrading partner with over 120 countries. British businessengagement with China, either directly, or throughcollaboration and competition in third countries, is aquestion of ’how’- not ’if.’ When we started producing theSentiment Surveysevenyears ago, it was still the tail end of high-growth China.Next came three years of the pandemic, followed by twoyears of considerable uncertainty as businesses triedto understand their future in China, as well as China’sfuture writ large. That being said, the Chinese economy is facing considerableheadwinds. That, more than anything else raised in thissurvey, is the primary challenge facing British businessin the Chinese market. UK companies are, however,hopeful around recent talk of government stimulus. TheChamber is encouraged to see the adoption of numerousrecommendations from ourPosition Paperlaunched inMay, including easing restrictions on foreign ownershipof cloud services and easing the import of classic cars. Now, we must acknowledge a new normal. The era ofboundless optimism, and investment simply because of’market potential,’is over. British businesses, evidencedby the data in this year’s survey, have entered a new phasein their engagement with China: pragmatism. In addition, the recent high-level meetings betweenthe UK and China are extremely well-received by Britishbusinesses. From a leaders’phone call to a visit by UKForeign Secretary David Lammy to China, and most recentlywith a face-to-face meeting between UK Prime MinisterKeir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20Summit in Brazil, these engagements impact sentiment– measured in real time by our survey data. Of our record-breaking 311 respondents, 38% completed the surveybefore Lammy’s visit and 62% after, with the number ofcompanies expressing optimism for UK-China bilateralrelations increasing by two-thirds following the visit. And what are some of the characteristics of this newpragmatic phase? •COVID-19 accelerated the localisation of Britishcompanies in-market, with many foreigners leaving.Following this, opening up has yet to see Britishcompanies hiring more staff from the UK or overseas. •Most British businesses operating in China areheadquartered in the heart of major cities, suggestingbusiness imperatives such as local clients, connectivity,and access to talent are still key drivers. We welcome increased government engagement at alllevels and look forward to welcoming UK representativesat British consulates, chambers, and companies whenthey visit China. •Whilst the Chinese government has made plans toimprove market access for foreign firms, most arestill reporting that they either have not seen tangibleimprovements (40.7%) or that theyare unaware ofimprovements (29.3%). •While MNCs can afford to take a longer-term view,SMEs need sales to survive. With a highly competitivedomestic market, and less consumer spending, fewerare attempting to enter the market. JULIAN FISHERBritish Chamber of CommerceChina •British businesses are localising where necessary,have offshored where suitable, and making strategicinvestments into the country as part of their growthplans in a world increasingly marred by trade disputesand geopolitical polarisation. •While the IP environment has improved considerablyover the past decade, the re-emergence of IP issuesin the top five regulatory issues facing UK businessthis year – especially in AMT, energy and healthcare– hinders British businesses’ability to invest in andexport new advances in research. PAUL SIVESBritish Chamber of CommerceSouthwest China This pra