FCCC In-person Talk. Should I stay or should I go? European business challenges in China in times of populism
2025-07-01 18:00 - 20:00 (Asia/Shanghai) | Embassy near Sanlitun, Beijing, China
The Trumpian trade war is shaking up global markets. While tariffs may ebb and flow, both the U.S. and China (and other parts of the world) are prone to employ a higher level of trade barriers than previously. Export controls and self-reliance policies are remaking supply chains. European business finds itself between a rock and a hard place: increasingly shut out of the American market while facing ever stiffer competition from China. Which alternative regions can European business turn to? Is China’s charm offensive in Europe working – and can China replace the U.S. as a trading partner and investor for European business?
About the speaker: Jörg Wuttke is a Partner with the DGA Group and is based in Washington, D.C. Until 2024, Mr. Wuttke was Vice President of BASF China for 27 years. He served as President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) thrice, and also as Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in China. Since its establishment in 2013, Mr. Wuttke is member of the Advisory Board of Germany’s foremost China think tank Merics in Berlin. He lived in China for more than 35 years.
This is an in-person event. Light refreshments will be served.

FCCC Online Talk. From Tensions to Truce: What’s Next for China’s Economy? with Alicia García-Herrero
2025-07-11 11:00 - 12:30 | Google Meet
After months of heightened tensions and mounting concerns over China’s faltering economy, the trade war with the United States appears to have entered, if not a resolution, at least a pause. A still-undisclosed agreement between the two countries has eased the conflict at a critical moment, just as China is set to release its GDP figures for the first half of the year. Against this backdrop, renowned economist Alicia Garcia-Herrero will offer a timely analysis of what’s at stake, interpreting the upcoming economic data, the potential implications of the deal and what these developments could mean for China’s trajectory and the broader global economy.
About the Speaker: Alicia García-Herrero is the Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at the French investment bank Natixis, based in Hong Kong. She also is a Senior Fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, a non-resident Senior Fellow at the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore (NUS), and an independent Board Member of the insurance group AGEAS. She brings together a distinguished academic trajectory with a prominent voice in leading international media, where she is widely recognized for her insightful analysis on global and Asian economic affairs.

FCCC Online Talk. Modern China’s retelling of the Second World War with Rana Mitter
2025-08-28 21:00 - 22:00 | Google Meet
As China prepares to mark the 80th anniversary of the formal surrender of Japanese soldiers, the large scale commemorations hold new significance for the Chinese nation today. Professor Rana Mitter, historian and author of books such as “Forgotten Ally: China’s World War II” and “China’s Good War: How World War II is Shaping a New Nationalism” will talk about the collective memory of the Second World War in modern China.
About the Speaker: Rana Mitter is ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School and a Fellow of the British Academy. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Forgotten Ally: China’s World War II (2013), winner of the RUSI/Duke of Westminster Medal, and China’s Good War (2020). His writing on contemporary China has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Harvard Business Review, The Guardian and others, and he regularly comments in international media and forums such as Davos. He previously taught at Oxford and received the 2020 Medlicott Medal for Service to History.

FCCC Press Pool 2025
2025-09-06 15:00 - 21:00 | Embassy of Poland, 1 Ritan Rd, Beijing, Chaoyang Park, 100005, China
The FCCC Summer Party is back — and it’s a Press Pool Party!
Join us at the Polish Embassy’s outdoor pool for our annual summer gathering. Expect good vibes, great company, and a refreshing swim to escape the Beijing heat.
We will have music, drinks, food, and a magician to delight kids and adults alike. The party is always a great opportunity to reconnect.
👙 Bring your swimming gear👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Friends, partners & kids are most welcome!
🎟️ TICKETS

FCCC Members: 290 RMB
Guests: 320 RMB
Youth (14–17): 150 RMB
Children (under 14): Free

⏳ Ticket sales close at midnight on Thursday, September 4.No refunds after that date. We’ll see you poolside!

FCCC In-person Talk. China’s Logistics: From Laggard to Innovator with Dr. Paul G. Clifford
2025-09-12 16:00 - 18:00 | Embassy near Ritan Park, Beijing, Chaoyang, China
Dr. Clifford will introduce his latest book, China’s Logistics: From Laggard to Innovator (Routledge 2025), which has just been launched in China as 中国物流。 从落后者到领 跑者 (by China Fortune Press)
His talk will start by explaining the challenges faced by China’s logistics and the multiple benefits that flow from their upgrading. He will highlight the Chinese government’s whole-of-nation approach in supporting and guiding this vital transformation. He will share perspectives on leading Chinese state-owned firms that have achieved world-class standards of service and on private Chinese firms that are using AI to innovate in e-commerce logistics. He will conclude with an assessment of the prospects for China’s logistics in the domestic market and in the international arena.
About the Speaker: Dr. Paul G. Clifford is an External Associate at the Lau China Institute, King’s College London and Honorary Fellow at the Foreign Policy Association. He is President of the strategy advisors, Paul G. Clifford & Associates. He first lived in China 1973-74 as a British exchange student. He later worked in China as a corporate banker with the First National Bank of Chicago, in strategy consulting with Oliver Wyman, and with Cisco Systems, where he drove strategy on smart and connected cities. He has advised large-scale state-owned Chinese logistics firms on restructuring and strategy. He has consulted with multinational firms on their China market entry strategies in logistics and on general supply chain issues. He was elected as Executive Director of the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing.

FCCC Online Talk. The Highest Exam – a discussion with the authors of this new book on how China’s examination system shapes the nation
2025-09-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Google Meet
Combining personal narratives with decades of research, The Highest Exam is a vivid account of how the gaokao—China’s high-stakes college admissions test—shapes that society and influences education debates in the United States. Professors JIA Ruixue and LI Hongbin will take us through the central ideas in their book and answer questions.
About the Speakers: Ruixue Jia is Professor of Economics at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego, where she codirects the China Data Lab. Hongbin Li is Codirector of the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions as well as Senior Fellow of the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research and the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

Renewal Season 2026
2025-10-01 08:00 - 2025-12-31 23:30
Thank You for Being a Member of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China!
As we approach the end of 2025, we want to express our gratitude for your support as a member of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China. We hope your experience with the FCCC has enriched you both socially and professionally.
Despite the challenges we’ve faced, we’ve remained committed to providing support and guidance, sharing knowledge, and raising awareness about the tough working conditions in our community. This past year, we’ve hosted a variety of events, including engaging speaker sessions (some even in person!), a fantastic summer pool party, and other social gatherings. We have also continued to advocate for media freedoms in China.
We sincerely thank you for your support in 2025 and invite you to renew your membership for 2026. Your current membership will expire on December 31st, so now is the perfect time to renew. As we anticipate another challenging year ahead, the Club’s activities are more crucial than ever—your continued involvement is essential!
To renew your membership CLICK HERE
Thank you for being a vital part of our community!

FCCC Online Talk. China’s new five-year plan with Katja Drinhausen and Alexander Davey
2025-10-17 17:00 - 18:30 | Google Meet
China’s upcoming five-year plan is more than a domestic blueprint — it’s a global signal. From technological self-reliance and economic resilience to tightening governance, the plan outlines China’s vision for the future in a rapidly shifting world. Join Alexander Davey and Katja Drinhausen from the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) for an online talk as they unpack the political priorities, strategic ambitions, and global implications of China’s ambitious agenda.
About the speakers: Alexander Davey is an Analyst at MERICS with a focus on China’s party-state policymaking, domestic debates, as well as CCP political discourse and organization. Katja Drinhausen is Head of Program for “Politics & Society” at MERICS. Her research spans China’s legal and governance systems — from digital governance and the social credit system to human rights and state policies towards minorities.

FCCC Online Talk: What role will China play in the global climate fight? with Belinda Schaepe and Lauri Myllyvirta
2025-11-13 16:00 - 17:30 | Google Meet
The COP 30 in Belem (Brazil) is already here. And we are eager to know more about China’s role in it. Belinda Schaepe and Lauri Myllyvirta, two top analysts on climate and Chinese decarbonization policies from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), will provide some deep insights on Beijing’s plans for the COP 30 and beyond.
Lauri Myllyvirta is co-founder and lead analyst of Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and senior fellow at Asia Society Policy Institute. He is dedicated to tracking and advancing the clean energy transition, with data and evidence.
Belinda Schaepe is China Policy Analyst with the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), where she analyses China’s decarbonization journey and advises policymakers of different countries and institutions on their diplomatic engagement with China.

FCCC & Embassy of Poland Networking Event
2025-11-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Embassy of Poland, 1 Ritan Rd, Beijing, Chaoyang Park, 100005, China
Join us for an exclusive networking event of the kind you’ll only get here: Diplomats from all 27 EU countries have been invited for an informal mixer with the FCCC Correspondent members. Rub shoulders, build your network, and exchange views on events in China and the geopolitical moment! Fourth Plenum and other topics of interest will be on the table, along with delicious food and inspiring drinks.
This event is organized in cooperation with the Embassy of Poland. Chatham House rules apply.
Where: Polish Embassy
When: November 20, 6 pm
Admission is free, but the number of participants on our side is capped at 25.
As this takes place in a diplomatic venue, you need to register (incl. passport number) before November 14.

FCCC Online Talk: Europe’s China Inflection Points by Andrew Small
2025-12-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Google Meet
The coming months represent a(nother) decisive period for the Europe-China relationship, with a cluster of senior visits – including the French President very recently, and the German Chancellor and British Prime Minister in early 2026. Alongside a flurry of new EU policy moves on China, and as Europe looks to navigate a(nother) China Shock to its industry, the consequences of the squeeze on rare earth exports, and the implications of deepened Sino-Russian ties for the European security order. This talk will offer a preview of what to expect in the coming weeks and where the key debates on China in Europe are headed.
About the Speaker: Andrew Small is the Director of the Asia Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. He previously served as the first China Fellow at IDEA and as a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund. He is the author of The Rupture (No Limits) and The China-Pakistan Axis, and his work has appeared in Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, and other major outlets.

FCCC Online Event: How China’s economic engagement ended US primacy in Latin America by Francisco Urdinez
2026-01-30 09:00 - 10:00 | Google Meet
With the US administration’s desire to ensure the « Western Hemisphere » is politically on its side and recent military action to remove Nicolas Maduro, Latin America is at the center of the rivalry between the United States and China. But Washington may find out Beijing already has displaced it in many aspects of the trade and economic relations with the region, and gained political ground. Join us for a discussion with Francisco Urdinez, who just published Economic Displacement – China and the End of US Primacy in Latin America.
About the Speaker: Francisco Urdinez is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Science of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he also directs the Millennium Nucleus for the Impacts of China in Latin America (ICLAC) project on China’s impacts in Latin America. Through data analysis and case studies, he demonstrates how China has filled the economic void left by US retrenchment from 2001 to 2020. He argues that this economic shift has led to a significant erosion of US political influence in the region, affecting public opinion, elite perspective, and voting patterns in international organizations.

FCCC Online Talk. Pentagon to Beijing: Inside US-China Defense Relations
2026-02-02 09:00 - 10:00 | Google Meet
Join us for a timely virtual discussion with Chad Sbragia, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China, as he unpacks contemporary U.S.–China defense relations. Drawing on firsthand experience in China and the Pentagon, Chad will explore the prospects of bilateral defense relations in the context of the broader strategic relationship, military modernization, crisis risks, and what lies ahead for global security. The session concludes with a Q&A session, giving you the chance to ask questions about a rarely public issue area.
About the Speaker: Chad Sbragia is a Research Staff Member at the Institute for Defense Analyses where he concentrates on U.S. national security and defense policy and analyses of China’s governance, foreign policy, and national defense, systems and strategies.
Prior to joining IDA, Mr. Sbragia served as the inaugural Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China within the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Previously, Mr. Sbragia served as the Director of the China Research Group for the U.S. Marine Corps where he served from 1985-2012 including assignment as the U.S. Marine Attaché within the U.S. Embassy Beijing. He holds an M.A. in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School, a B.S. in Political Science from Arizona State University, graduated the Defense Language Institute’s Chinese language program, and studied Chinese language at Capital Normal University in Beijing.

FCCC Online Talk. The Broken China Dream: How Reform Revived Totalitarianism
2026-02-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Google Meet
Join us for a compelling talk with Dr. Minxin Pei, a distinguished scholar of Chinese politics, as he presents his latest book, “The Broken China Dream: How Reform Revived Totalitarianism.” Dr. Pei will delve into his provocative argument that China’s reform efforts, rather than fostering democracy, inadvertently set the stage for a resurgence of totalitarianism under Xi Jinping. He will explore how the Chinese Communist Party’s strategic decisions have led to a re-establishment of personalistic rule, a cult of personality, stringent social control, and an assertive foreign policy, examining the profound implications of these developments for China and the world.
About the Speaker: Dr. Minxin Pei is the Tom and Margot Pritzker ’72 Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College. His extensive research focuses on Comparative Politics, Chinese Politics, Democracy, Great Power Rivalry, Authoritarianism, and U.S.-China Relations. He previously served as the inaugural Library of Congress Chair on U.S.-China Relations and was a senior associate and director of the China Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He earned his Ph.D. in government from Harvard University.
