Standing at the Intersection of China-Europe Industrial Collaboration: Practices, Consensus, and Prospects in 2025
As 2025 draws to a close, we find ourselves at a moment of reflection and contemplation. For me personally, this year has been both an extension
of my role and a deepening of my responsibilities—while continuing to serve as the CEO of Tupu Consulting Group, I have also taken on the role of
Secretary-General of the China-Europe Business Association (CEBA) for the first time. This shift represents not only an increase in operational tasks
but also a deeper engagement with the long-term logic of China-Europe industrial cooperation.
Over the past year, alongside CEBA’s members, partners, and various institutions, we have systematically advanced 675 specific work initiatives
centered on industrial collaboration, investment implementation, institutional dialogue, and the international development of enterprises. We
connected businesses, governments, and industrial organizations from 17 countries, organized and executed 23 international visits and exchange
missions, conducted work spanning 19 countries, and carried out sustained, in-depth visits and on-site research with 25 China-Europe manufacturing
enterprises.
These figures are not goals in themselves but rather outcomes. They reflect a highly pragmatic approach to work: in a complex and ever-changing
international environment, truly valuable cooperation often occurs at the intersection of concrete projects, genuine needs, and long-term trust.
From “Exchange” to “Collaboration”
In our practice, an increasingly clear trend is emerging—China-Europe cooperation is gradually transitioning from a stage dominated by exchanges
and information sharing to a new phase that emphasizes collaborative mechanisms, institutional understanding, and industrial co-development.
Companies are no longer satisfied with mere market entry or short-term trade opportunities. Instead, they are increasingly focused on the following
core questions:
• How to establish a long-term, sustainable industrial presence in Europe
• How to understand and adapt to the institutions, regulations, and industrial cultures of different countries
• How to foster complementary relationships in technology, capital, supply chains, and talent
There are no standard answers to these questions, nor can they be resolved through isolated consultations. Instead, they require systematic strategic
planning and sustained local practice.
Professionalism: The Common Language of Cross-Cultural Cooperation
The experiences of 2025 have reaffirmed a seemingly simple yet profoundly important consensus: truly effective and sustainable cooperation between
China and Europe is built on professional competence, mutual trust, and long-term commitment.
Amid diverse institutions, cultures, and business environments, professionalism often serves as the most powerful “common language.” Whether in
institutional communication with government departments or in discussions with enterprises about investment and industrial collaboration, clear
logic, rigorous structure, and foresight into long-term impacts form the foundation of trust.
This is also the working methodology that Tupu Consulting Group has consistently adhered to over the years—eschewing short-term exposure in
favor of providing clients and partners with clear, executable, and sustainable solutions.
The Role of Platforms: Connecting, Not Replacing
As the Secretary-General of CEBA, I have gained a deeper understanding of the true value of an international business organization. CEBA’s role is
not to replace the decision-making of enterprises or governments but to serve as a credible, stable, and institutionally informed platform that
connects various stakeholders.
The significance of such a platform is particularly pronounced against the backdrop of ongoing changes in the global economy and geopolitical
environment. It provides enterprises with a more systematic understanding of markets, offers governments and industrial institutions more authentic
feedback from businesses, and preserves the necessary communication space and rational foundation for long-term industrial collaboration between
China and Europe.
Sustained Commitment to the Future
Looking ahead, whether in the platform work of CEBA or the professional services of Tupu Consulting Group, we will continue to adhere to three key
directions:
• Pragmatic Cooperation: Focusing on genuine needs and actionable projects
• Institutional Dialogue: Respecting differences, understanding rules, and reducing collaboration costs
• Sustainable Industrial Collaboration: Emphasizing long-term value over short-term gains
We believe that the resilience of China-Europe relations ultimately stems from practitioners who are deeply committed to the industrial landscape,
respect professionalism, and strive to understand one another.
Here, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to CEBA’s global membership network, as well as to the colleagues and partners who have
collaborated across borders, time zones, and institutional frameworks over the past year. It is these sustained and rational efforts that form the most
solid and trustworthy foundation for China-Europe cooperation.
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