We are pleased to invite you to an insightful presentation and discussion on the European Business in China Position Paper 2025/2026, the flagship publication of the European Chamber.
The Position Paper 2025/2026 calls on Chinese policymakers to use the upcoming 15th Five-year Plan (15FYP) (2026–2030) to affect a shift towards a new, productive development model.
The Executive Position Paper offers five overarching Key Recommendations to Chinese policymakers highlighting priority areas where, building on the achievements of the 14FYP, focused efforts can help China meet its development goals while remaining fully integrated in—and valued by—the global economic system.
The individual industry and horizontal position papers provide more granular detail, putting forward more than 1,100 constructive recommendations for optimising China's business environment.
This event provides a valuable opportunity to engage directly with European business leaders and gain a deeper understanding of the key concerns for European businesses operating in China.
Agenda:
15:15-15:30 Registration
15:30-15:35 Opening remarks by Mr. Tobias F. Svenningsen, Consul General of the Kingdom of Norway in Shanghai
15:35-17:00 Presentation of key findings of the Position Paper by
- Mr. Carlo D'Andrea,Vice President of EUCCC,
- Mr. Simon Lichtenberg, EUCCC Executive Committee,
- Mr. Steven Barsart, General Manager of EUCCC.
17:00-17:15 Q&A
17:15-17:30 Networking
Date: 27 November 2025
Time: 15:15PM – 17:30PM
Venue: Residence of Consul General in Shanghai, Apartment 2901, Building 2, Danshui Road No. 139, Huangpu District
黄浦区淡水路139号锦麟天地雅苑2号楼2901室
Speakers
Steven (白乐云) Basart
General Manager at Shanghai Chapter of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
More Information
SIMON
LICHTENBERG
- Honorary Citizen of Shanghai
- Founder & CEO of Trayton Group
- Executive Board Member of Danish Chamber of Commerce in China
(DCCC)
- States’ Representative in the Executive Committee of the European
Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC)
- YPO (Young Presidents Organization) Shanghai Gold Chapter
Champion
- Founder of the Rural Early Education Development Fund (REED
1987 Fudan University - International Cultural Exchange School | Diploma in Chinese Language 2006 Harvard Business School, China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Tsinghua University Joint Course | EMBA
Simon Lichtenberg (李曦萌) is a Danish entrepreneur, global supply-chain strategist, and the Founder & CEO of Trayton Group, a multinational furniture and lifestyle company headquartered in Shanghai. Trayton operates manufacturing facilities in China, Vietnam, and Mexico and markets its products across Asia, Europe, and North America, showcasing Lichtenberg’s deep expertise in global business development and Asia-centric supply-chain design.
Lichtenberg arrived in Shanghai in 1987 to study Chinese at Fudan University, adopting the Chinese name 李曦萌. Fluent in Mandarin and a long-term resident of China, he founded Trayton Group in 1995, transforming it from an importer of Scandinavian furniture into a global manufacturing and branding enterprise. His ability to fuse European design values with Chinese production capabilities and worldwide distribution has made Trayton a model of successful global-local integration.
He has been widely profiled in Chinese and international media-including Xinhua, People’s Daily, China Daily, CCTV, CGTN, Reuters, New York Times, Financial Times and countless others and maintains an active public presence discussing China’s business environment, sustainable manufacturing, and cross-border cooperation. His visibility in both Chinese and Western outlets has positioned him as one of the most recognized European business figures in China.
In May 2025, Lichtenberg received a personal letter from President Xi Jinping, praising his long-standing commitment to China and his work in strengthening Sino-European relations. Beyond his corporate leadership, he serves as the Founding Chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China and plays an active role on the board of the European Chamber of Commerce in China, where he advocates for balanced, transparent, and cooperative trade relations between Europe and China.
Honored with Shanghai’s Magnolia Silver and Gold Awards and the title of Honorary Citizen of Shanghai (2025), he also founded the Rural Early Education Development Fund, which supports preschool education in China’s rural western regions.
Lichtenberg’s career embodies entrepreneurial innovation, cultural fluency, and global vision, offering valuable insights for executives, policymakers, and scholars focused on international business, supply-chain management, and sustainable development
Carlo
D’Andrea
Vice President of European Chamber and Chairman of the Shanghai Board
Mr. Carlo Diego D’Andrea
Founder and Managing Partner of D’Andrea & Partners Legal Counsel, and Founder of DP Group. Born on November 13th, 1978, in Viareggio, Tuscany, Carlo Diego D'Andrea has played a pivotal role in fostering business relationships between Europe, China, and other developing countries.
Graduated in Law at the University of Teramo (Italy), he then subsequently obtained a Masters’ degree in Corporate Advisor at LUISS University in Rome, including an enriching Erasmus Scholarship program at the Universitat de Barcelona. and a Diploma in Chinese Studies at Nanjing Normal University and is a member of the Italian Bar Association and adjunct professor of international organization at LUISS University.
Mr. D’Andrea arrived in China in 2005 and is fluent in Italian (mother tongue), English, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. During his professional career, D'Andrea served as the Managing Partner of a leading European law firm in China from September 2009 to September 2013. In this role, he played a vital part in assisting European companies in navigating the complexities of the Chinese legal system. He facilitated business operations, intellectual property protection, and the establishment of numerous European companies in China as an Italian lawyer based in China.
He mainly deals with cross-border mergers and acquisitions, assistance in ODI/FDI and intellectual property rights. He also holds board positions in various Director boards ranging from SMEs to MNCs operating globally & is an author of many business books offering valuable insights in navigating the complexities of how to successfully operate in the international marketplace.
His commitment to fostering business relationships can be seen in his roles as the Chairman of the Board of the EUCCC Nanjing Chapter from April 2012 to April 2014, Chair of the Legal & Competition Working Group at the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) Shanghai Chapter from April 2014 to May 2018, and as the EUCCC National Vice President based in Beijing from May 2021 until May 2023. In these positions, he actively participated in shaping legal and competition policies, advocating for fair business practices, and fostering a favorable business environment for European companies in China.
His dedication and leadership within the EUCCC are evidenced by serving as a two-term Chairman of the Shanghai Chapter Board of the Chamber from May 2017 to May 2021. Additionally, Nanjing Working Group Coordinator of the China-Italy Chamber of Commerce from November 2011 to December 2016.
He now is the acting National Vice President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China and Chairman of the Board of the Shanghai Chapter.
Recognized as one of the twenty most influential Italian figures in relations between Italy and China by Capital magazine, part of the Class Editori Group. Magnolia Silver Award and Hongqiao Friendship Award winner of Shanghai, honor given to foreign individuals who have made significant contributions to the city's development.
Basart
Steven (白乐云)
General Manager at Shanghai Chapter of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
Steven has lived and worked in China for nearly 20 years in the nonprofit
management industry, leading and representing global trade
associations, professional societies, and business interest groups in
the region.
Steven is a Dutch national and a Permanent Resident of China, living
in China for nearly 20 years. He is a lawyer and sinologist by training.
He has native-level language proficiency in Mandarin, English, and
Dutch.
▪ Steven has a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit organization management industry in Asia. He has
in-depth experience leading and representing global trade associations, professional societies, and business
interest groups in the region and facilitating high-level industry delegations.
▪ Steven is a Dutch national and a Permanent Resident of P.R. China, living in China for nearly 20 years. He has nativelevel
language proficiency in Mandarin, English, and Dutch.
▪ Steven has held regional executive positions in global trade associations, professional societies, and
business interest groups. He has forged strategic alliances with Chinese counterparts, government, industry,
and media. Under his leadership, his team executed a range of in-depth industry studies, regulatory
initiatives, high-level events, and dialogue with the government on industry regulation and standards.
▪ Steven has lectured on courses related to association reform and development in China. He has organized a
high-level training course for Chinese association executives and government officials featuring association
professionals and faculty of Tsinghua University and Peking University.
▪ Steven graduated with cum-laude honors in Law (LL.B.) and China Studies (M.A.) from Leiden University. He
conducted legal studies and scholarly research at Peking University Law School and Shanghai Jiaotong
University Law School. He attended executive training at Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School,
INSEAD, Wharton Business School, and the China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS).
