Services

In a strategic move aimed at bolstering international tourism and engagement, on 20 September 2023, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced that it will roll out improvements to the visa application process According to the MFA, the improvements include “seven major and 15 sub-items”, but the main changes involve simplifying the visa application form by reducing the amount of background information applicants need to provide. The changes follow the …

Paul French speaks to the author of a new book that looks at how expat managers and executives experienced the hurdles of life and work in China, crafted their personal leadership methods and ultimately managed to perform well Hungarian-born Gábor Holch has spent the last two decades in Shanghai working as an intercultural leadership consultant to a wide range of multinational and Chinese clients. He’s a Mandarin-language Certified Management Consultant …

Multinational corporations operating in China often share information with their subsidiaries or headquarters outside the country. However, since new regulations came into effect in June 2022, certain personal data processors, including companies that only handle data on fewer than 1 million people, are required to sign contracts with overseas recipients before sending data abroad, writes Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Head of Business Advisory at Woodburn Global The legislative framework in China for …

With normal business travel between China and the UK resuming following the end of China’s Covid restrictions, more and more British companies in China are sending their Chinese staff to the UK for business trips, which necessitates applying for a visa In this article, we give an overview of how to apply for a visa to visit the UK on business, including key considerations such as application timeline, cost, and …

WeChat often wins out over email China, which has implications for both work communications and marketing, writes Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Head of Business Advisory at Woodburn Accountants & Advisors Most Western entities use email as their main form of communication. However, the constant evolution of technology and changing habits of users are forcing companies to resort to new ways of sharing information. In the UK and other parts of the world, …

Kristina Koehler-Coluccia, Head of Business Advisory, Woodburn Accountants & Advisors, gives us a step-by-step guide to how to launch your China business and avoid the most common mistakes most companies make 1. Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing Some companies go in too fast and without planning and some get in planning paralysis and don’t get going. Everyone needs to go at a different pace, so develop a …

3CS Corporate Solicitors offer a simple guide to the different types of UK work visas for businesses that need to bring Chinese staff to the UK Chinese trade is a vital component of the UK economy. According to UK government data, China was the UK’s 4th largest trading partner in the four quarters to the end of Q4 2022, accounting for 6.5% of total UK trade. In 2021, the inward …

A new book by London-based academic Dr Keyu Jin argues that the popular perception that China still relies on technology transfers, industrial subsidies and unfair trade competition for its economic success is outdated and exaggerated and that a changed perception could revolutionise how companies do business there. Paul French finds out more For decades, it’s been an easy and throw-away shorthand to talk of either socialism or capitalism with “Chinese …

In the post-Covid era, finding talent has become a major challenge for companies in China. Knowing essential recruitment strategies can help businesses attract top-tier candidates As the rhythms of daily life in China return to normal, consumption is expected to recover at an accelerated pace. At the same time, scientific and technological innovation and green transformation are driving investment in manufacturing. China’s economic growth forecast for 2023 has improved significantly, …

As of 15 March 2023, the Chinese government resumed its pre-Covid visa and entry policies for foreigners to China, reinstating tourist visas and other visas issued prior to the pandemic The resumption of normal visa services includes China’s 144-hour visa-free transit policy, which allows foreign travellers transiting through the country to enjoy a six-day stay in certain Chinese cities without a visa. Note that this is a transit visa, so …