ExclusiveEurope’s business leaders remain ‘level-headed’ on engaging with China amid worries about Russia’s power: Adriel Chan
- European business leaders more willing to work with China as counterbalance to Russia’s power, says trustee of The Better Hong Kong Foundation
- Chan, chairman of Hang Lung Group, found little concern about China’s economic outlook during a delegation visit to Europe last month
European leaders are more willing to cooperate with China as a counterbalance because the continent’s political and business communities are increasingly concerned about Russia’s power in Europe, according to Adriel Chan, a trustee of The Better Hong Kong Foundation, one of the city’s preeminent private think tanks.
“I was surprised at how existentially scared even the French and the Germans are about the conflict in Ukraine,” Chan said, reflecting on discussions during an early May visit to Europe as head of a delegation organised by the foundation. “Sitting here in Asia, I would never think that there’s any chance that Russia would try to move the war into western Europe.”
“The surprise on the upside was how they are level-headed about Europe and China relations,” Chan said in his first interview since becoming chairman. “They recognise that China is an integral and important part of not just the world economy but their economies, so they want to continue to engage.”
The delegation organised by the privately funded, non-profit foundation visited France and Germany to meet with local business leaders, senior government officials and think tanks. The goal was “not to change the global capital flows overnight, but inform and educate those in decision-making positions about situations in Hong Kong”, Chan said.
The Better Hong Kong Foundation was established in 1995 by influential Hong Kong business and community leaders. Real estate tycoons like Li Ka-shing, Li Shau-kee and Pansy Ho Chiu-king are trustees of its board.