China’s trading environment, likely concerns over both short-term and long-term growth, and the country’s wider role at the heart of Asian industrial growth all formed the central planks of discussions taking place between finance experts in Beijing at GTR’s 3rd Annual China Trade & Export Finance Conference on October 15-17th.

Taking place at the Swissotel Beijing, the conference brought together senior decision makers from the corporate, financial and government sectors to discuss the key issues for both the Chinese trade and export community and those seeking to do business with Asia’s prevalent industrial leader. Supported by leading global institutions such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Citi, as well as by local institutions such as the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and People’s Insurance Company of China, strong focus was placed on the need for greater engagement between exporting and importing companies and those tasked with financing them.

Discussions centred on a wide range of topics, including the issue of meeting demand with supply in the commodity trading sector, how banks are changing the way in which they operate to meet corporate needs, the changing dynamic in the China-Africa relationship, the growth of RMB as a trade settlement currency, the forthcoming establishment of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone, and how best to overcome regulatory hurdles in the current environment.

“China has of course been the subject of much discussion over the last year, with concerns over a potential economic slowdown and the likely impact on Asia’s wider trading market. Chinese appetite for commodities has of course been instrumental in the development of key markets such as Australia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and is likely to be hugely significant in the growth of frontier markets such as Mongolia and Myanmar,” says Jeff Ando, Head of Conference Production for GTR. “It would not be an exaggeration to say that what happens in China has a direct and significant impact for trade not only in Asia but across the wider world.”

As well as following a proven format of conference panel debates, detailed presentations and specific case studies, the event also featured live interviews with industry leaders, with audience members also able to submit questions online both before and during sessions.

“As one would expect from a country of the size and scale of China, the scope of potential and thirst for both financial solutions and specialist knowledge is unrivalled, with any success dependent on maintaining regular on the ground contact with key decision makers,” says Rupert Sayer, Co-founder and CEO of GTR. “It takes time to cultivate personal relationships in such a market, which is why we place such strong emphasis on the importance of networking at gatherings such as this.”