China’s grand trade fair hides stark new reality

News Snapshot:

But the photo opportunities omit the stark and unpredictable new reality of doing business with Xi’s China. Premier Li Qiang on Sunday promised to deepen reforms and relax market access, commitments that seasoned observers have all heard before. The European Union Chamber of Commerce, the most outspoken in China, says the CIIE is more of a politically motivated PR event. “You can say CIIE has become more of a political showcase rather than a business event,” Carlo D’Andrea, the chamber’s vice president, told reporters on Friday. “European businesses are becoming disillusioned as symbolic gestures take the place of tangible results...