It only has been one month since my last blog titled, “Why MNCs Need a Better Government Engagement Strategy for China.” However, since then, the dynamics have changed drastically. Foreign multinationals have been publicly investigated for illegal business practices and have been exposed to cyber security risks and intellectual property infringement. The paradox of an uncertain regulatory environment existing alongside a relatively attractive market suggests MNCs must have found an effective way to manage relationships with Chinese governments.
After extensive conversations with our clients, industrial experts, and business associations, I realized that the biggest challenge MNCs face is how to build a strong advocacy message to governments.
Naturally, the rapidly evolving government structure makes it difficult for multinationals to identify the right stakeholders. To make matters worse, the opaque environment hinders companies from having a proactive reaction before a negative policy rollout. The crux of problem is that most foreign companies lack a deep understanding of Chinese government agendas and are unable to deliver their values to governments by facilitating their political objectives.
Below is a snapshot of the most pressing challenges for the Chinese government. To better work with the Chinese government, multinationals should change from being regulation “destructors” to “instructors,” who can demonstrate knowledge about policy and provide valuable industry input—areas in which the central government is most interested. For example, multinationals can match their companies’ capabilities with the Chinese government’s publicly stated objectives to develop cutting-edge technology in strategic industries or promote innovation among China’s youth.
Nowadays, think tanks are playing an increasingly important role, and the policymaking process is no longer a “black box” in China. Companies can work on participating in the decision-making process to lobby think tanks and shape policy, thereby preparing for any policy “surprise” before it is too late to make changes. In some cases, a company’s government affairs team can engage the right opinion leaders and then recommend them for the policy development process. By doing so, they help the government select true experts, who can provide professional suggestions, and also help themselves influence policy making.
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