Campaign Statement
Dear AmCham China Members:
I am excited to announce my candidacy for member of the Board of Governors of AmCham China for 2022-2023. My motivation for running for the Board stems from my extensive experience with policy lobbying and advocacy in China, as well as my commitment to AmCham China as a key entity for improving the business environment for foreign companies operating in China. I am passionate about AmCham China’s mission and activities, and believe I would make valuable contributions to its work.
In my current role as Managing Director at APCO Worldwide, both leading APCO’s Beijing office and the global technology practice, I have now worked for more than a decade with foreign companies – primarily American – at the absolute forefront of their areas of expertise. Across global markets, I and my geographically diverse team have developed stakeholder engagement plans and advocacy strategies aimed at a diverse group of government and quasi-government stakeholders with the aim of supporting these companies’ successful operations in the China market. My deep involvement in the experience of these clients has allowed me to develop a mature understanding of the key issues and challenges facing American companies in China, as well as to develop a strong appreciation for the relevant stakeholders these firms must interact with to meet their often high-stakes objectives in this complex market.
As a member of the Board, I would bring to bear not only my client experience with APCO, but the unique comparative perspective developed as vice chair of the ICT Working Group at the EU Chamber of Commerce, a role I served in from 2013 to 2021. During this period, I represented European business interests to lobby Chinese and European authorities on key issues relevant to our members’ interests. I have been also involved in bilateral dialogues and cooperation between the EU and China, including having influenced the China-EU Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). I see my deep past exposure to European companies’ experiences in China as a key tool for informing my advocacy for American companies, which confront both shared and distinctive challenges.
Ultimately, my work and my passion are helping bring together the two sides in the US-China relationship. American companies now find themselves in a uniquely challenging regulatory and operational environment at the same time they continue to serve as critical stewards of the broader US- China relationship. I have witnessed first-hand the evolution of the bilateral relationship over the years and believe AmCham China is strategically positioned to be a key element for righting the ship during periods of tension.
If elected to the Board, I would look forward to fully participating in AmCham China’s meetings and activities, including drafting of position papers and actively engaging with government and industry stakeholders. I am also willing to be a key spokesperson both internally and externally on key issues in the technology space, for example inviting Chinese experts involved in the policy process as speakers to give presentations on issues relevant to our members’ interests. Finally, I am committed to travel to Washington to join the annual AmCham China Washington lobby tour to brief US stakeholders on China’s policy environment to help shape the US policy agenda vis-à-vis China in favor of our members’
interests.
I firmly believe that my experiences at APCO and at the EU Chamber, coupled with my deep personal commitment to strengthening US-China economic ties, would make me a highly valuable member of the Board with a unique perspective. I hope I can count on your support and look forward to the opportunity to further contribute to promoting American business in China.
Best regards, Bruce Fu
Managing Director, Beijing APCO Worldwide
Biography
Bruce Fu is the managing director of the APCO Worldwide Beijing office. Mr. Fu has deep knowledge of China’s technical standards, IPR, and competition-related issues in the ICT sector. At APCO, Mr. Fu provides clients with counsel on government relations, operations management, stakeholder engagement, and market entry strategy across different sectors.
Prior to joining APCO, Mr. Fu was a business manager at the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, where he worked closely with the European
telecommunications industry by lobbying China’s telecommunications regulators. He worked closely with ICT Working Group members on telecommunications regulatory policies and TBT/Standards. Mr. Fu also directly engaged Chinese authorities such as MOFCOM, SAIC, and the NDRC on antitrust issues related to the implementation rules of China’s anti-monopoly law.
Mr. Fu served as the Vice Chair of the ICT Working Group at the EU Chamber of Commerce in China between 2013 and 2021, with involvement in various EU-China dialogues and negotiations on key issues such as on the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI). Mr. Fu holds master’s degrees in European studies and European modern history from the Catholic University of Leuven. He is fluent in English and Chinese and speaks intermediate French.