We are pleased to announce that the opening cover‑story article “15th Five‑Year Plan: National Rules and Local Implementation”, authored by Francesco Marano and Claudio Di Marino (CPO & Partners), is featured in EURObiz, official journal of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, July‑August 2026 issue, page 4.

China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) brings a major strategic shift away from purely quantitative GDP growth towards technological self‑reliance, supply‑chain security and high‑quality domestic consumption. Foreign companies in China must fully review their intellectual‑property workflows: trademark‑patent registration, enforcement and R&D compliance.

Key novelties: uniform nationwide IP rules ending regional discretionary practices; CNIPA ex‑officio cancellation against “zombie” trademarks and bad‑faith squatting filings; well‑known mark certification open to all foreign firms (no longer limited to coastal hubs); mandatory R&D localisation and yearly IP audits for tech investors; national‑level motion‑mark registration for animated logos; heavier sanctions with fines up to five times illegal turnover for misleading branding.

Our article includes steps operational roadmap to help European businesses adapt their IP strategy to the new national framework, regardless of their Chinese location.

We thank EURObiz and the European Chamber for sharing our insights with the European business community in China.

On 1 SEPTEMBER 2026 Chinese authorities have issued a Circular repealing the over 30 years old “temporary exemption” from individual income tax granted to foreigners on dividends and bonus income.

With a sudden notice published yesterday 1 September 2026, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and State Taxation Administration (SAT) cancelled an over-30-year tax exemption granted to foreign individuals who received dividends from a foreign-invested legal entity. Specifically, the 1994 Notice No. 20 provided for a temporary exemption from individual income tax on dividends and bonus income derived by foreign individuals from foreign-invested enterprises, in order to encourage foreign investments in the Country. This provision has been explicitly repealed by the 1 September Notice No. 27, immediately enforceable.

The rationale of the regulatory change, as stated in the new Notice, is to create a level playing field among domestic and foreign invested companies, avoiding tax loopholes and encouraging other elusive behaviors.

This direction will likely be pursued by the Chinese Tax Administration System also in other areas where foreign individuals have specific advantages, such as the tax-exempt fringe benefits in kind in eight categories of expenses (provided by Cai Shui 2018 N.164 and currently extended until 31 December 2027) where the next step might be their not renewal at expiry.

Held in Shanghai from July 17 to 20, 2026, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference established WAICO, the world’s first intergovernmental organization fully dedicated to global AI cooperation, headquartered in Shanghai.

President Xi Jinping’s keynote speech set the global AI core principles: safe innovation, inclusive growth, shared governance and sustainability, ending the long-standing regulatory and technological fragmentation of the global AI industry.

WAICO reshapes the global AI landscape, building a regulated, transparent and inclusive ecosystem for businesses and investors, delivering key strategic benefits:

✅ Bridges global tech gaps, unlocking new emerging markets for industrial AI adoption

✅ Establishes unified global ethical and safety standards, lowering investment risks

✅ Stabilizes global AI supply chains for scalable, resilient business growth

✅ Drives sustainable AI development, generating long-term value for enterprises and communities

This unprecedented strategic window offers investors and companies clear, rule-based, low-risk opportunities in the new global AI economy.

We are ready to support clients and investors to leverage the global AI revolution, focusing on green AI innovation, industrial AI agents, digital transformation and cross-border tech cooperation.

#WAICO #WAIC2026 #GlobalAI #AIGovernance #AIInvestment #DigitalInnovation

High-Level Strategic Dialogue in Hangzhou:

Day 2 of the “Foreign Enterprises Zhejiang Visit”

2026 “投资浙里” 外国企业浙江行・走进杭州

We are pleased to share that we take part in the official high-level cooperation and matchmaking conference in Hangzhou, closing the 2026 “Invest in Zhejiang” Foreign Enterprises Zhejiang Visit.

The day focused on institutional dialogue, investment promotion and business networking, highlighting Zhejiang’s high-quality development goals, opening-up policies and key industrial sectors. The event hosted more than 230 global companies, with key speeches delivered by Mr. Wang Hao, Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, and Mr. Xi Guohua, Chairman of CITIC Group. The main session was moderated by Mr. Liu Jie, Governor of Zhejiang Province.

A highlight was the roundtable discussion on investment incentives and new opportunities for foreign businesses across advanced manufacturing, digital economy, new energy and cross-border e-commerce.

Why this summit matters for CPO & Partners As a leading Italy‑China cross-border legal & tax advisory firm, this high-level conference allowed us to:

✅ Strengthen connections with Zhejiang provincial authorities

✅ Collect first-hand updates on policies and regulations

✅ Network with major regional enterprises and global investors

✅ Better support European and Italian clients investing in the region

Zhejiang stands out as a strategic hub for international trade and investment, with great potential for long-term cooperation between Italy, Europe and China. We aim to turn these exchanges into solid joint projects.

Thank you to the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, CITIC Group and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

CPO & Partners is proud to join the 2026 “Invest in Zhejiang” Foreign Enterprises Zhejiang Visit with the official delegation of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

Organized by Zhejiang Provincial Government and CITIC Group, this top-tier event gathered over 230 international companies to explore advanced manufacturing, new energy, digital trade and cross‑border investment.

Our delegation visited Jinhua’s key hubs:

• East China International Intermodal Port
• Zhejiang Panshi Dynamics Technology Co., Ltd.
• Leapmotor Automobile Co., Ltd.
• Yiwu Global Digital Trade Center

A highlight was the high‑level meeting with Mr. Zhang Jian, Mayor of Jinhua, and Ms. Huang Hui, Vice Mayor, focused on investment policies and opportunities for European and Italian enterprises.

For CPO & Partners – a leading Italy‑China legal & tax advisory firm with 18+ years of experience – this mission strengthens our role as a trusted bridge between international businesses and China.

We enhance institutional relations, gain first‑hand policy insights, expand our industrial network, and deliver tailored support to clients investing in Zhejiang.

We remain committed to win‑win cooperation between Italy, Europe and Zhejiang.

Thank you to Zhejiang Provincial Department of Commerce, CITIC Group and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

Recently, our team joined the exclusive on-site institutional and technical visit directly onboard the Adora Flora City at Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipyard, an important flagship result of joint Italy-China shipbuilding cooperation, organised by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China. During the day, we attended institutional briefings, reviewed dedicated technical project presentations, analysed the dedicated 3D project models, and exchanged direct insights with key industry managers and operators working daily on this high-value industrial project. The initiative offered a clear, first-hand overview of concrete joint workflows, operational industrial collaboration standards and large-scale project development practices within the international cruise shipbuilding sector.

For CPO & Partners, these regular field activities strengthen our daily advisory capabilities across all industries. They allow our international team of lawyers, tax advisors and corporate consultants to support companies with solid, updated, on‑the‑ground insights for market entry, regulatory compliance, corporate structuring and bilateral business development between Italy and China.

We keep building reliable connections, working synergy and practical knowledge to deliver concrete, tailored consultancy to all our clients operating across every industrial and commercial sector between Europe and China.

Our team attended a briefing at the European Chamber Shanghai Office, hosted by President Jens Eskelund, focusing on the critical report Exporting Control — China’s New Strategic Strategic Toolkit.

The briefing dealt with updates on the expansion of China’s export control regime, severe supply chain vulnerabilities for rare earths and critical raw materials, and the operational risks tied to new extraterritorial controls effective November 2026. The closed-door session outlined the future direction of China’s trade policy tools and practical risk mitigation strategies for European firms managing international supply chains.

CPO & Partners put strong attention on the expertise of its personnel and events like this deliver important information and updates. It is very important to listen, understand and evaluate messages of institutions like the European Chamber through its leadership, capture real-time policy intelligence, and integrate such insights into advisory services. This allows us to provide clients with precise, forward-looking support on cross-border trade compliance, critical supply chain optimization, and geopolitical risk management.

Amid rising trade tensions, we continuously monitor China-EU regulatory shifts, turning complex export control challenges into clear, safe, and executable operational roadmaps for our partners.

CPO & Partners is proud to have taken part in the “Talk over Lunch with Paolo Gentiloni”, organized by the Italian Chamber of Commerce in China (CICC) in Shanghai.

Engaging directly with European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni offered a valuable opportunity to reflect on Europe’s economic dynamics, the EU–China relationship, and the evolving landscape for Italian enterprises operating internationally.

Moments like these are essential to strengthening the dialogue between European institutions and the business community, while allowing us to provide our clients with strategic insights into global economic developments.

On December 24, 2025, China released the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment 2025, effective February 1, 2026, updating the list of sectors and activities eligible for preferential treatment, streamlined procedures, and operational advantages.

Compared to the previous version, the new Catalogue shows a broader scope – with 200+ new items and 300+ revisions – and a more targeted focus on:

• Advanced manufacturing, with items from terminal products and components to raw materials;
• Green technologies and modern services, such as lifestyle, consumer-facing, and digitalized service industries;
• Additional incentives for central, western, northeastern regions (underdeveloped areas), and Hainan.

Four preferential policies:

1. Customs duty exemptions for imported self-use equipment;
2. Preferential industrial land access – reductions down to 70% and more flexibility;
3. Reduced CIT (15%) for eligible projects located in western China and Hainan;
4. Tax credits for profits reinvestment into National Catalogue’s projects.

This update confirms China’s intention to attract foreign investment, especially when aligned with its high-quality growth, innovation, and regional development goals, offering a key instrument for recalibrating China and Far East investment strategies.

Pdf Source (Chinese language)

https://www.ndrc.gov.cn/xxgk/zcfb/fzggwl/202512/P020251224301773999332.pdf

On December 9, 2025, Francesco Marano took part in the “Zhejiang–Shanghai Connect | Jiaxing Special Event” held in Shanghai, delivering a speech focused on foreign investment projects in China.

His contribution addressed key aspects related to market entry strategies, investment pathways, and the role of tax and legal advisory in supporting cross-border operations within an evolving regulatory and economic framework.

The event provided a valuable platform for dialogue between institutions and international stakeholders, highlighting the importance of cooperation between European and Chinese business ecosystems.