When it comes to the global economic scene, China is highly powerful. If we talk about Chinese standardization and Quality Infrastructure activities, the three ESOs along with the European Commission and EFTA took an initiative that focused on maximizing the cooperation between Europe and China in matters related to standardization through appointing a SESEC – Seconded European Standardization Expert in China. The primary aims of this project are:
- To promote European as well as international standards in China
- To increase contacts with several Chinese administration, industry and standardization bodies
- To enhance the visibility as well as an understanding of the European Standardization System in China
- Collect regulatory and standardization intelligence
The project was launched in the year 2006 for first phase of three years. And, it was followed by a second phase until 2012. Mrs. Betty XU – the new Seconded European Standardization Expert in China is the interface of the European Standardization System in China. It acts under the guidance of a Steering Committee that includes a representative of each project partner. Since its inception, the Seconded European Standardization Expert in China project has increased visibility to the European Standard System, maximized cooperation between European and Chinese standardization bodies, and delivered support to European industry facing issues related to standardization in view of market access to China.
As discussed earlier, the project was launched in the year 2006, it aims to raise awareness on the European Standardization System, values as well as assets in China. From the very beginning, it is supported as well as operated by the European Committee for Standardization, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute. In addition to this, it is also supported and operated by the European Commission’s Directorate General for the Internal Market, Industry Entrepreneurship and Industry as well as the European Free Trade Association.
The European standardization bodies have around 25 years of experience to make actual referencing of technological standards in the best interest of co-regulation as well as progressive innovation. The working document of the European Commission Action Plan for European Standardization state that the first location was Beijing where such a position was to be established. The idea of this standard is now known as essential, both to foster the global outreach of European standardization as well as to support the European industry facing problems related to standardization hampering market access to China.
The first phase of the Seconded European Standardization Expert in China was from May 2006 to June 2009. As the project met the expectations of Chinese as well as European stakeholders successfully, the second phase followed from the year 2009 to 2012 and a third phase was started in the year 2014 for a period of 3 years. This project has one full-time expert in Beijing – Mrs. Betty XU. She is one full-time assistant as well as one part-time assistant. As said earlier, it is under the authority and guidance of Steering Committee composed of one representative from CEN, CENELEC, ETSI, the EU Commission, and EFTA. Each has the role to monitor as well as decide on corrective measures to be undertaken and revise the priorities of projects to meet the needs of stakeholders.
The daily activities of Seconded European Standardization Expert in China III were monitored by CEN in its capacity of a project leader who ensures the implementation of the project as agreed by the five partners.
