Brussels, 16/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - The association of European chambers of commerce, Eurochambers, launched a new programme on Thursday 16 April co-financed by the European Commission. The “Understanding China” programme aims to improve access to the Chinese market. It will improve the knowledge of European businesses, and of SMEs in particular, regarding the Chinese market, and is made up of two sections: - a training programme for business federations and the formulation of practical recommendations for policy-makers. The training programme is to strengthen a network of experts on China within the 27 EU member states, countries applying for EU membership and the countries of the European Economic Area. Thirty collaborators from business federations will receive training in Belgium and China between July and December. The second part of the programme consists of a series of high level conferences and round tables of SMEs, which will allow the exchange of knowledge, experience and good practice between European SMEs, business organisations, academic circles, think tanks and policy-makers. It will be based on a China Advisory Council composed of experts on Chinese/European trade issues. For further information, see: http://www.understandingchina.eu . (E.H./transl.jl)