Nearly eight out of 10 public affairs (PA) professionals surveyed in China claim that the practice of government relations is more difficult than in the West – with 22 per cent citing it as much more difficult. Nearly seven out of 10 (68 per cent) believe that government relations will become more challenging, with nearly a third (30 per cent) expressing the view that the landscape will become 'much more challenging' in the future.
"'The Public Affairs Dialogue' survey examines the public affairs issues confronting MNCs at a time of increased decentralisation in China's complex network of decision making processes," said Mark Hass, president of Edelman China. "In the crucial area of government relations the survey finds that the landscape is already tough – and is set to get tougher."
The survey also points to increased challenges in the arena of corporate social responsibility. Three quarters of PA professionals surveyed believe that the Chinese government expects more from foreign MNCs in regard to social responsibility than it does from domestic and state-owned enterprises. These implicit and explicit pressures are likely to result in CSR strategies being continually redefined as a result of external pressures.
The online survey, 'The three pillars of modern public affairs in China', was conducted among 104 senior public affairs, government relations and communications practitioners in October. It forms the first leg of 'The 2010 Public Affairs Dialogue', a combined programme of research between Edelman and Public Affairs Asia, which was revealed at a high level roundtable event in Beijing, and which will result in the publication of a white paper in December 2010.
