The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China was originally founded by 51 member companies based in China on 19th October 2000. The rationale for the establishment of the Chamber was actually based on the need of the European Union and local European businesses to find a common voice for the various business sectors. Eleven years since its foundation, the European Chamber now has a total of more than 1600 members in nine cities: Beijing, Chengdu & Chonqing, Nanjing, Pearl River Delta (Guangzhou and Shenzhen), Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin. The Chamber is recognised by the European Commission and the Chinese Authorities as the official voice of European Business in China.