ChinaLux 2025 Christmas Drinks;
Credit: Ievgenii Karanov, Chronicle.lu
On Monday 8 December 2025, the China-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce (ChinaLux) held its 2025 Christmas Drinks event at Hotel Parc Belair in Luxembourg-Hollerich.
The event attracted around 160 guests, including China’s Ambassador to Luxembourg, Hua Ning, Brasserie Nationale CEO Isabelle Lentz, and the Chairman and CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce, Paul Schonenberg, among many others.
ChinaLux President Jacques Bortuzzo, in his opening remarks, welcomed guests and highlighted the festive spirit of the season, noting that Christmas “has become an increasingly important cultural celebration for billions of people around the world”. He thanked members and partners for their support over the past year and emphasised the chamber’s role in bringing the community together ahead of the holidays. Jacques Bortuzzo also outlined several upcoming activities for 2026, including the Chinese New Year reception and gala, an event on China’s forthcoming Five-Year Plan, and a broader programme of initiatives aimed at strengthening China-Luxembourg relations
Ambassador Hua Ning, noted that the ChinaLux Christmas Drinks had become “a traditional event” and reflected on his participation over recent years. Drawing on a recent visit to Beijing, he described signs of renewed economic activity and the return of international tourism to pre-pandemic levels, adding that direct flights between Luxembourg and China were also experiencing steady growth.
The Ambassador highlighted advances in China’s digital public services and emerging business models, as well as opportunities for cooperation between Luxembourgish and Chinese companies in fields such as technology, cultural digitalisation and manufacturing. He pointed to examples of existing collaboration involving 3D scanning and industrial applications.
Ambassador Hua Ning also addressed China’s forthcoming Fifteenth Five-Year Plan, describing it as essential for understanding the country’s development trajectory. “If you want to explore new business opportunities, you must have a clear understanding of the Five-Year Plan,” he said, noting targets linked to economic modernisation, including raising GDP per capita from its current level of about $13,400 towards more than $20,000 in the coming years. He emphasised China’s openness to international cooperation and encouraged continued engagement between both countries.
ChinaLux Vice President Tian Jingya reminded attendees of the chamber’s mission to support China-Luxembourg business ties, encouraging companies planning to expand in China in 2026 to engage with the organisation. “If you are looking to grow your business in China, learn more about opportunities, have a chat with us… we will be very happy to introduce you to the right people and share insights. That’s what we are here for,” she said.
Representing the Goeres Group, Pauline Benoit and Arthur Pagliuca welcomed guests to Hotel Parc Belair and thanked ChinaLux for choosing the venue. They briefly recounted the origins of the family-owned hotel group, explaining that the property was the first hotel opened by founder Nicolas Goeres more than 30 years ago, built on the site of his former family home. They noted that the group has since expanded to five hotels, including the recently opened The Rose, led by Mr Goeres’ daughter Margaux, marking what they described as “the next chapter” in the family’s hospitality story.
The final speaker of the evening was Isabelle Lentz, CEO of Brasserie Nationale, who reflected on the long history of the family business, now in its eleventh generation. She recounted key milestones, including the eighteenth-century origins of the brewery, its merger in the 1970s and its more recent expansion and brand developments led by successive generations. Lentz said that leading a family company requires balancing continuity and change, describing it as “looking to the past while also looking to the future”. She also noted the brewery’s partnership with ChinaLux, emphasising its role in fostering economic and cultural connections between Luxembourg and China.
The event continued with a networking reception over drinks.
