Green Dam, the Party capitulates - Tom Doctoroff

Tom Doctoroff by Fantake via Flickr

Tom Doctoroff, North Asia Area Director of JWT advertising firm, describes in The Huffington Post the decision to at least delay the compulsory censorship software Green Dam on PC's shipped in China as an unique capitulation of the Communist Party. De decision was published at the official newswire Xinhua just hours before midnight, when the regulation would have been in force.
The central government had crossed a line by upsetting its closest supporters, Tom Doctoroff argues:

I have often argued that China, a Confucian society that cherishes order and stability as the prerequisite for individual and national advancement, does not crave bottom-up representative democracy. Furthermore, most Chinese have confidence in the ability of the central government - as opposed to local and provincial organs - to advance the interests of the majority. As the financial crisis sweeps across the globe, citizens are impressed with their leaders' far-sightedness. From aggressive stimulative policy to announced welfare reforms, most Chinese believe their country will emerge stronger than ever on the global stage once the tsunami recedes. In marked contrast to the Japanese, the Chinese people have faith in the wisdom of their rulers.

But that faith is not blind.

But it is also not the beginning of the end of the Party, Doctoroff says further.

China will become more "democratic" but not in an electoral sense, at least not within the next couple decades.

Societies do evolve. And China continues on its own journey to become a modern nation, with a government accountable for its behavior. But the contours of the Middle Kingdom's political structure will always assume the shape of its distinct worldview.

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Tom Doctoroff is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Do you want him at your conference? Do let us know.

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China travel market grows despite crisis - William Bao Bean

William Bao Bean by Fantake via Flickr

Despite dropping occupations rates in Beijing and later possibly Shanghai, China's travel market is still growing, despite the crisis, says William Bao Bean, partner at Softbank India and China Holdings, according to 4Hoteliers. He sees much future for online bookings.

One area that’s been identified by investors is China’s online travel booking. Despite China’s high online penetration rate, only about 10 percent of travel is booked online. But it has grown, and will continue to grow, said Softbank’s Bean. “Two years ago, online was less than five percent,” he said. “I think if you look a year or two down the road, you’ll see online going to 20 percent. And I think we’ll see, in maybe three or years, half of all travel booking happening online.”

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William Bao Bean is also a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you want him at your conference, do get in touch. 

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Organizing CSR-mart 2009 - Rupert Hoogewerf

Rupert Hoogewerf by Getty Images via Daylife

Today the Hurun Report from Rupert Hoogewerf and Ammado organized the first CSR-mart in Shanghai, both organization announced in a press release. Hurun or Rupert Hoogewerf was one of the people giving an opening speech.

"The Wenchuan Earthquake has been a turning point for CSR in China," says Rupert Hoogewerf, CEO of Hurun Report. "Brands realise now the value of a good CSR programme, not because it is a nice thing to do, but because it is good for their business."

Senior decision makers from 56 companies, charities and social ventures participated in the event. During the day each participant was given up to twelve 20 minute meetings, giving them the opportunity to discuss partnership opportunities, share experiences and identify possible synergies. Participants included Baidu, Wal-mart, HSBC, Citibank, Tiffany, Clearworld Energy, WWF, Amity Foundation, Narada Foundation, Roots & Shoots, Surmang / Amara, FCA.

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Rupert Hoogewerf is also a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him at your conference, do get in touch.

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Chinese brands take off at home - Rupert Hoogewerf

Rupert Hoogewerf by Getty Images via Daylife

Soft drink Wanglaoji from Guangdong tops the fourth Hurun list of Most Valuable Brands with an estimated USD 540 million of value, writes CCTV on their website. List composer Rupert Hoogewerf, who expanded the list from 50 to 100 Chinese brands, sees that branding is taking off in China, competing with foreign brands on their own territory.

"Homegrown Chinese brands are beginning to take on a life of their own, despite their lack of international recognition," said Rupert Hoogewerf, CEO of Hurun Report. "It is becoming harder for international brands to make waves in China," he said.

Some industries are doing better than others on the list, writes CCTV:

Financial services, tobacco and alcohol are the most valuable industries for homegrown Chinese brands. China Mobile tops the brands list for the third year running with a brand value of $29.3 billion, followed by four financial service brands, ICBC, CCB, Bank of China and China Life.

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Rupert Hoogewerf is also a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you want him at your conference, do get in touch.

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Open letter to net nanny and CCTV - Jeremy Goldkorn

Jeremy Goldkorn by Fantake via Flickr

Annoyed by yet another effort to block parts of the internet - this time including Google - Beijing-based internet entrepreneur Jeremy Goldkorn wrote on his website Danwei to net nanny, name for the collective Chinese efforts to censor the internet, and the country's leading TV channel CCTV.
After spelling out what he likes about China:

You are making Chinese people look like children on the world stage.

You are bringing shame to the People's Republic of China, and the Chinese Communist Party.

Whoever made this decision, you have lost face for the Chinese people.

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Sending our June 2009 newsletter

Image by Wonderlane via Flickr

We have just launched our June 2009 newsletter including details about Zhang Lijia's trips to Europe and the US. Also an overview of the waves our speakers made in the mainstream media in the past four weeks. You can read the China Speakers Bureau newsletter also here.

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China's rich did not change life style - Rupert Hoogewerf

Rupert Hoogewerf

China has avoided most of the credit crunch and its rich has not dramatically changed their life style, says Rupert Hoogewerf, author of the Hurun report and tracking China's rich for over a decade in an interview. His research shows that life has remained the same for 82 percent of the people on his list.
Hoogewerf's profile of China's rich:

The average mainland Chinese millionaire is 39 years old. The average mainlander with $10 million is 43, and the average mainlander with $100 million is 49. This makes China's richest 10 to 15 years younger than their Western counterparts. They have a special affinity for international luxury brands, especially European brands. If a Chinese person has built a successful business, the first thing they reward themselves with is a luxury watch, then a luxury car; after that comes all the rest.

 What does this mean for brands targeting China?

Luxury brands looking to break into the China market need to have a good partner. If you try coming in on your own in the retail industry, it is very hard to make things happen. You also need to be sure of your brand positioning and pricing; many brands arriving in China sell more expensively than back home.

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Rupert Hoogewerf is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you are interested in having him at your conference, do get in touch.