China Speakers Bureau: January 2009

Third day of the new year in Beijing

Really deafening when you are in the middle of it!

Rebound of real estate expected in year of the ox - Sam Crispin

Image by mtlp via FlickrReal estate in China is expected to rebound over the coming twelve months as the central government is reversing its policies, writes real estate guru Sam Crispin in a newly released CPIM report.

CPIM expect most of the government measures brought in to control the property market since 2004 to be reversed in stages. Despite a number of negative factors and declines forecast not all sectors, segments and locations are behaving in the same way.
In the Bohai Bay Area of China some cities are seeing half the number of buyers in while in others transactions are only 11% down. Tianjin and Beijing prices almost unchanged over the full year in 2008. Average land prices closed at Rmb1,380 per sq.m in Tianjin, almost 42.5% down from the previous year.

Other regions in southern parts of China showed a more negative trend, the report says.

Overall, government intervention to support the market give CPIM cause for optimism. ‘It isn’t everything, but government support in the socialist market economy counts for an awful lot, municipal governments are already moving to mop up some of the surplus inventory’ commented Mr Crispin who has been working in China real estate since 1994. At the very least Chinese banks are still standing and still lending is a key point of difference with many other markets around the world.

The full report can be found here.

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Sam Crispin is a leading voice on China's real estate and a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him at your conference, do get in touch.

Sam Crispin
by Fons1 via Flickr

Cautious consumer spending to continue - Shaun Rein

Image by Fons1 via FlickrShaun Rein of the China Market Research Group (CMR) explains to the newswire Bloomberg why he remains cautiously optimistic about consumer spending in China, although the number of optimists in China dropped from 70 percent in December to 60 percent now.
While big ticket items like real estate and cars might still see huge problems, Rein list a group of industries, including cheaper restaurants, online games and e-commerce who might actually benefit from the current economic downturn.

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Shaun Rein is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau and he will participate in a Global China Chat on consumer confidence in February. Click here for more information, or go to our website to register for our newsletter.

Global China chat on consumer confidence

Shaun Rein
by Fons1 via FlickrThe year of the ox is going to be the year of the Chinese consumer, and their confidence in the future of their economy. As the export is seeking new lows every month, both the central government and China's companies look at domestic consumption - next to investments in infrastructure - as a possible solution to outspend the current downturn.
But is that strategy working? Early signals show that part of the urban white collar workers are reducing their expenditures, fearing the future. In some parts of China government policies seem to work and in national figures consumer spending seems to be on track. But can we trust those figures? In December 2008 China's consumers still seemed to be spending, but will the same also happen in February when sales typically stall after Chinese New Year?
In February the China Speakers Bureau is going to address some of those questions in a first Global China Chat with Shaun Rein of the China Market Research Group (CMR) in Shanghai, and one of the leading voices on China's consumers, moderated by Maria Korolov. CMR has been monitoring consumer confidence in China and Shaun Rein will answer some of your questions on how China's consumers are reacting and whether consumer spending will save it's economy.
The exact date will be published later, but we intend to take a time that will make it possible for most timezones to participate in this live online discussion. The most likely schedule:

Beijing: 11 -12 PM
Brussels: 4 - 5PM
New York: 9-10 AM
Los Angeles: 8-9 AM

Times might change depending on the interest we note from you.
Are you interested in participating or do you have already questions to ask Shaun Rein,

Maria Korolov
by Fons1 via Flickr When you pre-register we make sure that you will get a timely updates on the event and privileged access to get your questions answered. Do send us an email with "Global China Chat" in the subject line or register for our newsletter.

Being a princeling no longer a nono - Victor Shih

Deng Xiaoping would be upset
via WikipediaFor a long time, and up to not so long ago, making use of your bloodlines was not done for descendants of Communist celebrities, writes Victor Shih at his weblog. But the princelings - as they are called - now make full use of their parents credential, wishing the Chinese happy new year at the front pages of the People's Daily.

You see interviews with princelings recounting their memories of their fathers displayed prominently on the website. Even Mao Xinyu, the grandson of Chairman Mao (left), is trotted out frequently. The latest item goes too far, I think. First of all, instead of "princelings," they are now called "red descendants." Eh, doesn't that sound a bit like the "blood line theory," which dominated early Red Guard discourse back in the Cultural Revolution (slogan: father a hero, son good man; father reactionary, son turtle's egg). These "red descendants" are collectively wishing the Chinese people happy new year. Great! So now it's officially okay to admit that "red descendants" is a coherent social group, one that is to be admired by the people.

Back in the 1980s those people would have gotten into trouble with former leader Deng Xiaoping and princelings would have to actually hide their connections, writes Shih.

Even Bo Xicheng, Bo Xilai's elusive brother, makes an appearance. Look, this looks suspiciously like the princelings' play at building up more legitimacy for themselves in preparation of Xi Jinping's takeover. It is sad to see because Chen Yun and even Xi Zhongxun himself would never have allowed such abuse of these ties in the public discourse. Where is Song Ping when you need him?

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Victor Shih is one of the leading voices on China's political development

Victor Shih
by Fons1 via Flickrs among the speakers at the China Speakers Bureau. If you need him at your conference or meeting, do let us know.

Year of the Ox, year of the bull

Image by chooyutshing via FlickrEvery animal in the Chinese zodiac seems to have a hang-up. Is it the year of the rat or - because of the perceived evilness in the West of the rat - should it be rather called the year of the mouse? The new year has a similar problem. Is it the Year of the Ox, or should the economically inclined call it the Year of the Bull.
Guess, the Year of the Bull gives a nice positive outlook, that is very much needed, so I will stick to the bull for the time being. Happy Chinese New Year!

China, testing ground for online games - Marc van der Chijs

Marc van der Chijs
by Fons1 via FlickrCrisis or no crisis, online games are moving fast, explains Spil Games Asia CEO Marc van der Chijs to Pacific Epoch how his company uses China as a testing ground for the world. The free games, that play for free for up to one hour, are tremendous popular in China.

The business model we have is focused on advertising revenue. We also work on a revenue-share basis to promote webgames and MMORPGs. I use China as a testing ground for new things. I think China is ahead of the rest of the world in terms of games. In-game items and the free-to-play model all originally came from China. Our first mobile gaming site worldwide was part of the Chinese website here. We also recently started a webgame portal. We run these games ourselves with our own payment systems and everything. Before, our portals were only advertising-based but now we use the pay-for-item model as well for our webgames.

Van de Chijs is very critical about the advertisement agencies, he mostly qualifies as "lazy". Spil's business model depends mostly on advertising and revenue sharing with other games and very limited in-game ads. Marc van der Chijs:

We do have in-game ads, but it is very limited still. In China, it is very difficult to find in-game advertisers because the advertising agencies are too lazy to sell these things. It's a small market for sure and they would need to invest a lot of time to do it. Even online ads are difficult in China because agencies just don’t want to sell them to their customers; it's easier for them to keep working with TV ads.

More at Pacific Epoch.

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Marc van der Chijs is also co-founder of the popular video-hosting company Tudou.com and speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him to explain how to do business in China, do get in touch.

Lack of capital still hurting business - Rupert Hoogewerf

CHONGQING, CHINA - JUNE 16: Rupert Hoogewerf ...

Rupert Hoogewerf
by Getty Images via DaylifeThirty years ago has opened its economy, but for entrepreneurs the main problem is still the same, access to capital, says China's rich list maker Rupert Hoogewerf in an interview with the leading German newspaper Die Sueddeutsche.
"All rich in China have founded their own firms," Hoogewerf says. "Unlike Europe and the US where you would have family firms that have existed for generations. And most of them started to collect money at home in ten-yuan pieces (euro 0.90), the largest denomination at the time. Access to capital is still very important to start a business in China, as important as having a smart business idea.
Innovation is going to be one of the key success factors for the future, he adds. "Copy cats are no longer enough in the future."

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

Andrew Leung joins China Speakers Bureau

Andrew K.P. Leung
by Fons1 via FlickrProfessor Andrew K.P. Leung from London is one of the latest celebrity speakers who joined the China Speakers Bureau. His resounding resume reflects a 40-year career in international business, diplomacy and trade. At the China Speakers Bureau we gladly welcome professor Leung in our stable of prestigious speakers on China.

CSB newsletter for January is out

BEIJING - NOVEMBER 5: People watch President-...

Image by Getty Images via DaylifeThe China Speakers Bureau has sent out its newsletter for January 2009, with some predictions by our speakers on what to expect for 2009. Expected theme for the February 2009 newsletter: what is Barack Obama going to mean for the relations between China and the US? Click here to see our newsletter.

Most sought speakers - January 2008

Kaiser Kuo
by Fons1 via FlickrOur January edition of the list of most-sought speakers at the China Speakers Bureau is covering much of the past holidays, so changes have been light, comparead to our December list. Highest newcomer was Kaiser Kuo, who raised quite a lot of interest with the tour of his band, reviving his name as a rock star. He also decided to leave advertisement company Ogilvy as their director digital strategy.
Since the holidays are over, our speakers have been hitting the mainstream media again in a huge way. William Overholt addressed the need for a global central bank to address future crisis. Charles McElwee looked at how the financial rescue package addressed the environment and Shaun Rein had a ten-piece report on Chinese companies going global.
More at our Speakers' Corner.
We expect another slow-down as China will be on its Spring Festival holiday - a happy year of the ox, before I forget to mention that.
Now, our January top-10 list (December in brackets):

Steel industry needs reform rather than stimulus - Arthur Kroeber

Arthur Kroeber
by Fons1 via FlickrChina's heavy industry needs rather readjustment to the current overcapacity in stead of a stimulus package, China analyst Arthur Kroeber tells The Australian in an critical view on how China is dealing with the current economic downturn.
Arthur Kroeber:

"The message is clear: China's heavy industry sector is plagued by over-capacity and will need to readjust to a significantly weaker demand pattern than was anticipated a year ago."

In less than a decade the steel output grew from 100 million tonnes to 570 tonnes and now fell back to a more sustainable 400 tonnes. Kroeber expects a soft landing but by now means an easy or short landing.

He says that hidden debt in China's corporate sector is higher than revealed by official bank-loan data, since 44 per cent of corporate capital expenditure in 2008 was financed by money whose source is literally unknowable.
Industrialisation, urbanisation and thus growth will continue, he stresses, but subject to gradually increasing constraints -- some demographic (due to the rapid ageing of the population) and environmental, others the results of deliberate government policy.
Of concern to Australia, Kroeber predicts that the resource intensity of China's growth will be far lower in the next five years than it was in the last five as a result of industrial consolidation, slower growth, and efficiency improvements.

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Arthur Kroeber is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you want to share his insights on how China is going to deal with its economic downturn, do get in touch.

The Chinese with a Western name - Paul Denlinger

Paul Denlinger
by Fons1 via FlickrIndependent consultant Paul Denlinger explains Thomas Crampton how this global citizens got involved with a lot of the big names in the Chinese internet.

Books on China that make a difference - Tom Doctoroff

Tom Doctoroff

Tom Doctoroff takes for the Huffington Post a look at the books on China that really mattered to him. How an American starts to find out about China, the starters:

Before I landed in Shanghai in 1998, even after four years of living in Hong Kong, my world view was "typically American." It's difficult for non-Americans to appreciate the sense of exceptionalism we grow up with. From Ronald Reagan's stirring references to the United States as a "shining city on a hill" to civil studies that represented American democracy as the culmination of Western history, we were raised with a quasi-religious belief in Jeffersonian ideals - an inalienable right to the pursuit of happiness rooted in individualism - as the destiny of all mankind. For the past ten years, however, my job has been to advertise both Western and Chinese products to the Chinese. Some call me a sell out or, even worse, an abettor of dictators. Regardless, I quickly learned that brands must align themselves with a Chinese world view, lest they sacrifice both revenue and profit on the altar of cultural absolutism.

Much more at the Huffington Post.

Commercial Tom Doctoroff is CEO, Greater China, J. Walter Thompson and a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him to set you strait, let us know.

China's rich become triftier as fortunes melt away - Rupert Hoogewerf

Rupert Hoogewerf
by Getty Images via DaylifeThe wealth of China's millionaires has halved at the end of 2008, says Rupert Hoogewerf, composer of the China' rich list in the China Daily. And they are also tightening their belts.

"In the two months from early September to early November, the average wealth of the richest who own listed companies shrank by 45 percent, after an over-20 percent fall earlier in 2008," said Rupert Hoogewerf, chairman of luxury publishing group Hurun Report, which releases the Hurun Rich List of Chinese tycoons and entrepreneurs annually.

Their wealth had already been hit by a dropping stock market in early 2008, hitting their wealth with an average 20 percent.

"Surprisingly, the rich we surveyed said that their average spending this year was two million yuan, which is significantly less than I expected," Hoogewerf said.
International media usually report that the rich in China spend four to five million yuan a year, he added.

Many more details at the China Daily.

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

Janet Carmosky joins the China Speakers Bureau

Janet Carmosky

Janet Carmosky, CEO of the China Business Network, has joined the China Speakers Bureau as a speaker.
Janet Carmosky is one of the leading voices on China business in the US. With a heavy experience of a wide range of industries in China, its culture and way of dealing with the people. In a hands-on way she has a very convincing story for both beginners and veterans in dealing with China.
For more details, please visit here profile.

Upcoming: the CSB January newsletter

Sam Flemming
by Fons1 via FlickrAt the global offices of the China Speakers Bureau we have started to make our January 2009 newsletter, with predictions of our speakers for 2009, the top-10 of most-sought speakers and tips on how to select a good speaker.
Since our launch in November the number of subscribers is now in the triple digits. If you want to make sure you get our January newsletter, please subscribe now.

Zhang Lijia on book tour in India

Zhang Lijia
by Fons1 via FlickrCelebrity speaker and author Zhang Lijia will visit India on a book tour at the end of January. Her book "Socialism is great!" is fast conquering larger audiences worldwide.
After her arrivel in Delhi, she will be attending the Jaipur Literature Festival from 22 till 25 January. For launching events and interviews she will be in Delhi from 26 to 28 January

When you are interested in having Zhang Lijia as a speakers, do get in touch with the China Speakers Bureau.

Chemical company plays hardball with Xiamen gov. - Charles McElwee

Charles McElwee
by Fons1 via FlickrChina Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) approved last Friday also the PX-project that has moved from Xiamen to Zhangzhou after fierce protest from its citizens. Environmental lawyer Charles McElwee notes in his weblog interesting deals that are part of the final approval.

“The Xiamen government has now reached a consensus with Tenglong’s parent Xianglu Group to relocate the project. It has promised to pay compensation to Xianglu after the decision was approved by the central government.” Huh, why does Xiamen owe any compensation to Xianglu in this matter?
Its clear that Tenglong and its parent Xianglu feel confident enough (that means connected enough) to play hardball. That makes the accomplishments of the citizenry of Xiamen in forcing this move even more remarkable.

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Charles McElwee is one of the leading voices at the China Speakers Bureau. If you are interested in having him, do get in touch.

China's pharma's go global - Shaun Rein

An old Chinese medical chart on acupuncture me...

Image via WikipediaShaun Rein of the China Market Research Group (CMR) continues his analysis of Chinese companies going global, depicting today the young, but fast developing pharmaceutical industry. His by many scandals trust is a key word among China's food and drug producers, domestically and internationally.

Pharmaceutical company respondents understood that they operate in a low trust environment and hope that a strong brand image can be used for strategic purposes to increase market share. As one respondent explained, "we believe in winning by the brand. Once you develop a good brand image you can use it as a tool to open further opportunities and create a bigger market." Creating a strong brand image and building brand awareness is especially critical to China's pharmaceutical companies as they look to win consumers' trust in the quality, safety, and effectiveness of their products.

Chinese producers have started to move into developing markets, including Russia, as a marketing strategy, rather than taking on the tightly regulated and tough developed markets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) do also better in other Asian countries.

Respondents identify cultural differences as the most challenging obstacle facing them in their move overseas. TCM manufacturers in particular fear difficulty finding demand for their drugs in Western markets, given that raw ingredients, and medicine characteristics such as taste and smell differ greatly from Western medicine's. Thus, while a full 80% of respondents produce TCM for the domestic market, only 20% of respondents are looking to take their TCM products abroad.

More at Seeking Alpha.

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Shaun Rein is one of the leading voices on China's economy. Of course he is also a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him at your conference,

Shaun Rein
by Fons1 via Flickrpanel or meeting, do get in touch.

Massive investments in China's environment - Charles McElwee

Charles McElwee
by Fons1 via FlickrChina's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) approved on Friday 153 projects worth 470 billion Renminbi (47 bn euro), environmental lawyer Charles McElwee announced at his weblog. All are part of the four trillion Renminbi package announced in 2008 by the central government as part of the packages to encourage the economy.

Eleven projects (or 7% of the total) were rejected, “mostly coal-fired power plants or resource-intensive coal chemical plants.” This rejection rate is significantly lower than the 24% “rejected or postponed” rate reported for the first eight months of 2008, perhaps due to the new approval expediting measures.

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Charles McElwee is part of the China Speakers Bureau. When you are interested in having him as a speaker, do get in touch.

China's new fuel tax - Arthur Kroeber

Arthur Kroeber
by Fons1 via FlickrAfter long internal debates, China has used the drop in world oil prices to introduce a fuel tax. In the China Economic Quarterly (CES), here republished by the Financial Times, Arthur Kroeber analyses the new tax.
Rising dependence on imported oil is one of the main reasons for this major policy change, Kroeber writes, but there is more:

Another factor is the increasingly messy economics of China’s oil refining business. Through 2004, when oil prices were still fairly low, China’s net crude oil supplies reliably ran about 500,000 barrels per day ahead of the apparent demand for refined oil products – gasoline, diesel, fuel oil, jet kerosene, etc.
But as crude prices rose from 2005, crude supply fell behind apparent product demand to the tune of about 200,000 barrels per day, mainly because the country’s pricing system created incentives for stockpiling.

More at the Financial Times.

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Arthur Kroeber is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you are interested in his input in the China-debate, do get in touch.

William Overholt in action

William Overholt
by Fons1 via FlickrJust ran into this very nice video with William Overholt, summerizing his latest book at the Commonwealth Club. It shows why he is one of our key speakers, a great analysis. We are upgrading the profiles of more of our speakers, so keep tuned.

Global central bank to prevent future crises - William Overholt

William Overholt
by Fons1 via FlickrTo avoid future financial crises like we see now, a global central bank is needed to replace a failing IMF and World Bank, leading economist William Overholt said on a lecture at the Dubai School of Government.

To avoid another crisis, we need an ability to manage global liquidity. Theoretically that could be achieved through some kind of global central bank, or through the creation of a global currency, or through global acceptance of a set of rules with sanctions and a dispute settlement mechanism.

After Communism, now Capitalism has failed and we need a new way to look at global financial structures.

The crisis of the capitalist world does not mean that socialism is a more attractive alternative. All modern experience shows that government-owned banking and industrial systems are more prone to inefficiency and crisis than market-based systems. Nonetheless, in a crisis, governments have to intervene and this often means taking ownership positions in troubled institutions. If owners of banks mismanage the banks, they should lose ownership, as they would if the government did not intervene. If governments spend vast amounts of money rescuing banks, they should get ownership positions so that taxpayers can be repaid when the banks recover. But such ownership should be temporary; after the crisis, the government's equity should be sold, with taxpayers benefiting.

You can find William Overholt's full lecture here.

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William Overholt is teaching at the Kennedy School for Government at Harvard University. He is also a speakers at the China Speakers Bureau. If you are interested in having him for your seminar, conference or board meeting, let us know.

Kaiser Kuo leaves Ogilvy

Kaiser Kuo
by Fons1 via FlickrInternet guru Kaiser Kuo will leave next week his current job as director digital strategy of the advertising agency Ogilvy & Matters, reports the Brand Republic. Kuo will continue to work as an internet consultant for the site Youku.

Kuo, who joined Ogilvy in January 2007, said he would also focus on music-related projects. He is the lead guitarist for the band Spring and Autumn and was a founding member of Tang Dynasty, both of which are Chinese metal bands.

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Kaiser Kuo is also a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need his insights on China's internet or the country's music scene, do get in touch.

What can trigger off social unrest? - Victor Shih

Victor Shih
by Fons1 via FlickrAssistant-professor Victor Shih builds in his website on the argument by UBS' analyst Wang Tao, suggesting that China's central government might be able to control social unrest caused by the increased unemployment rates.
Shih is much gloomier on the possible numbers of unemployed, estimating it at least at 35 million, for a large degree university graduates who will be unable to find jobs. While managable in the short run, Shih fears that a set of events could trigger off massive unrest:

What is the "systematic trigger" which I refer to? I don't know exactly what it would be. However, if we look back in history, it can be a wide range of events, including the death of a popular leader, a serious natural disaster, the spread of a deathly infectious disease, a small student demonstration turned violent, religious groups....etc. The point is that there is an interactive effect which is quite harmless when unemployment is low (as shown last year). However, when unemployment is high, a number of different shocks can interact with unemployment to create something explosive. I think the UBS note, besides getting some numbers and history wrong, vastly underestimates the possibility of this interactive effect.

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Victor Shih is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. If you want to share his insights at a conference, panel or otherwise, do let us know.

China's human flesh searches - Jeremy Goldkorn

Jeremy Goldkorn
by Fons1 via FlickrChina's cultural-revolution style online posses, smoking out what they perceive to be evil, have become under attack from China's authorities themselves. Those "human flesh searches" are risen to prominence over 2008, comments media analyst Jeremy Goldkorn in USA Today.

"The frequency and variety of human flesh searches really flowered (last year), ranging from exposure of misbehaving children and corrupt officials to the nationalistic chasing down of people connected to the Tibetan riots," says Jeremy Goldkorn, founder of Danwei.org, a website focused on China's media.
"The searches can reveal corruption and corporate malfeasance, and issues that should be aired in an open society," he says. "But it is by nature a sensationalist phenomenon that can invade people's privacy."

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Jeremy Goldkorn is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. If you are interested in having him at your conference, board meeting or panel, do get in touch.

Giving Shaun Rein a brake

Shaun Rein
by Fons1 via FlickrShaun Rein of the China Market Research Group (CMR) has embarked in a really very interesting set of reports, details the global efforts of Chinese companies in ten key industries.
Today's report focuses on the financial services, and we reported already on the report about the auto industry and the consumer electronics.
Now we decided to take a break. After all the reports have been published we will give a nice overview of this heroic effort to describe one of the key developments in China's economy. We will return to Shaun Rein later, I'm sure he will understand.

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Shaun Rein is a speakers at the China Speakers Bureau. If you need him to explain how China's companies are going global, do let us know.

Electronics firms: learning the ropes in EU and US - Shaun Rein

Shaun Rein
by Fons1 via FlickrIn his second installment for Seeking Alpha on Chinese companies going global, CMR-director Shaun Rein describes the challenges for consumer electronics firms to reach Europe and the US. Learning the ropes, in discovering the way distribution channels work, how to deal with the tougher legal limits, deal with the differences in culture and find appropriate talents.
Electronics firms are following different paths, somethings through developing nations, sometimes as OEM-producer, but both Europe and the US are the markets their target, writes Shaun Rein.

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Shaun Rein is a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you want to share his insights, and those of his excellent firm, do get in touch.

China's 8 environmental resolutions - Charles McElwee

Charles McElwee
by Fons1 via FlickrLeading environmental law professor Charles McElwee gives in his weblog an overview of the eight environmental resolutions for 2009, noted from the Ministry of Environmental Protections (MEP), one of the superministries established last year.
Number three:

Firmly carry out strict environment access system and curb rapid growth of the development projects with “high energy consumption, heavy pollution and resource oriented” and industries with excessive productivity.

More good intentions here.

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Charles McElwee is one of our environmental speakers at the China Speakers Bureau, one of the key subjects for China in 2009. Are you interested in having him at your conference? Do get in touch.

Auto sector goes global - Shaun Rein

Shaun Rein
by Fons1 via FlickrAs their Western and Japanese competitors like GM, Ford and Toyota crumble, Chinese car companies consider going global. Shaun Rein of the China Market Research Group (CMR) interviewed top-executives and discusses possibilities and challenges for Seeking Alpha.

As recently as 2001, many companies were reluctant to begin the move. Today, Chinese brand autos are sold in 188 countries and regions worldwide, for a total of 54.38 billion RMB ($7.23 billion USD) in 2007. While overseas demand for Chinese autos has slowed dramatically in recent months due to effects of the financial crisis on key markets, both auto companies like Chery and the Chinese government will continue to prioritize expansion overseas going forward as it is considered crucial to the continued growth of the Chinese auto sector, for reasons to be described below. 10 out of 10 respondents have started moving overseas, and all consider further development abroad a high priority.

Just like other industries, China's automotive industry focusing on developing countries, because regulations are less strict compared to developed nations.

While 2009 will be a tough year for Chinese automakers, both in exports and domestic sales, expansion overseas will remain a key long term goal. Chinese auto companies should not be too hasty in their rush to grow abroad. Rather, they should focus energy and resources now on improving their quality and safety, and building the right brand image from the start.

More at Seeking Alpha.
This is the first of a ten-part report on the global ambitions by Chinese companies. Expect more here very soon.

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Shaun Rein is a leading speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. When you need him to explain what is really going on in China, do let us know.

Comparing China - Paul French

Paul French
by Fons1 via FlickrPaul French, one of our specialists in recent Chinese history, recalled historical comparisons made by important Western visitors to China in his weblog. Is started with the American comedian Will Rogers comparing the countryside around Harbin with Nebraska.
A few others:

In the 1870s Jules Verne compared Hong Kong to a town in Kent or Surrey

In 1933 Peter Fleming toured China and compared Chengde to Windsor

He then compared Peking with Oxford for some reason!

More at his weblog.

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Paul French is one of the leading speakers at the China Speakers Bureau. When you are interested in having him at your conference, panel or board meeting, do get in touch.

The 2009 new year resolution: becoming a speaker

William Bao Bean
by Fons1 via FlickrThe year 2009 has started with a rather large number of people asking to become a speaker at the China Speakers Bureau. Of course, we are not going to discourage experienced speakers to sign up with our service, but this week the flood has become so huge that writing emails back has been put off until we have a bit more time.
What we are looking for is not only good speakers, that would be only a minimum requirement for signing up with a speakers' agency. As a speakers bureau we make money from a percentage of the speakers' fee, so helping speakers who speak for free is a public service we do not want to be involved in.
For new speakers we have already last year introduced an annual registration fee of 90 euros for new speakers, a rather minor threshold to introduce an annual moment of reflection to see if our relation is mutual beneficial. If you think you will meet our requirements, do not hesitate to sign on here. Are you looking for a speaker? Please go to our request form or drop us an email.

A happy 2009

Greeting for Chinese New Year {{fr|Décoration ...

Image via WikipediaFor the first time in almost two decades I'm enjoying a New Year in Europe. I hope you all enjoyed it too, or will do so later this year in China, when the Chinese New Year will come over us. The European slowdown during the holidays has slowed down my activities a bit - although behind the scenes many new initiatives are brewing.
The China Speakers Bureau is one of the major public activities you will notice here. We will continue the monthly newsletter, a new initiative we started in November. Shortly after Spring Festival we hope to publish a book with personal stories of a selection of our speakers on how a fast changing China has changed their life.
As a part of many New Year resolutions, a larger number of people have written to me to become also a speaker. That is still possible, although priority has getting in new assignments. We will write back to all the people who got in touch or applied, but it might take longer than expected.
In anyway, I hope you have a recession proof 2009!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Third day of the new year in Beijing

Monday, January 26, 2009

Rebound of real estate expected in year of the ox - Sam Crispin

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Cautious consumer spending to continue - Shaun Rein

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Global China chat on consumer confidence

Being a princeling no longer a nono - Victor Shih

Year of the Ox, year of the bull

Thursday, January 22, 2009

China, testing ground for online games - Marc van der Chijs

Lack of capital still hurting business - Rupert Hoogewerf

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Andrew Leung joins China Speakers Bureau

CSB newsletter for January is out

Monday, January 19, 2009

Most sought speakers - January 2008

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Steel industry needs reform rather than stimulus - Arthur Kroeber

Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Chinese with a Western name - Paul Denlinger

Friday, January 16, 2009

Books on China that make a difference - Tom Doctoroff

China's rich become triftier as fortunes melt away - Rupert Hoogewerf

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Janet Carmosky joins the China Speakers Bureau

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Upcoming: the CSB January newsletter

Zhang Lijia on book tour in India

Chemical company plays hardball with Xiamen gov. - Charles McElwee

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

China's pharma's go global - Shaun Rein

Monday, January 12, 2009

Massive investments in China's environment - Charles McElwee

Sunday, January 11, 2009

China's new fuel tax - Arthur Kroeber

Saturday, January 10, 2009

William Overholt in action

Global central bank to prevent future crises - William Overholt

Friday, January 9, 2009

Kaiser Kuo leaves Ogilvy

What can trigger off social unrest? - Victor Shih

China's human flesh searches - Jeremy Goldkorn

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Giving Shaun Rein a brake

Electronics firms: learning the ropes in EU and US - Shaun Rein

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

China's 8 environmental resolutions - Charles McElwee

Monday, January 5, 2009

Auto sector goes global - Shaun Rein

Comparing China - Paul French

Sunday, January 4, 2009

The 2009 new year resolution: becoming a speaker

Saturday, January 3, 2009

A happy 2009

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