Latest Posts
Exploring free thought in Xi Jinping’s China – Ian Johnson
China veteran Ian Johnson published earlier this month China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future, “Based on years of first-hand research in Xi Jinping’s China, Sparks challenges stereotypes of a China where the state has quashed all free thought, revealing instead a country engaged in one of humanity’s great struggles of memory against forgetting―a battle that will shape the China that emerges in the mid-21st century.” Read More →
On banning clothes that offend national feelings – Zhang Lijia
The draft law banning clothes deemed offensive to national feelings in China has triggered much debate. Author and journalist Zhang Lijia dives and looks back at the campaigns from her youth at the Nanjing rocket factory, and more recent incidents, for the South China Morning Post.Read More →
New trends in social commerce – Ashley Dudarenok
Social commerce is expected to grow exponentially until 2023 in North America, Europe, and Latin America, following the trends of market leader China, writes marketing expert Ashley Dudarenok. In Techn0de she describes three trends in social commerce brands have to know.Read More →
China Speakers Bureau: resuming post-COVID business
At the China Speakers Bureau, we have been looking for possibilities to resume our activities, after China started opening up its borders to the outside world earlier in 2023. It took a while, but we saw some careful signs we might be able to restart our operation. Some speaking opportunities are emerging, although at a low level. Potential new speakers have been sending inquiries to see how they can join the CSB. Travel to and from China has become slightly easier, although the number of people using international flights has been limited.Read More →
Moving from de-globalization to di-globalization – Alvin Wang Graylin
The next ten, twenty are going to be the most interesting, argued Alvin Wang Graylin, China President, HTC, at the Singapore conference AWE Asia this week, as technologies to virtualize almost all in our lives become mature. “And our generation is the first to see that happen,” he says.Read More →
China’s youngsters: charity moving to the metaverse – Arnold Ma
China, and especially its youngsters, are paving the way into the metaverse, says innovation expert Arnold Ma, founder of Qumin, in Techround. For example, when it comes to funding of charities, he adds. “China’s younger generations are highly receptive to emerging technologies, so a metaverse version of an initiative like 99 Giving Day, powered by WeChat or a future platform, would be a powerful way to attract more funding.”Read More →
Why AR is going to limit the number of screens you look at – Alvin Wang Graylin
The number of screens you look at haven increased over the years, but that number is at a tipping point as AR takes over, said Alvin Wang Graylin, China president of smartphone maker HTC, earlier this week at the Augmented World Expo (AWE) Asia 2023 event in Singapore, according to the Register.Read More →
Alvin Wang Graylin joins China Speakers Bureau
The China Speakers Bureau is happy to announce Alvin Wang Graylin is joining its line-up of speakers. Graylin is a thought leader on AI and the metaverse and is currently the China President at HTC. Graylin has over 28 years of business leadership experience in the tech industry, including 20 years in Greater China. He travels from Beijing.Read More →
How Beijing is building a digital wall akin to the Berlin wall – Ian Johnson
China’s rules are building a divide with the rest of the world, similar to the Berlin wall Russia started to build last century, says China veteran Ian Johnson in news.com.au. “Speech is more restricted than ever. Community activities and social groups are strictly regulated and monitored by the authorities,” he explained.Read More →
Xi’s age of stagnation – Ian Johnson
Former China correspondent and author Ian Johnson was forced to leave the country in 2020 and revisited China earlier in 2023 for Foreign Affairs. He found a country in stagnation, that was used to double-digit growth, but lost its economic glamor, the former power base of the Communist Party. Strict government regulations changed China he knew. Also, information on his latest book Sparks: China’s Underground Historians and their Battle for the Future. Read More →
Confidence in China is low, and getting even lower – Shaun Rein
Confidence among consumers and investors in China’s economy is at a low and even getting lower in the coming weeks, says business analyst Shaun Rein to CNBC. Even a firm financial stimulus from the government like in the past is not going to work, as shortage of liquidity is not the real problem.Read More →
Brands: maneuvering between streamers and influencers – Ashley Dudarenok
While brands are rightfully intrigued by the power of streamers in e-commerce, they cannot replace traditional influencers, says branding expert Ashley Dudarenok in Campaign Asia. “While there was a time when brands favoured streamers over traditional influencers, as they thought streamers can sell, these days they know better,” says Ashley Dudarenok,Read More →