China

วันเสาร์ที่ 26 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Economic Report on China

Economic Report on China
Half a century ago nobody could even imagine the pace of growing that China is experiencing right now. Back then it was simply a country with a devastated by war economy that was just starting to recover from the most difficult periods in its history. Even a quarter of the century before when if was in the sunset of Mao period the future outcomes and opportunities for this country were not the best ones, they really looked unpromising. As of the beginning of this century China has the greatest pace of development among other countries of the world. Fifty years ago, no one could even closely estimate how China would grow. This fact sort of pushes back from any certain assumptions about the future China’s development. Anyways, for the past decade China has become one of the world’s leaders in production and economic growth. Since it has a great potential a great number of investors chose China to invest their money in. As the result for the past couple of years China started to experiencing overinvestment that is pretty dangerous and can easily cause a great place for investment to simply burst like a bubble. However, the country continues to show decent results in economic growth.From the beginning of implementation of economic reforms in China the country has experienced cycles of rushes in economic activity and inflation that were chased by phases of retrenchment. In the 1980’s two cycles were finished by hard landings. It could be easily seen in 1986-90 cycle. It started with loosening the monetary and fiscal policies that resulted troubles for SOEs. In 1988 inflation was as high as 19 percent which actually caused the government to respond with reconsidering policies. They managed to take inflation into control but the administrative measures had bad consequences for allocation of resources. Another cycle of 1991-97 started with a rise in government spendings and loosing up bank’s credit policies. In 1992 China faced the investment boom which was quite similar to the one it is facing right now. The investment boom resulted GDP to grow by 14 percent. Demand forces resulted an increase of inflation. Government’s response was a "16-point" plan to cool the economy that they adopted in 1993. The key points of the plan were aimed to rise the interest rates, make the process of giving the loans to commercial banks by the central bank more strict and complicated, and also limit investment approvals. The tightening was reversed by the end of 1993. This was a base for a highest rate of inflation that occurred in China in 1994. It was as high as 24 percent. The government actually achieved the stabilization of economy in 1996, and the inflation was even less than 10 percent. While a soft landing was achieved, the rapid pace of credit growth in 1992–96 contributed to the weakness of the financial sector today. Most of the non-performing loans in the banking system date from this period. The speed of economic movement in China greatly increased in 2003, regardless the SARS outbreak. The growth of GDP was at a mark of 10 percent for 2003 and it continued to grow with the same pace in 2004. This was mainly caused by great level of investment. CPI inflation was as high as 4.4 percent in May. Overinvestment in some sectors of the economy caused a great threat of a problem. Responding to that, Chinese government made monetary and administrative policies a bit stricter to prevent the potential overheating of the economy. Money and credit rates have decreased but they still remain about 18 percent per year as of midst 2004. Real GDP growth also owes to an increase in export. Fixed capital formation has increased by 20 percent in real terms (the fastest rate since 1993) achieving 44 percent of GDP. Due to SARS epidemic that was in the second quarter of 2003, consumption growth has decreased comparing to 2002. However, the influence of SARS was only for a short period o time and a country has fully recovered from it later in the year. Export growth was 35 percent in 2003 comparing to 22 percent in 2002. This mainly happened due to China’s acquired of big market shares in major industrialized countries. As well as exports, imports showed a great percentage of growth as the demand grew especially for raw materials. CPI inflation increased to 4.4 percent in May 2004 that resulted increases in prices for groceries. If not take to account the increase in food prices, inflation had a slight positive effect on the economy just as this rate of inflation should have. The increase of food prices was also caused by the decrease of the cultivation area and summer draught that took place a year before.
China's integration into the world’s economy will create harsh difficulties for a great number of countries. During the last 20 years, China's trade expanded at double the rate of world trade. Today China is one of the world's top trading nations, and has 4% of total world trade, comparing to 1% in 1980. Nevertheless, China's exports and trade surpluses are achieving politically sensitive levels, and more stress on export-led increase may not be sustainable. China itself is still a quite closed market, for imports of goods and even more closed for imports of services. Letting the imports to China's markets, particularly as a member of WTO, can offer more reasonable development and simplify the international stresses arising from China's transformation.The importance of China in external trade, especially in the region’s production chain saved its growing trend. China’s exports and imports achieved 60 percent of GDP in 2003 and these amounts made country fourth largest exporter in the world. The increasing importance of China in the world’s production of manufactured goods and rising domestic demand caused other sectors of China’s economy to grow, and also resulted the raise in prices for a lot of goods. China’s imports that are mainly from Asia also got bigger and China’s trade deficit with the region enlarged but the trade with the U.S. and Europe balances it back. The general trade surplus was $45 billion which is about 3 percent of GDP. China’s international position continues to grow stronger. The current account surplus increased by a half percentage point in 2003 to three and a half percent of GDP. Official reserves grew by $162 billion in 2003. External debt increased to $200 billion in 2003 but it is very modest to exports and GDP. By the end of May 2004 China had a trade deficit of $9 billion as compared to $2 billion of surplus that it had for at the same time of the previous year. The drive for investment by recent local governments that started by the end of 2002 was stimulated by extensive excess liquidity in China’s banking system. People’s Bank of China was worried about fast credit growth that was easy to see even in the beginning of 2003 but its policies were delayed by SARS epidemic. Significant increase in capital inflows made it more difficult for PBC to implement the monetary policies. However, they managed to do that, in July 2003 PBC increased the reserve requirement by one percent and also announced a planned increase of ½ percent in April 2004. By doing this they tried to reduce the credit growth to banks. To deter the increase of overinvestment in branches of economy that have already faced it, the government made stricter lending standards. To finish up PBC raised short-term relending by 0.6 and rediscount rates by 0.3 percent in March 2004.If China continues to develop as it is doing right now then by the midst of this century it will have developed actually three transitions. First and at the same time the one of greatest importance is the transition from a planned to a market economy. Second is from agrarian to an industrialized country. Last, but certainly not least, from a centralized to a participatory government.
Only a half century ago, it was very difficult to predict great China’s development that it is facing today. Simply like nobody thought that Japan could reach the level that the country is on right now, nobody even could forecast the pace of China’s development. According to forecasts of some prominent economic scholars, by the midst of this century China’s economy will grow to about $20 trillion and would be about 4/5 of the United States economy. The income per capita in China can grow to about US$12,000 which is equal to the Korean’s before the Asian financial crisis. GDP of only Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong would be equal to France’s GDP. Chinese currency the renminbi will become a one of the major world’s currencies along with euro, U.S. dollar and yen. If they keep up with the pace of development, Shanghai could be world’s financial center. With the renminbi becoming fully convertible in the world, Shanghai could rise to the level of London and New York City. New technology and knowledge will gradually develop to a high level as the country expands it integration. In couple of generations Chinese scholars and scientists could be a fresh source of brilliant ideas and innovations. China sets up a good base for its future generations, giving a good opportunity for a great number of students to go study abroad and get mostly western ideas and worldviews. China of course has some difficulties that can result very unpleasant consequences not only for the country but for investors as well. Some possible outcomes are probable failure of the banking system, enormous level of unemployment that can be resulted by the reforms of government enterprises, considerable hardships with the level of the environment. To continue the growth rates China needs creative but at the same time practical leaders. Another great change that might effect China’s future development is changes in values of its citizens. As most of Chinese nowadays adopting the lifestyles of Europeans, Americans, and Japanese China will have a totally different society in thirty years or so. People will desire of better level of life, similar to the level of Japanese and Europeans. ConclusionA lot of hopes are put into China’s development due to the determination and pragmatism of Chinese leaders. The governing of the country has been positively changing or almost twenty years. China also has a great potential in its younger generation, it is an advantage for those young people to go study abroad and then implement all their knowledge it their home country that still has so many areas that need development. In the best position are those that are in their 20s and 30s. They will be running the country in twenty years when China will be a great industrialized power. It will not be the center of the world, as many like to forecast for China, it will simply be one of the advanced countries.China now faces one of the most destructive problems that all the developing countries have which is corruption. It is dangerous because it slows down the country’s development and is very difficult to be deterred. Despite all the difficulties that China faces on its crossroads of the development, it has great pragmatic leaders are capable of taking the country up to the new level. China has a great potential to construct modern economy by the 50’s of this century. It will surely become one of the most important countries in the world. It is obvious even now that China will become the largest trading country in the world. Due to its partners China has a great opportunity to become one of the financial leaders of the world. If China stays on the same track of its development and keeps up with its speed it will surely become a very modern and greatly confident country.

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China Sichuan Cuisine for People Who Like Spicy Food

China Sichuan Cuisine for People Who Like Spicy Food
Sichuan Cuisine, known more commonly in the West as "Szechuan," is one of the most famous Chinese cuisines in the world. Characterized by its spicy and pungent flavors, Sichuan cuisine, with a myriad of tastes, emphasizes the use of chili. Pepper and prickly ash are always in accompaniment, producing the typical exciting tastes. Garlic, ginger and fermented soybean are also used in the cooking process. Wild vegetables and meats such as are often chosen as ingredients, while frying, frying without oil, pickling and braising are used as basic cooking techniques. It can be said that one who doesn't experience Sichuan food has never reached China. Typical menu items: Hot Pot; Smoked Duck; Kung Pao Chicken; Water-Boiled Fish; Tasty and Spicy Crab; Twice Cooked Pork; Mapo TofuHope the above menu food names don’t confuse you, because it’s really hard to accomplish a perfect English version menu for Sichuan CuisineThis has been a headache for the Beijing government. Olympic Game 2008 will soon to come. Many foreigners will flow to China and come to Chinese restaurant. When they choose a Sichuan cuisine restaurant and began to see the menu, some of them may be shocked by the "horrable" food name and fleek away.See some of these absode name now available in some of the Sichuan restarant:Manand Wife Lung SliceSlobbering ChickenChicken Without Sexual LifeSo funny to the last one. Actually these are all tasty food and beverage known to the Chinese. But they really need a better name. Among the eight major cuisines of China, Sichuan Cuisine is the most popular.Sichuan dish is good at agile exertion and specific managing according to material, climate and the diners' requests. More that 30 methods of cooking are included --- stir fry, sauté, deep fry, grill, preserve, bittern, bake and pickle.As the production develops and economy prospers, Sichuan absorbs the strength of northern and southern food to form a fusion between a northern dish with Sichuan style and a southern dish with Sichuan taste. It is complemented as "Food in China, taste in Sichuan."Sichuan concentrates on the changing of taste, which differs in thickness and heaviness. You can not make a Sichuan dish without chili, prickly ash and pepper. Chili, for example, can be used in various ways. Sometimes it can be the main ingredient, or sometimes it can be a secondary ingredient used for seasoning. The taste of Sichuan can differ largely according to climate and the diner's personal tastes. For instance, the hotness is quite rich in winter and spring because the weather is cold. However the hotness should be reduced by 30% in summer and autumn due to the warm and dry weather. The taste of Sichuan is very delicate and flexible. Therefore, Sichuan is famous for its rich, thick and heavy flavor in addition to its lightness. People who have eaten Sichuan keep praising it and can not forget the beautiful experience.
3 Characteristics of Sichuan CuisineSichuan Cuisine traces back to the ancient Ba Kingdom (modern Chongqing) and Shu Kingdom (modern Chengdu) and is remarkable for its oily and hot taste . This is due to the foggy , cloudy and damp climate in the Sichuan Basin . Hot food is useful for dispersing dampness . Sichuan folks are keen for hot oxen’s giblet pot , hot beancurd and other hot foods .Another characteristic of the Chuan cuisine is its preparation of different dishes with the same raw material . With a piece of half-fat , half-lean pork , Sichuan cooks can prepare a number of different dishes with different flavors , such as salted-fried pork slices , re-cooked pork slices , sweet and hot shredded pork , fried pork cubes , sliced pork cooked with rice crust , sweet steamed pork chunks , salty steamed pork chunks , pork steamed with ground glutinous rice , white cut hot pork ,etc.The third characteristic of the Sichuan cuisine is the tasty snacks , including hot ox-head meat , spiced chicken , tea-stewed ducking , marinated rabbit meat , pickled vegetables , dumplings , eight-treasure rice puddings ,etc.Learn to cook yourselfMany travelers know Sichuan cuisine for its "hot and spicy" flavors or a few of its most famous dishes, but that is only the beginning.Sichuan cuisine is legendary in China for its sophistication and diversity.the regional cuisine boasts 5,000 different dishes.Sichuan cuisine has enjoyed a worldwide reputation. However, most people immediately think of Sichuan food soon after it is mentioned as a hot or spicy food.It is undear how the red pepper was introduced to Sichuan. You may wonder why the red pepper is so popular. Here is a common explanation.Sichuan has a humid climate that encourages people to eat strongly spiced foods.the red pepper may help reduce internal dampness. Some kitchenware used in cooking sichuan food is also different from others. Sichuan pepper is another important daily use ingredient in Sichuan cooking.It is known as huajiao(flower pepper).It is the Chinese pepper, and it looks like a reddish brown fruit.the peppercorn comes from the prickly ash tree.the pepper flower creates a most sudden numbing effect on one`s tongue.Sichuan cuisine so carefully balances color,smell,flavor, shape and nutrition that its dishes not only look pleasant and appealing,bu also nutritious.In Sichuan recipes there are several hundred popular dishes.Sichuan cuisine is able to produce 100 different flavored dishes!Besides, Sichuan cooks provide dishes that are intentionally toned down for tourists at home and abroad. they have no difficulty in getting Sichuan food that suits their tastes whether it`s in a banquet,outstanding lunches,dinners,or snacks


Owner of kitchenware-info site. It offers daily use cookware and kitchen gadgets for people who love food and beverage.
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Buying From China - Top 3 Danger Areas

Buying From China - Top 3 Danger Areas

The volume of products China exports seems to be growing at a non-stop rate, so you could say Chinese manufacturers have finally shaken of a mantle as a low-cost but high-risk option for sourcing goods, right? Unfortunately this doesn’t appear to be the case if high-profile stories of the recall of Chinese manufactured goods sold by multinationals are taken to represent the norm. So are all the criticisms true? We decided to look at the three most common myths of buying products from China and see how valid they were.1. "Chinese products are unsafe."This is a long-held belief that has been brought to the forefront of people's minds again by several high-profile cases in the US. Mattel enacted a massive toy recall in August 2007 because the toys had been decorated with lead paint, an illegal practice in many western countries. An estimated 10.5 million toys were recalled, which led people to question the safety of many other Chinese products. Who is to blame in such cases?Some Chinese export companies say that people are looking in wrong place for answers and, instead of looking at manufacturer, we should look at the companies ordering the products.Rose Li, Chinavasion public relations manager, said Chinese factories were only able to work to the specifications given to them by the customer. "Chinese factories will view improved materials and certification as optional extras, which increase the price," she said.Ms Li said importers looking at sourcing products from China should first find out the end markets' exact safety compliance standards before telling the manufacturer about the exact specifications they needed for the product.She said it is also a good idea to buy a single item first to check that the product was safe and worked well to guarantee customer satisfaction.2. "Chinese manufacturers will try to cheat you after you pay."If you search online for phrases like "china scammer" or "china fraud" you'll immediately see hundreds of stories about people who have been cheated by fake sellers or dishonest dealers in China. But people with positive stories are less likely to speak out.... so perhaps when you look for negative stories, you're getting a skewed picture.Steve Wu, Chinavasion purchase specialist, recommended those using credit cards to do it through a third party payment handler like PayPal. "That will prevent the seller from getting sensitive credit information from the buyer and allow the buyer to stop the payment if there are any problems with the deal," he said.Another key piece of advice offered by regular goods traders is to transfer money into company bank accounts and not personal bank accounts, and always keep a documented record of transactions to help dispute cases if things go wrong.3. "There is no way to tell if a Chinese company is legitimate."This is a particularly big fear for exporters who buy online or over the phone and are afraid the company they are ordering their products in might not actually exist, or may be in financial trouble, leaving them no recourse if they pay for an order and that order does not arrive.Analysing some case studies of people who've been scammed, certain patterns emerge. Seasoned importers will spot obvious danger signs at the beginning of each story that should have warned the buyer away at an early stage... before money changed hands.Many Chinese manufactures are also registered in Hong Kong and can be checked online at icris.cr.gov.hk/csci/

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Wholesale Mobiles From China, 7 Reasons Why They're The Next Great Market

Wholesale Mobiles From China, 7 Reasons Why They're The Next Great Market Getting into or expanding your place in the trademarked phone market these days has become harder and harder. Players in the market are becoming extremely competitive in their quest for high search page rankings and customers. No-one is helped by the constant presence of dishonest sellers either. Even trying to maintain your current market share is likely to take more marketing than was previously needed.There is an exciting market which has sprung up and doesn't face the same overcrowding problems, the market for wholesale mobile phones. It is for this reason that I think wholesale mobile phones make great resale items. Here are some more reasons I think this will be the market to be in for e-commerce retailers involved in telecommunications to be in.1) You can establish yourself as the market leader It won't come as a surprise to anyone that establishing your brand in a market when it first starts makes it easier for your customers and consumers to associate you with that product than setting up when the market is fully developed. While it doesn't always work and no all markets take off the signs are there that the market for wholesale mobile phones will have a great deal of staying power, especially if you sell wholesale mobiles from China.2) Almost all the wholesale cell phones for sale are not locked. You'd have to be deaf dumb and blind to not know how popular unlocked phones are in the US, an immense mobile market. While most cell phone users in America would like to choose which carrier they sign on with it is usually dictated to by the phone they want to buy. And if users take matters into their own hands to crack or unlock their phones the warranty on their phone is no longer valid. With wholesale mobile phones they come direct from the factory not connected to a plan giving the end user the freedom to select which company's plan they use.3) Same or better features, lower cost Take the sunglasses brand Oakley as an example. They came out with 1GB MP3 sunglasses and charged between US$199 and US$300 for the sunglasses. The price for non branded sunglasses at a Chinese wholesaler is US$30.It is just the same story when looking at wholesale mobile phones, and cellphones from China are especially likely to come at a discount.4) Wholesale mobile phones are more likely to have cutting-edge features While brand name mobile phones are likely to stick to the tried and true when it comes to making new cell phones wholesale mobile phones are less likely to be so cautious.You are especially likely to get unique phones if you source cellphones from China through a mobile shop in China or on the internet through a wholesale company. The Chinese government recently opened up the cellphone manufacturing market creating a high level of competition within the industry, increasing the number of wholesale mobile phones tenfold.Manufacturers are unable to compete with price due to inflation within China and are trying to use features to compete instead and in the last six months alone we have seen the solar-powered cellphone, TV mobile phone and watch phone come out of China before it emerged anywhere else with many bigger brand names not even releasing a cell phone watch.
5) You can put your own brand on the mobile phones for further brand recognition of your online store When selling brand name mobile phones you always have to market two names, the name of your store and the name of the phone. While the phone brand generally does have some draw with customers it can make the message cluttered for the customer and often the customer remembers the name of the phone before the name of your store.When you buy and sell wholesale mobile phones you don't have another name to market making the message you send to potential customers much clearer. And, by testing wholesale cellphones, or unlocked cellphones before you supply markets and monitoring the quality and maintaining good customer support policies you should be able to position yourself as the provider of your own branded cellphones guaranteeing steady sales.6) More income opportunities The number of registered cellphone companies and manufacturers of cellphones in China has swelled from 30 to over 90 due to an easing in government regulations. With this many phones up for grabs it represents an incredible number of income streams that can be added to your site or business with little risk.Anybody looking out for new e-commerce markets to explore could do worse than investigate the opportunities that wholesale mobile phones present. The variety of phones, affordability and the cutting-edge technology built into the cellphones from China make them excellent items to resell.


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China’s New Year: The Year of Opportunity

China’s New Year: The Year of Opportunity
InsightTrade exchange between different cultures and countries has long yielded rich rewards for those who recognize the potential. After all, as far back as the 1st century BC, merchants and caravans followed the Silk Road – the overland trade route from northern China to the Western World – and brought precious silks, tea and other resources from China to the rest of the world. Not only did linking different countries and cultures prove profitable, but new and greater products and ideas flowed between the countries.The Silk Road of the 21st century is technology driven. This trade exchange, built on fiber-optic cable, sprang from the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Now, it is the R&D departments of companies from the United States and other countries that benefit from the resources and opportunity found in China. Today’s China, the fastest growing country in the world, offers the:• Biggest engineering talent pool• Biggest emerging market• World’s number one manufacturing industryStrengthening ties, country-to-country, people-to-people, has shown time and time again that remarkable achievements, that otherwise would have been impossible, can come to fruition. Long Circle urges you to explore the opportunities that exist in China today, especially if your business focus is embedded systems technologies for software and hardware. With our global reach, we could see the importance of China, and we have grown significantly in the past five years in this critical market. Today, we have $5 billion in revenues and 12,000 employees.GE 2005 Annual Report/Letter to StakeholdersBiggest Engineering Resource PoolThe last few years have convinced Fortune 100 companies and start-ups alike that China, home of the fastest growing economy in the world, is key to achieving their strategic plans, as well as the business objectives of their R&D departments. GE, Microsoft, Motorola, Intel, Nokia, Oracle, and SAP are just a few of the multinational companies with R&D operations in China, and for some important business drivers:o Lower costso Lower wageso Expanded productivityo Reduced time-to-marketo Strengthened R&D embedded technology engineering resourcesWages are lower offshore, there’s no question about it, but the experience the workforce has must be in product research and development, not IT. With China’s deep pool of engineering talent, especially R&D embedded technology engineers, companies can expand and strengthen their R&D resources. For example, the Microsoft Research (MSR) Asia lab has engineers working on a wide range of advanced technologies – from spoken-language technologies such as automatic speech recognition to face detection and tracking, face modeling and recognition, cartoon generation, image and video retrieval for MSN, and Xbox camera-based game interfaces. According to Forbes, Microsoft’s investment in all China-related R&D activities is approximately $100 million US dollars annually. In addition, with currently more than 800 employees in China, Microsoft is predicted to grow that number substantially over the next three to five years.Biggest engineering talent pool; most engineering graduates each year
Engineering Graduates China India United StatesSource: Duke University 352,000 112,000 137,000 Source: Unknown * 600,000 350,000 70,000*Source: A study released in December, 2005 by Duke University (and also widely quoted in the media, including The Christian Science Monitor) citing the number of engineering graduates in each country yearly.* Note: Statistics widely quoted, from Fortune Magazine to Senator Ted Kennedy’s speeches. However according to the Wall Street Journal online, these figures are misleading and no one can track down a concrete and reliable original source.Biggest Emerging MarketHow could any organization that wants to be successful in the global arena ignore China today? China is the world’s most populous country – 1,313,973,713 (2006 est.) – and organizations like the Finnish mobile telecommunications giant Nokia expect China to be a key growth driver for their global operations. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations’ mobile phones and network equipment. According to Infoworld’s online Web site:"China has 400 million mobile users and its 3G (third generation) networks are not yet switched on, providing a future avenue for further growth. " According to a study done by Norson (Hong Kong) Information Technology , ". . . after three years of 3G availability, more than 84 million Chinese will use 3G services."Consequently, construction is underway on Nokia’s new and expanded China headquarters, scheduled to open in 2007, that will host over 1500 of Nokia's R&D, sales and marketing operations, pre-production, logistics, sourcing and manufacturing operations.During China’s President Hu Jintao's recent visit to the United States, he attended a dinner at the home of Microsoft’s Bill Gates and called for broadening the relationship between the United States and China. "Today, many cargo ships are very busy crossing the Pacific Ocean, laden with the rich fruit of our strong trade ties and friendship between our two peoples," Hu said. "I am sure that with the further deepening of China’s reform and opening up, we are going to see an even broader prospect for the economic cooperation and trade between China and Washington State and China and the United States as a whole." Source: Reuters According to the US-China Business Council:• China’s economy grew 10.2 % in the first quarter of 2006.• The government’s new focus on balanced growth and its attempt to shift from an investment- and export-driven economy to a consumption-driven one will mean more policies to promote consumption.• GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.158 trillion (2005 est.)• GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.)• GDP - real growth rate: 9.2% (official data) (2005 est.)• GDP - composition by sector:Agriculture: 14.4%Industry and construction: 53.1%Services: 32.5% (2005 est.) Source: [www.uschina.org]
World’s #1 Manufacturing IndustryChina is "the world’s factory" and produces $60 billion worth of consumer electronic goods a year. The "Made in China" label is found everywhere. When China became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), it agreed to abide by WTO standards and regulations, along with the rest of the WTO countries. And this opened up one of the world’s largest economies to the rest of the world. Forward-thinking organizations did not hesitate to capitalize on the unprecedented opportunity.For example, GE has long regarded China as an essential piece in the company’s strategic plan. According to Jeff Immelt., "We have been there for 15 – 20 years, so we know how to do business. We have been on the ground. We have 12,000 employees. And I think at the end of the day, China is trending towards being a great global competitor and following the rules. And that is important to us and it’s a way that we can be successful as well."Today, companies doing business in China find tax incentives, excellent civic infrastructure, government support, a political environment that encourages foreign business, rapid economic growth, a deep pool of engineering talent and college graduates, and improving legal, banking and financial systems. China Strategy: Choose the Right Road to ChinaThere are basically three paths an organization’s R&D department can follow to successfully gain entry into China. Take time to consider the best route for your company, especially if your focus is in R&D embedded technology. Single, Independent ProjectBeginning by outsourcing a single, independent project is an excellent way to start on the path to China. Typically, these projects involve software and hardware development, testing, maintenance, or product enhancement. This transaction type outsourcing is turn-key, straightforward, and has a quick ramp up time. An R&D department can: o Capture an opportunity within a short time frame.o Boost bandwidth to meet short-term demand.o Outsource clearly defined short-term projects.Companies going this route find cost savings through transaction-type outsourcing and capitalize on short-term cost savings.  Partner ProgramA long term, relationship-based service program is another excellent way to leverage China’s technology resources. A dedicated team within the China outsourcing vendor’s R&D department can be created, trained, hosted, and managed exclusively for your embedded systems R&D technology projects. Clients take advantage of lower wages, while benefiting from a team educated on the Client’s corporate values and culture, providing a true business level alignment. A China R&D department can:o Offload non-core functions.o Fill in needed skills.o Increase engineering efficiency.o Increase return on R&D. Offshore R&D Center
Many companies find they benefit most from a one-of-a-kind incubation center that is an extension of their R&D department back home. Building a R&D facility from the beginning and introducing best practices provides the optimal solution to meet your company’s strategic goals. Your company takes advantage of China’s low cost workforce, manufacturing capacity, and emerging markets and there are no intermediaries or third party costs.A China R&D Center can:• Provide confidence and security to handle sensitive data and intellectual property inhouse offshore.• Train talent according to your company’s unique standards and values. • Increase talent retention by providing attractive culture and a sense of belonging.• Share services with other functions of the company.• Engage in long term innovation-driven research that does not usually generate immediate profits.• Access the China labor market directly.Turn to ChinaThroughout history, new products, new ideas, and new opportunities have come about by crossing borders. The global exchange of trade, expertise, and capabilities means exciting ideas and innovations which benefit everyone.China today is a country with unlimited opportunity. However, personal connections and relationships are essential to any successful business in China. Would your company like to expand into China, but is unsure about potential roadblocks such as regulations, recruiting, and setup? The right vendor can smooth your way.In addition to entry into China, a potential vendor’s technology expertise must not be overlooked. For example, does the potential vendor focus on embedded technology? Do they have experience with manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original design manufacturers (ODMs), independent software vendors (ISVs), system integrators (SI), and value added service providers (VASPs) who rely on embedded hardware and software technologies? Intellectual property is a concern everywhere, but especially in a new environment. What are a potential vendor’s procedures for protecting your intellectual property?Remember, when searching for the best route to leverage China’s vast resources and opportunities, it pays to make certain you have the best vendor as your guide.A journey of a thousand milesBegins with a single step.Lao-tzu (604 BC – 531 BC)Chinese philosopher About the AuthorHayden Hong, the founder and CEO of Long Circle, has over a decade of outsourcing and consulting experience. Prior to founding Long Circle, Hong was the president and founder of MacaoDude, a consulting firm that counts among its clients Motorola, Nortel, and various high technology companies in the Boston 128 area. In 2005, Hong merged the two companies to provide U.S. companies with low-risk, convenient access to China’s engineering talent, manufacturing industry, and emerging markets. His background includes managing U.S.–China offshore R&D projects for GE, as well as management positions at Broad Reach Communications, a GE partner. Hong received a MSEE degree from Purdue University and a BSEE degree from Northeastern University, graduating magna cum laude. About Long CircleLong Circle provides outsourced engineering services to companies whose products and services rely on embedded software and hardware technology. Long Circle and the Long Circle China Center of Excellence enables U.S. companies to reduce costs, increase engineering bandwidth, and broaden market reach by providing low-risk, strategic access to China’s engineering talent, manufacturing industry, and emerging markets. To learn more about Long Circle, visit http://www.longcircle.com.


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วันศุกร์ที่ 25 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Tibet and China: The Story of Death, History and Politics

Tibet and China: The Story of Death, History and PoliticsRiots have recently been taking place in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. There are no accurate counts of the death toll and they range from the official Chinese Government number of 10, to the anecdotal info of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile of about 100. The cause has been attributed to everything from pre-Olympics protest to highlight the desire for Tibetan independence, to diplomatic friction over the US and German hosting of the Dalai Lama, to local discontent over the harsh treatment of Tibetans by the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet. Until we know more, we need to examine historical events that give a perspective of Tibetan attitudes toward their Chinese overlords.Soon after the Chinese Communist Party under Mao Zedung rose to power in 1949 it claiming that Tibet was actually part of China. Using the propaganda of communist-speak it began asserting that the people of Tibet were inviting China to liberate the country from imperialist forces and from the reactionary feudal regime represented by the Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama. And, in 1950 the Dalai Lama, then 15 years old, briefly left Tibet for the security of India but soon returned in mid-1951. Only three years later, in 1954, Mao had 222,000 members of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) stationed in Tibet. At that time the population of Tibet was only about 2.8 million so the PLA represented an increase in nonproductive population of about 8%. In a country which was based on a delicate subsistence agricultural system this stretched the availability of food beyond capacity and famine conditions became rampant. Facing starvation and a repressive military occupation a guerrilla insurgency broke out in February 1956, in several areas in Eastern Tibet. Mao had the PLA begin bombing and pillaging monasteries in Eastern Tibet, arresting nobles, senior monks and guerrilla leaders. Chinese Communist military authorities began publicly torturing and executing these groups to discourage what appeared to be a large-scale revolt.In early 1959, although the rebellion was still taking place, as the spiritual leader of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama was preoccupied with taking his Final Master of Metaphysics examination. On March 1, 1959, two junior Chinese army officers visited him at the sacred Jokhang cathedral and tried to pressure him into attending a theatrical performance and tea at the Chinese Army Headquarters in Lhasa. Interestingly, the invitation was not conveyed through the Kashag (the Cabinet) as it should have been. In addition, the party was not at the palace where such functions would normally have been held, but at the military headquarters. And, the Dalai Lama had been asked to attend alone. Several days later the Dalai Lama agreed to attend the theatrical presentation at their army camp on March 10, 1959.The day before the Dalai Lama was to attend this presentation the commander of the Dalai Lama’s bodyguards was ordered that on March 10th there was to be no customary ceremony as the Dalai Lama moved from the Norbulinka summer palace to the army headquarters and no armed bodyguard was to escort him. It must be realized that by custom, an escort of twenty-five armed guards always accompanied the Dalai Lama and the entire city of Lhasa would line up whenever he went. On March 10, 1959, fearing that he would be abducted and forcibly taken to Beijing to attend the upcoming Chinese National Assembly, 30,000 loyal Tibetans to surround the Norbulinka palace. This protective show of loyalty forced the Dalai Lama to turn down the army leader's invitation. Late in the afternoon of March 17, 1959 the Chinese Communist Peoples Revolutionary Army fired two mortar shells at the Norbulinka palace. Fortunately for the Dalai Lama and the others in the Norbulinka, the shells landed short of the palace walls in a marsh. This attack, along with the other sequence of events, convinced the Dalai Lama to finally leave his homeland. An so, on the evening of March 17, dressed as a soldier complete with uniform and a gun slung over his shoulder, the Dalai Lama left the Norbulinka palace and headed to India. Two days later, fighting broke out in Lhasa. The Chinese Communist PLA bombarded the Norbulinka palace with 800 shells. In addition, Lhasa's major monasteries, Gaden, Sera and Drepung were shelled and monastic treasures and precious scriptures destroyed. Thousands of monks were either immediately killed, relocated to cities and forced into slave labor, or deported. Over 86,000 Tibetans in central Tibet were killed by the Chinese during this period; this represented about 3% of Tibet’s total population.The Dalai Lama and his party continued their escape and crossed into India at the Khenzimane Pass on March 31, 1959. Indian President Nehru announced on April 3, 1959 in the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) that the Government of India had granted asylum to the Dalai Lama. Knowing these historical facts allows us to recognize that the continued repression of Tibet by the Chinese Government, which continues today, is in some way responsible for the current problems. More recent facts will reveal that even the Chinese Government of today, which is more globalized, is still repressing Tibet. "Whether the (Chinese) government there admits or not, there is a problem. There is an ancient cultural heritage that is facing serious danger," the Dalai Lama said. "Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place" he added.

Hal Stevens is President of CemeterySpot, Inc. http://www.cemeteryspot.com/ an online memorial website and blog .To schedule an interview, or discuss this article, please call Hal Stevens at 405-210-4363 or email Hal at hal@cemeteryspot.com .
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China - The Economic Miracle

China - The Economic Miracle Since its winning of the Olympic bids for 2008, World Expo 2010 and accession to the WTO, companies, both local and foreign are itching their way into Chinese markets, either looking for business opportunities or to expand their business operation in China.China has been the fastest-growing major nation for the past quarter of a century with an average annual GDP growth rate above 10%. Per capita income has grown at an average annual rate of more than 8% over the last three decades. China saw its export and import volume in service trade (excluding government service) stood at US$ 250.91 billion in 2007,an increase of over 30% from the previous year as according to its the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) report in June 2008.China as the second largest economy in the world after the US, with a GDP of over US$7 trillion (2007) when measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. In November 2007, it became the third largest in the world after the US and Japan with a nominal GDP of US$3.42 trillion in 2007 when measured in foreign exchange-rate terms.China is the world's largest producer of rice and is among the principal sources of corn (maize), wheat, soybeans, peanuts (groundnuts), cotton and tobacco. China is one of the world's largest producers of several industrial and mineral products, including cotton cloth,cotton yarn, antimony,tungsten,crude oil, coal and other products.China's mineral resources are probably among the richest in the world but are only partially developed. She has acquired some highly sophisticated production facilities through trade and also has built a number of advanced engineering plants capable of manufacturing an increasing range of sophisticated defense and power technologies.In 2007, the European Union was still China's largest trading partner, and Japan its third largest. Trade with the EU rose 27 percent year-on-year to US$356.15 billion while Japan reached over US$236.02 billion, up 13.9 percent. Trade between Russia and China increased 44%, year-on-year, in 2007 to US$48.2 billion.Further readings on SearchAnythingEurope.com and SearchAnythingRussia.comChina-US Trade, which totaled only US$5 billion in 1980, rose to $387 billion in 2007. China overtook Japan to become the third largest U.S. export market, and overtook Canada to become the largest source of U.S. imports.Further news can be found on SearchAnythingAmerica.com.comTrade volume between China and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) hit US$202.6 billion in 2007, up 25.9 percent year-on-year, as announced by the China-ASEAN Business Council.More news can be found on SearchAnythingAsia.comSince its adoption of the "Four Modernizations" - agriculture, industry, science and technology, and defence, just a generation ago, China's share of world economic output has grown from 3.4 per cent to almost 12 per cent by 2000. China's booming economy has been hailed as a true economic miracle by many.China provides huge investment opportunity for many producers of commodities and companies or investors who wish to find a way to place their money into a rich market. On average, China's economy grows by 10% annually. There continues to be encouraging demand for investment and business growth in China for the next decade.Copyright (c) 2008 Paul Hata

Paul Hata,social entrepreneur and community program strategist.He is active in various social and community programs aimed at providing equal opportunity to education,health and jobs to all regardless of race or religion. Paul has over 10 years experience in managing a successful multi-million dollar advertising and publishing company.Paul can be reached at : http://www.worldchristianpages.com/
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China’s New Year: The Year of Opportunity

China’s New Year: The Year of Opportunity
InsightTrade exchange between different cultures and countries has long yielded rich rewards for those who recognize the potential. After all, as far back as the 1st century BC, merchants and caravans followed the Silk Road – the overland trade route from northern China to the Western World – and brought precious silks, tea and other resources from China to the rest of the world. Not only did linking different countries and cultures prove profitable, but new and greater products and ideas flowed between the countries.The Silk Road of the 21st century is technology driven. This trade exchange, built on fiber-optic cable, sprang from the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Now, it is the R&D departments of companies from the United States and other countries that benefit from the resources and opportunity found in China. Today’s China, the fastest growing country in the world, offers the:• Biggest engineering talent pool• Biggest emerging market• World’s number one manufacturing industryStrengthening ties, country-to-country, people-to-people, has shown time and time again that remarkable achievements, that otherwise would have been impossible, can come to fruition. Long Circle urges you to explore the opportunities that exist in China today, especially if your business focus is embedded systems technologies for software and hardware. With our global reach, we could see the importance of China, and we have grown significantly in the past five years in this critical market. Today, we have $5 billion in revenues and 12,000 employees.GE 2005 Annual Report/Letter to StakeholdersBiggest Engineering Resource PoolThe last few years have convinced Fortune 100 companies and start-ups alike that China, home of the fastest growing economy in the world, is key to achieving their strategic plans, as well as the business objectives of their R&D departments. GE, Microsoft, Motorola, Intel, Nokia, Oracle, and SAP are just a few of the multinational companies with R&D operations in China, and for some important business drivers:o Lower costso Lower wageso Expanded productivityo Reduced time-to-marketo Strengthened R&D embedded technology engineering resourcesWages are lower offshore, there’s no question about it, but the experience the workforce has must be in product research and development, not IT. With China’s deep pool of engineering talent, especially R&D embedded technology engineers, companies can expand and strengthen their R&D resources. For example, the Microsoft Research (MSR) Asia lab has engineers working on a wide range of advanced technologies – from spoken-language technologies such as automatic speech recognition to face detection and tracking, face modeling and recognition, cartoon generation, image and video retrieval for MSN, and Xbox camera-based game interfaces. According to Forbes, Microsoft’s investment in all China-related R&D activities is approximately $100 million US dollars annually. In addition, with currently more than 800 employees in China, Microsoft is predicted to grow that number substantially over the next three to five years.Biggest engineering talent pool; most engineering graduates each year
Engineering Graduates China India United StatesSource: Duke University 352,000 112,000 137,000 Source: Unknown * 600,000 350,000 70,000*Source: A study released in December, 2005 by Duke University (and also widely quoted in the media, including The Christian Science Monitor) citing the number of engineering graduates in each country yearly.* Note: Statistics widely quoted, from Fortune Magazine to Senator Ted Kennedy’s speeches. However according to the Wall Street Journal online, these figures are misleading and no one can track down a concrete and reliable original source.Biggest Emerging MarketHow could any organization that wants to be successful in the global arena ignore China today? China is the world’s most populous country – 1,313,973,713 (2006 est.) – and organizations like the Finnish mobile telecommunications giant Nokia expect China to be a key growth driver for their global operations. Nokia provides equipment, solutions and services for network operators and corporations’ mobile phones and network equipment. According to Infoworld’s online Web site:"China has 400 million mobile users and its 3G (third generation) networks are not yet switched on, providing a future avenue for further growth. " According to a study done by Norson (Hong Kong) Information Technology , ". . . after three years of 3G availability, more than 84 million Chinese will use 3G services."Consequently, construction is underway on Nokia’s new and expanded China headquarters, scheduled to open in 2007, that will host over 1500 of Nokia's R&D, sales and marketing operations, pre-production, logistics, sourcing and manufacturing operations.During China’s President Hu Jintao's recent visit to the United States, he attended a dinner at the home of Microsoft’s Bill Gates and called for broadening the relationship between the United States and China. "Today, many cargo ships are very busy crossing the Pacific Ocean, laden with the rich fruit of our strong trade ties and friendship between our two peoples," Hu said. "I am sure that with the further deepening of China’s reform and opening up, we are going to see an even broader prospect for the economic cooperation and trade between China and Washington State and China and the United States as a whole." Source: Reuters According to the US-China Business Council:• China’s economy grew 10.2 % in the first quarter of 2006.• The government’s new focus on balanced growth and its attempt to shift from an investment- and export-driven economy to a consumption-driven one will mean more policies to promote consumption.• GDP (purchasing power parity): $8.158 trillion (2005 est.)• GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $6,200 (2005 est.)• GDP - real growth rate: 9.2% (official data) (2005 est.)• GDP - composition by sector:Agriculture: 14.4%Industry and construction: 53.1%Services: 32.5% (2005 est.) Source: [www.uschina.org]
World’s #1 Manufacturing IndustryChina is "the world’s factory" and produces $60 billion worth of consumer electronic goods a year. The "Made in China" label is found everywhere. When China became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), it agreed to abide by WTO standards and regulations, along with the rest of the WTO countries. And this opened up one of the world’s largest economies to the rest of the world. Forward-thinking organizations did not hesitate to capitalize on the unprecedented opportunity.For example, GE has long regarded China as an essential piece in the company’s strategic plan. According to Jeff Immelt., "We have been there for 15 – 20 years, so we know how to do business. We have been on the ground. We have 12,000 employees. And I think at the end of the day, China is trending towards being a great global competitor and following the rules. And that is important to us and it’s a way that we can be successful as well."Today, companies doing business in China find tax incentives, excellent civic infrastructure, government support, a political environment that encourages foreign business, rapid economic growth, a deep pool of engineering talent and college graduates, and improving legal, banking and financial systems. China Strategy: Choose the Right Road to ChinaThere are basically three paths an organization’s R&D department can follow to successfully gain entry into China. Take time to consider the best route for your company, especially if your focus is in R&D embedded technology. Single, Independent ProjectBeginning by outsourcing a single, independent project is an excellent way to start on the path to China. Typically, these projects involve software and hardware development, testing, maintenance, or product enhancement. This transaction type outsourcing is turn-key, straightforward, and has a quick ramp up time. An R&D department can: o Capture an opportunity within a short time frame.o Boost bandwidth to meet short-term demand.o Outsource clearly defined short-term projects.Companies going this route find cost savings through transaction-type outsourcing and capitalize on short-term cost savings.  Partner ProgramA long term, relationship-based service program is another excellent way to leverage China’s technology resources. A dedicated team within the China outsourcing vendor’s R&D department can be created, trained, hosted, and managed exclusively for your embedded systems R&D technology projects. Clients take advantage of lower wages, while benefiting from a team educated on the Client’s corporate values and culture, providing a true business level alignment. A China R&D department can:o Offload non-core functions.o Fill in needed skills.o Increase engineering efficiency.o Increase return on R&D. Offshore R&D Center
Many companies find they benefit most from a one-of-a-kind incubation center that is an extension of their R&D department back home. Building a R&D facility from the beginning and introducing best practices provides the optimal solution to meet your company’s strategic goals. Your company takes advantage of China’s low cost workforce, manufacturing capacity, and emerging markets and there are no intermediaries or third party costs.A China R&D Center can:• Provide confidence and security to handle sensitive data and intellectual property inhouse offshore.• Train talent according to your company’s unique standards and values. • Increase talent retention by providing attractive culture and a sense of belonging.• Share services with other functions of the company.• Engage in long term innovation-driven research that does not usually generate immediate profits.• Access the China labor market directly.Turn to ChinaThroughout history, new products, new ideas, and new opportunities have come about by crossing borders. The global exchange of trade, expertise, and capabilities means exciting ideas and innovations which benefit everyone.China today is a country with unlimited opportunity. However, personal connections and relationships are essential to any successful business in China. Would your company like to expand into China, but is unsure about potential roadblocks such as regulations, recruiting, and setup? The right vendor can smooth your way.In addition to entry into China, a potential vendor’s technology expertise must not be overlooked. For example, does the potential vendor focus on embedded technology? Do they have experience with manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original design manufacturers (ODMs), independent software vendors (ISVs), system integrators (SI), and value added service providers (VASPs) who rely on embedded hardware and software technologies? Intellectual property is a concern everywhere, but especially in a new environment. What are a potential vendor’s procedures for protecting your intellectual property?Remember, when searching for the best route to leverage China’s vast resources and opportunities, it pays to make certain you have the best vendor as your guide.A journey of a thousand milesBegins with a single step.Lao-tzu (604 BC – 531 BC)Chinese philosopher About the AuthorHayden Hong, the founder and CEO of Long Circle, has over a decade of outsourcing and consulting experience. Prior to founding Long Circle, Hong was the president and founder of MacaoDude, a consulting firm that counts among its clients Motorola, Nortel, and various high technology companies in the Boston 128 area. In 2005, Hong merged the two companies to provide U.S. companies with low-risk, convenient access to China’s engineering talent, manufacturing industry, and emerging markets. His background includes managing U.S.–China offshore R&D projects for GE, as well as management positions at Broad Reach Communications, a GE partner. Hong received a MSEE degree from Purdue University and a BSEE degree from Northeastern University, graduating magna cum laude. About Long CircleLong Circle provides outsourced engineering services to companies whose products and services rely on embedded software and hardware technology. Long Circle and the Long Circle China Center of Excellence enables U.S. companies to reduce costs, increase engineering bandwidth, and broaden market reach by providing low-risk, strategic access to China’s engineering talent, manufacturing industry, and emerging markets. To learn more about Long Circle, visit http://www.longcircle.com/.

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The Forbidden City: China’s Glorious Palace

The Forbidden City: China’s Glorious Palace
The Forbidden City (called "Forbidden" because nobody could leave or enter the palace without permission from the emperor) was once a teeming palace, later a museum closed off to foreigners, and is now a historical landmark thrown wide open for the 2008 Olympic games. The world’s largest palace complex currently surviving today, the Forbidden City is now one of the first stops of any visitor to Beijing. During the 15th century, the Forbidden City was built by the hands of more than a million men in less than 15 years. With 178 acres of ground, a presumed 9,999 rooms, and a million pieces of precious art, the Forbidden City was the perfect seat for the ruling Ming Dynasty, who ruled from 1420 to 1644. Since its completion in 1420, twenty-four Chinese emperors have called the Forbidden City home. Up until 1912, this was the world’s most celebrated command center.While most of the Forbidden City was closed to visitors thirty years ago, today this amazing landmark is a World Heritage Site, and one of the most beautiful palaces in the world. Just passing through the Meridian Gate and into the palace grounds inspires awe in any visitor. Even the grounds themselves are breathtaking. With a giant plaza or square crossed by white bridges and blooming with flowers in spring, the gardens and plazas of The Forbidden City are breath-taking in their beauty. Still, in a place this ancient there are improvements to be made, and with help from experts from the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute, a major renovation of the palace gardens will be completed in 2016.Above the main plaza of the Forbidden City is the tallest building in the palace complex, the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Built in the 15th century, this hall is where all of the most important ceremonies took place. It’s also home to the famous Nine Dragon Screen, which was built in 1771. The tile-decorated Nine Dragon Screen features nine imperial dragons against a background of clouds and water. It’s one of the most famous features of the Forbidden City.To give visitors a true feel for the Chinese Imperial history and culture, one of the most important areas of the Forbidden City is the Palace Museum. The museum contains an impressive collection of artwork, including rare paintings commissioned by Chinese emperors as well as ceramics, porcelain pieces, and bronze ware. Like China itself, the Forbidden City was once closed to visitors. Today, however, the doors of the Forbidden City and China’s rich imperial history are open to all. To learn more about the history of China’s glorious Forbidden City, visit the Smithsonian Magazine website.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/ Smithsonian magazine is a monthly magazine created for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse interests. It chronicles the arts, history, sciences and popular culture of the times. Each month, expect articles from the Smithsonian Institution's award-winning, monthly general interest magazine, plus exclusive Web articles, videos, blogs, photographs and more.
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Global Online Marketing Profile: China

Global Online Marketing Profile: China
Market OpportunityThe Chinese renminibi, or yuan, is increasingly growing in strength against the weakening US dollar, creating increased demand for US goods. With the world’s largest population of 1.3 billion and the third largest economy (behind the United States and the European Union), China is one of the most lucrative and promising markets in the world with the third-largest purchasing power of $6.991 trillion. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2005, the per capita disposable income in China is about $1525 in urban households and $473 in rural households. Although the Chinese amount of disposable income is lower than the US’s $28,000 real disposable income per capita, this amount is steadily increasing; in 2005, the People’s Daily Online reported that the amount of per capita disposable income increased by 12.9%, or 11%, if price factors are deducted. Also, with growing population in the middle-class group, the Chinese consumption rate is expected to increase from 58 percent in 2002 to 65 percent by 2010 and to 71 percent by 2020, very close to the rate in developed countries, said Chen Xingdong, chief China economist with BNP Paribas Peregrine in Beijing, adding that China has a potential enormous consumer market.China’s middle class is constantly growing. According to the People’s Daily Online, a French investment bank’s definition on the Chinese mid-class group covers the well-educated professionals and white-collar employees (brain workers) with per capital annual income of 25,000-30,000 yuan (about $3,600-$4,300), household annual income of 75,000-100,000 yuan (or around $11,000-$14,500) and participants in the decision-making and management of companies. In June 2004, this group includes around 13.5 percent of the total Chinese population (about 175,500,000 people). In 2002, 50 million Chinese families were qualified for the standard, with per household having annual income of 75,000 yuan (around $11,000) and owning 310,000 yuan (around $45,000) of assets on average. By 2010, the figures will double, with up to 100 million families qualified for the standard, per household having annual income of 150,000 yuan (around $22,000) and owning assets of 620,000 yuan (around $90,000), according to the BNP Paribas Peregrine. Figure 1: Graph of the US Dollar to Chinese Renmibi (or Yuan) Exchange RateBest Industry SegmentsBased on the details released by the USA government and Sinomania! Research, the best export opportunities for USA businesses in non-agricultural products are in (1) information technology, (2) telecommunications equipment, (3) computer software, (4) oil and gas, (5) medical equipment, (6) pharmaceuticals, (7) pollution control equipment, (8) airport and ground support equipment, (9) building and decoration materials, (10) auto parts, and (11) agricultural chemicals. With the fall of the dollar and the steady and unfaltering rise of the Chinese economy, the Chinese consumers and businesses are inevitably gaining more buying power in the world.
Regulatory and Tariff LandscapeIn March 2008, the average overall tariff rate is at 9.4% and 7.4% for USA priority products. In 2002, China began cutting tariffs to meet its obligations to the World Trade Organization. Then, in 2005, most products saw their final tariff cuts in 2005. Since then, few products have had their rates cut. Furthermore, in its 2007 annual report to Congress, the US Trade Representative said that China’s reduced tariffs contributed to another significant increase in overall US exports, which rose about 17% from January to September 2007 when compared to the same period in 2006.Online Marketing OpportunitiesEven though, says China Internet Network Information Center, China’s level of online penetration is low (15.9%) when compared to the United States’, Japan’s, and Korea’s percent of penetration (all of which are above 65%), China holds an abundant amount of promise. In fact, in 2007, the number of Internet users in China surpassed the number of Internet users in the United States, which formerly had the largest population of Internet users. This number of Internet users will continue to grow. According to news site of the year Timeonline.com, experts say that the number will swell rapidly in the next few years as hundreds of millions of Chinese still toiling as low-paid farmers or labourers experience a rise in their incomes that will enable them to go online. BDA China, a Beijing technology company, estimates that China’s web population will grow by about 18 per cent a year, putting the total at 490 million by 2012 – more than the population of the United States.Online Language PreferencesEven though more than 300 million Chinese people, or nearly a quarter of the country’s population, have studied English according to Xinhua, most (mainland) Chinese people prefer to read content in their simplified Chinese characters. This is the case for the most part, but in the southernmost provinces in China and especially in Hong Kong, the usage of English has a moderate to strong presence. Since nearly a quarter of the country’s population has studied in English, it is recommended that a business has some of its content in Chinese so that the Chinese consumers could click through that Chinese webpage to reach and use the English version of the website.Search Engine ProfileUnlike most countries in the world, the Google search engine has not dominated this market. The search engine here of predominance is Baidu (baidu.com), which is the local search engine that has the biggest market share in China (about 60%). In second, Google claims 20%, and in third, Yahoo claims 10%.SummaryWith the largest number of online users in the world, an increasing rate of online penetration, an expanding middle class, a continually fast-growing economy, and much room for growth, China provides excellent opportunities for global online marketing. For the above reasons, Global e-Marketer would rank China as a tier 1 country for developing an online market presence.

Wyliena Guan is a Global Markets Research Analyst at Global e-Marketer. Global e-Marketer is an international business development and marketing consulting firm that helps business expand globally from preparation to implementation, through global online campaign management. For more information contact information[at]globalemarketer[dot]com, or visit their website at http://www.globalemarketer.com/.
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The future of Embedded business in IT

The future of Embedded business in IT
Today, business organizations are expanding their business opportunities through a new phenomenon called as Embedded Business. This is actually a procedure to discover new business prospects from past products for futuristic approach.Embedded business provides the technology, tools, and resources to compete with the market trends. Embedded business is built to meet real time constraints. There are so many benefits of embedded business because it provides additional support to existing business prospects. Some benefits are as following :1. Low innovation cost.2. Faster time to market.3. More business options.4. More chances to business growth.5. Increased revenue opportunity.6. Enhanced customer relationship.7. Improved performance.8. Flexibility in meeting business requirement.9. Saving due to reusability of resources.Many Information Technology companies are trying their efforts in embedded systems and that way they are getting involved with the concept.In a significant move to penetrate the embedded systems market in Asia Pacific and Japan, Oracle had launched an Embedded Business Unit (EBU). Oracle Inc had planned to boost up their business by integrating their software directly into end user devices, which comprises handsets, automobiles and other home appliances.Now these days, other reputed companies are also scheduling to use it as a futuristic approach for their organization. Microsoft Corp. will ship toolkits to offer quick services for service oriented devices.The first product release under this novel strategy will be Windows Embedded Standard. Another product in the move is future version like Windows embedded Compact and Windows embedded enterprises. This product will offer a reference point on the skills and technology and help in the generation of smart, connected, service-oriented devices for the customers.A Swedish company Ericsson has a deal with Dell. Ericsson is dealing with cell phones and it signed a deal to embed its mobile broadband modules in the Dell laptops. Ericsson has also a deal with a Chinese laptop manufacturer Lenovo. This way Ericsson is trying to expand its business by embedding cell phone compatible modules in laptops.Elmic Systems, Inc. is mounting IPv6 as an add-on to their high-performance and efficient Turbo Treck TCP/IP product, which is an embedded systems implementation of IPv4 host protocols. Elmics Systems Inc. is supposed to provide wireless consumer electronic devices and IPv6 will help in implementing the technology.The new product, Turbo Treck TCP/IP can run on any processor without the presence of port. Practically, the novel product Turbo Treck TCP/IP support products like HP-UX 11i IPv6 (a Hewlett-Packard Product), Alpha Tru64 UNIX and Alpha OpenVMS (Compaq products), AIX4.4 (an IBM product).The above said illustration shows that embedded system is now penetrated to the roots of a business.Any business can have additional opportunities to grow as a boom in technology world if and only if it is able to provide frequent positive enhancements in its products.

http://www.itvoir.com/portal, http://www.itvoir.com/portal/boxx/knowledgebase.asp?iid=870&Cat=23
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Therapeutic Manipulation – What Exactly Does it Mean?

Therapeutic Manipulation – What Exactly Does it Mean?

Therapeutic manipulation refers to any technique by which a disease or disorder is treated using the remedial use of the hands, especially by a skilled practitioner. Some of these techniques include:Acupuncture Massage Physiotherapy Chiropractics MyopracticsAcupunctureAcupuncture is one of the oldest, most commonly used medical procedures in the world. Originating in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture began to become better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. The term acupuncture describes a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body by a variety of techniques. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.Massage Massage is now one of the most popular forms of alternative therapy, whether it's for stress relief, muscular therapy or even emotional healing. But with so many different types of massage available, it can be hard to know what's right for you? The most basic form of massage is Swedish. The gentle soothing stimulation of the soft tissue and muscles is a wonderful means of calming nerves and improving overall circulation.Physiotherapy Physiotherapy is a science-based healthcare profession which views movement as central to health and well being. Core skills used by physiotherapists include manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and the application of electrophysical modalities. Physiotherapists believe it is of crucial importance to take note of psychological, cultural and social factors which influence their clients. They try and bring the patients into an active role to help make the best of independence and function.Chiropractics Chiropractics is based on the scientific fact that your body is a self-regulating, self-healing organism. These important functions are controlled by the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves of the body. The skull protects the delicate tissues of the brain. The moving bones of the spine protect the vulnerable communication pathways of the spinal cord and nerve roots. If the nervous system is impaired, it can cause malfunction of the tissue and organs throughout the body. Chiropractic is the science of locating offending spinal structures, the art of reducing their impact to the nervous system, and a philosophy of natural health care based on your inborn potential to be healthy.Myopractics As an advanced form of bodywork, Myopractic integrates together the soft tissues and skeleton to achieve deep relaxation and relieve chronic pain. Based on the same system of training as that in the Bowen Technique, Myopractic employs postural assessment as a guide to its treatment plan for clients aiming to restore the body's structural integrity back towards its ideal state. Myopractic shows that where there is a bone or joint misalignment, then there is a muscle that is responsible. Once the muscle disorder is corrected, the skeleton will respond correcting the misalignment.Effective pain management is an increasingly diverse field and manipulative therapies are only one field to consider. Pain management is a matter of personal choice and a case of finding what works well for your individual needs. Effective management of pain can often make the difference between living a life governed by debilitating pain and leading a relatively normal life.

Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. Go to http://www.magnetic-health-online.com/ to see many wonderful health articles, many of them written by doctors and others who have been involved in the health industry for many years.
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New Beach at Playa San Juan Tenerife – Playa San Juan Property

Playa San Juan is a peaceful and picturesque fishing village surround by banana plantations situated on the south coast of Tenerife between Las Americas and Los Gigantes. This village is similar to Los Cristianos, albeit on a smaller scale, except that it has not been developed to cater for tourism in the same way. The village has been carefully developed in recent years, mostly on the outskirts but it does still have character and there is a pretty Church Square with a number of small bars and restaurants. There is a small fishing harbour with a quay, which is used by the fishermen to unload their catch and a small beach area overlooked a few new chic bars and restaurants. There are plenty of outside tables to sit admire the wonderful views of the harbour, the beach, the rugged cliffs beyond and the mountains.The harbour esplanade has been rejuvenated and extended around the bay where the new beach has been created. The new beach was formed using crushed stone and aggregate overlayed with fine golden sand and it is impressive the say the least. The Government invested heavily in this project from which has evolved a wonderful natural looking beach. The beach, being protected in a harbour is very safe for bathers and swimmers.The beach stretches about half a kilometer around the bay and it has been planted with palm trees to give it a tropical feel. The new beach esplanade has also been landscaped with planting and there are many places to sit and relax. The beach has shower facilities and there is also a kiosk. The local bars and restaurants are also very close by for refreshment.The new beach esplanade continues around to the old lime kiln and the next bay, which in contrast has a traditional Canarian rocky beach. There is also a paved cliff top path leading up to the Serpent’s head sculpture and beyond to the old disused tuna canning factory. Underneath the cliffs there are many old caves some of which show evidence of past habitation.To the west of the harbour area there are also a number of excellent sea front bars and restaurants with a variety of different cuisines on offer including traditional Canarian food, tapas and fish.Playa San Juan can be reached by taking the TF-47 via Armenime at the end of the TF-1 motorway. It takes less than half an hour to drive from Las Americas and Los Cristianos. The 473 and 477 bus services follow the same route, the 477 is quicker because it is more direct. If you do visit by car there is a small car park near the beach but otherwise there is street parking just about everywhere in the village. If you do visit Playa San Juan and the beach, please do leave it as you found it for others to enjoy.Playa San Juan has a chilled out atmosphere and is a great place to visit, any opportunity to visit the new beach should not be missed. The writer is fortunate to live on the outskirts of this remarkable village which surprisingly does already have a strong British community, some of whom have lived in the village for many years.Recent local developments in this up and coming area include the Abama 5* Resort Hotel and Golf Course which is only a short distance away in the next village and the massive new Isora Palace Hotel in Alcala which is almost ready to open. There are also plans to extend the TF-1 motorway down to this area of the island.Property in Playa San Juan is still good value for money compared with some of the other more developed resorts on the Island and it does present a good investment opportunity. Property prices here will surely rise as they have done in so many other places along with the growth of tourism. The potential for tourist letting is also strong due to the limited availability at the moment.

Expedia Property SL is developing a wide portfolio of property in this area so if you don’t want to go to the beach why not visit our website. If you email us from the website we can let you have further information about price and availability. We hope you enjoyed our article about Playa San Juan and the new beach. Why not visit the Expedia Property Website http://expediaproperty.eu/
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Spending a Great Time in New York

Brief overview: -According to the recent survey made, the most attracted tourists cities are New York, New Orleans, and Charleston- now known as South Carolina and the Portland- the state of Oregon. Each city has its own places and tourist spots like New York is famous for its theaters, boutiques, boutiques, classical music and the stylish people, New Orleans is known for its music and nightlife, Portland is known as the ecological city and also is famous for parks and public transport. Charleston is called as the place of harmony and is known for is flea markets, architecture and the curiosity shops.Beauty of the New York City: -When it comes to spend a good time in the break or vacation then most of the people travel to the New York. It is not only for the beautiful nature, weather conditions and the architectures but also because of the cheerfulness among the citizens of the New York. New York City comprises of diverse people. But at the same time the people are known as the trend setters. It is believed that the people of the New York spend their life to full of their extent and spending the vacations time in such kind of environment is the dream of every individual.Architecture and Structures in New York: -i.Extreme lavishness can be felt when a visit is made at the hot spot of the Midtown. It is known as the Russian Tea Room which is 4-level restaurant. After the magnificent makeover of the Russian restaurant, it had become even more glamorous. It was opened in the year 1927 and some of the extravagant features are: -a. Beppe in New York b. B.B. King Blues Club & Grill at New York c. Pebbles Restaurant at Orlandoii. Waldorf Towers, New York- A Conrad Hotel: - it is the separate tower that is rising above the Waldorf-Astoria hotel and is giving the most elegant look to the people and hence attracting many people. Some of the features associated with it are: -a. The Waldorf-Astoria in New York City b. Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Orlando c. Embassy Suites at Fort Lauderdaleiii.Lincoln Square 13: an 8 story IMAX theatre which is centerpiece and the most posh place in New York. Really such places are making the people attracted to spend their break time in New York.

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History Of Asia

The history of Asia could (and does!) fill huge volumes of text. So, let us focus on one subject: the China Tea Trade. In the early 1800’s, not long after the end of the Opium Wars, trade with China began to really expand. Large numbers of American merchants wanted to get in on the opening of China, and they negotiated access to several ports: Canton, Shanghai, Ninghsien, Amoy and Foochow. There followed an explosion in interest in the exotic varieties of teas. Suddenly, Americans were drinking Lumking, Imperial, Gunpowder (yes, that is the name of a tea!), Bohea, Oolong and Mowfoong.As tea is a perishable product, it became critical to get it from the various Chinese ports to New York and Boston as quickly as possible. Many of the opium clippers – extremely fast ships – switched over to the tea trade. Once the tea was in the holds, the race was on to cross the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean, loop around the Cape of Good Hope, and then navigate up the Atlantic to reach the American ports.One of the first American companies to get into the tea trade was the Low Brothers. They were the twelve sons of Seth Low, a drug merchant from Salem, Massachusetts. Abiel Abbott Low spent seven years dealing in the tea trade, and he made quite the interesting discovery early on in his career.As tea needs to be kept dry, he decided to buy some cheap Chinese dishes and stack the crates of it in the hold, so that the tea would be up high and dry. He was quite pleased to discover, upon reaching Boston, that the china sold for enough money to pay for the entire voyage! In the years to come, one Low brother after another followed him out to China and continued the family business.Over the course of many decades, many fortunes were made – and lost – in the China tea trade. The history of Asia is as broad and varied as the history of the entire world. This may have something to do with the fact that Asia encompasses the largest continent in the world.To focus on only trade would still cover a vast range of subjects. After all, China is known for many things: jade, rice, tea to name only a few. Of course, expanding that list to illegal substances would include opium and other illicit drugs. To look at just one item – tea, can also include many things. After all, families around the world have been tied to that business. So, consider how powerful the subject of tea must be for it to influence the lives of a family in far off Salem, Massachusetts.

Frank j Vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.asia-history.com/2 Asiahistorycom
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