Surprising Harbin - Speed Dating
Did you know that . . . young urbanites in Harbin never
thought of dating eight or 10 people in one night
until "eight-minute-dating" launched in Harbin recently.
Started in 2001 by a Houston-based company, eight-
minute-dating has become popular in many cities
across the United States and is gaining popularity in
several bars in Beijing, Shanghai and Harbin. During the
event, every young man and woman pairs up for an
eight-minute conversation. When the bell rings, they
exchange partners for another eight-minute chat.
This dating "game" has been enthusiastically received
by urbanites whose fast pace of life leaves less time for
a social life.
The majority of the eight-minute-dating participants
are people between the ages of 20 and 30, with a
relatively high educational background. They include
public servants, teachers, doctors, journalists and
company clerks, said Li Nan, of Harbin Xindongcaihong
Media Company, which introduced the activity to the
city.
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Dear Friends:
Several years ago, I described what I thought to be
the progression of Chinese-U.S. business relationship as
the "five phases". Phase One was purchasing low cost
good in China to sell in the U.S. Phase Two was the
establishment (or joint venturing) of manufacturing
facilities in China for the production of goods to be sold
in the U.S. Phase Three was the establishment of
production to sell goods to the growing Chinese
market. Phase Four was the direct investment of U.S.
money into Chinese projects. And . . . the Fifth Phase
is the investment of Chinese money in America. At the
time, many "China hands" did not see that as a
reasonable prediction in the near future. On has to
remember, however, that importing goods from China is
not just a matter of the labor cost differential. The
enormous shipping costs are a critical factor. For the
Chinese to reach the rich American market, they are
going to have to invest in manufacturing closer to the
customers. Well . . . the Fifth Phase is beginning to be
seen.
Example . . . Chinese officials have approached us to
identify manufacturing companies in automotive related
industries that can be acquired or joint ventured,
Example . . . Chinese companies, such as Haier, already
have built factories in the U.S. Example . . . former
U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson, of Illinois, is heading up
the Midwest U.S.-China Association, a blue ribbon group
dedicated to securing Chinese investment in middle
America. I predict this will be the emerging story of
Sino-American relations as Chinese cost advantages
diminish on imports. Larry Horist - President HBE
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| Winning Bid | | | This city of Harbin went wild on Monday the moment
George Killian, president of the International University
Sports Federation (FISU) announced that Harbin has
won a landslide victory in its bid for the 24th Winter
Universiade in 2009, beating out its rival Erzurum of
Turkey. The event will be the highest-level
comprehensive sports competition Harbin has ever
hosted since it held the third Asian Winter Games in
1996. After losing its bid for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games
in August 2002, Harbin has now realized its dream of
hosting an international winter athletic event, which it
hopes will pave the way for a bid for the 2014 Winter
Olympic Games. Winning the bid campaign will not only
bring benefits to the city, but also a new opportunity
to promote winter sports. The largest ski centre, the
Yabuli Ski site in the Harbin suburbs, where most of the
competitions may be held, will be renovated. Its slopes
will be extended and more buildings and houses will be
built to increase accommodations. | | |
| Tax Reform Stimulates Investment | | | Thousands of companies in Northeast China have
benefited from the central government's pilot reform of
value-added tax, which aims to increase companies'
investment and forms an important part of the
authorities' measures to revitalize this old industrial
base. The Harbin Bearing Group Co was one of the
luckiest firms. Under the reform, the company
obtained a tax rebate worth USD $20,482 last month,
which later turned into profits for the company.
Foreign joint venture companies can also utilize this tax
rebate to boost profits. China has been practicing a production-based value-
added tax since 1994, which classifies fixed assets as
taxable consumer goods and are subject to the tax.
Fears over a loss in tax revenues meant that the
government left the system untouched, until the recent
northeastern pilot reform. | | |
| Direct to Taiwan | | | China proposed on Wednesday one-off, non-stop
charter flights between Chinese and Taiwanese cities
during the Lunar New Year holiday in February in a
move aimed at easing tension between the two
countries. Landmark direct charter flights between the
Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and
Xiamen and the Taiwanese cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung
and Taichung would mark a step towards ending a
decades-old ban by the island on direct air links with
China. Taiwan has banned direct air and shipping links with the
mainland since their split in 1949 when the Nationalists
lost the Chinese civil war and fled to the island. Trade,
investment and tourism have boomed since the late
1980s, albeit routed predominantly through Hong Kong
and Macau. Taiwan investors, who have invested up
to USD$100 billion into China, have long clamored for
non-stop flights. | | |
| March 2005 Trade Mission | | | Harbin Business Exchange will be hosting a trade
mission to Harbin and Beijing from March 19 - 26.
Unique investment and outsourcing opportunities.
Personalized itinerary for delegates including meetings
with high-level state and privately owned enterprises
and government officials. The total all inclusive cost is
$3,200. Register by February 1 and pay only $2,950. For more information, please call 312 565-4499 or email
us at info@habex.org. Trade Mission Information | | |
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