Minister Steinmeier - AHKs

Beijing • Guangzhou • Shanghai 

IN THIS ISSUE: 

August - September 

2008 

Minister Steinmeier 

Cover Story: Sino-German Relations 

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GCC Board 

Beijing 

* All-China Board member 

August - September 2008 | 2 

Siemens Ltd. China 

President and CEO 

Dr. Richard Hausmann * 

Chairman 

KPMG Huazhen Certified Public 

Accountants 

Partner Audit 

Mr. Andreas Feege 

Treasurer 

Lufthansa German Airlines 

Chief Representative for China 

Mr. Gregor Wende 

German National 

Representative to the EUCCC 

German Chamber Beijing 

Executive Director 

Ms. Jutta Ludwig * 

Delegate & Chief Representative 

Delegation of German Industry 

& Commerce Beijing 

Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd. 

Beijing Branch 

Director, Head of Corporate Banking 

Coverage, China 

Mr. Eddy Henning 

Gruner+Jahr (Beijing) 

Advertising Co. Ltd. 

General Manager & President 

Mr. Wolfgang Kohl 

Volkswagen (China) 

Investment Co. Ltd. 

Executive Vice President, 

Finance Department 

Dr. Jörg Mull 

Bayer (China) Ltd. 

Vice President, Corporate Social 

Responsibility Greater China 

Mr. William Valentino 

Daimler Northeast Asia Ltd. 

Chairman & CEO 

Mr. Ulrich Walker 

Shanghai Guangzhou 


Managing Director Greater China 

Mr. Arved von zur Mühlen * 

Chairman 

Bosch (China) Investment Ltd. 

Executive Vice President 

Mr. Elmar E. Weitzel 

Vice Chairman 

Vossloh Fastening Systems 

(China) Co. Ltd. 

CEO 

Mr. Thomas Dorn 

Treasurer 

German Chamber Shanghai 


Mr. Manfred Rothgänger * 


Delegation of German Industry 

& Commerce Shanghai 

Beiten Burkhardt Rechtsanwaltgesellschaft 

mbH 

Shanghai Representative 

Office 

Chief Representative 

Mr. Rainer Burkardt 

Siemens Shanghai Medical 

Equipment Ltd. 

President and CEO 

Dr. Rolf Hupke 

POLYMAX (Shanghai) Trading 

Co. Ltd. 

Chairman of the Board 

Mr. Ulrich Mäder 

Allianz China Life Insurance 

Co. Ltd. 

CEO 

Mr. Christian Molt 

Management Engineers 

China Ltd. 

Managing Director 

Ms. Brigitte Wolff 

The German Chamber of Commerce in China 

Trolli Confectionery Co. Ltd. 

Guangzhou 

General Manager 

Mr. Michael Stein * 

Chairman 

German Chamber Guangzhou 


Ms. Alexandra Voss * 


Delegation of German Industry & 

Commerce Guangzhou 


Guangzhou 

General Manager, Southern China 

Mr. Nico Beilharz 

TCA Ltd. The Cable Assembler 

Dongguan 

CEO / President 

Mr. Frank Jaeger 

VA TECH ELIN Transformer 

Guangzhou Co. Ltd. (Siemens 

Group) 


Mr. Dirk Soete 

C. Melchers GmbH & Co. KG 

Guangzhou & Chongqing 

Representative Offices 

Inspirion GmbH Guangzhou 

Representative Office 


Ms. Renate Tietjen


www.china.ahk.de 3 | August - September 2008

Preface 

The GC Ticker is the internal bi-monthly newsletter 

of the German Chamber of Commerce in China. 

Publisher 

German Chamber of Commerce in China 

Managing Editor 

Ms. Kristen Robinson (Shanghai) 

Editorial Team 

Mr. Walter Jansen (Beijing) 

Mr. Kilian Becker (Guangzhou) 

GC Ticker is free of charge. For subscription or 

extra copies please email your nearest Chamber 

office 

Germany at the Games special supplement 

edited by GCC • Beijng 

Other issues of the magazine can be found on 

our website: www.china.ahk.de/publications 

For editorial or sponsorship inquiries please 

contact: 

German Chamber of Commerce in China 

Beijing Office 

German Chamber of Commerce 

in China • Beijing 

0811 Landmark Tower 2, 8 Dongsanhuan (N) Rd. 

Chaoyang, Beijing 100004 

Tel: +86-10-6590 0926 ext. 308 

Fax: +86-10-6590 6313 

Email: jansen.walter@bj.china.ahk.de 

Guangzhou Office 


in China • Guangzhou 

2915 Metro Plaza, Tianhe (N) Rd. 

Guangzhou 510620 

Tel: +86-20-8755 2353 

DL: +86-20-8755 8203 

Fax: +86-20-8755 1889 

Email: becker.kilian@gz.china.ahk.de 

Shanghai Office 


in China • Shanghai 

29F, POS Plaza, 1600 Century Ave. 

Pudong, Shanghai 200122 

Tel: +86-21-5081 2266, ext. 1637 

Fax: +86-21-5081 2009 

Email: robinson.kristen@sh.china.ahk.de 

© 2007-2008. German Chamber of Commerce in China. 

No part of this publication may be reproduced without 

the publisher’s prior permission. While every effort has 

been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher is not responsible 

for any errors. Views expressed are not necessarily 

those of GIC/GCC. 


The Games Are Here! 

Dear Reader, 

After years of anticipation, the Beijing 

2008 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games 

are here. They will have lasting significance 

for China’s further domestic development 

and its global presence. Numerous German 

companies have participated in providing 

solutions for China’s Olympic preparations 

that will make long term improvements in 

infrastructure, transportation, environmental 

protection, the efficient use of energy 

and sustainable urban development. These 

projects will serve as models for development 

throughout China in the coming 

years, and will not only improve the lives of 

the Chinese people, but also the well-being 

of billions around the globe, as the air and 

water become cleaner and fewer resources 

are used. 

German Vice-Chancellor Frank Walter Steinmeier’s 

opening of the Chongqing Dialogue 

on Urbanization in June was a symbol 

of the importance Germany attaches to 

these developments. Under the umbrella 

of Germany and China – Moving Ahead 

Together, the urbanization conference was 

the first in a number of similar dialogues 

on sustainability planned for other cities 

around China. 

Well-equipped with the German Chamber’s 

Beijing 2008 Pocket Guide, visitors from 

overseas and across China are streaming 

to Beijing and the other host cities to 

enjoy the feeling of sporting competition, 

see the sights and soak up the culture. 

Created by the German Chamber of Commerce 

in China • Beijing in preparation 

for the Games, the Guide provides detailed 

information about the land and its people. 


Visitors seem truly stunned by the sights 

and the audacious Olympic venues. They 

would be even more impressed if they 

knew the details of the low voltage power 

circuits, rainwater recovery systems, solar 

power generation, special reflective coatings, 

transportation, medical and lighting 

systems, and, yes, the artwork that 

Germans have contributed to the Olympic 

sites and supporting infrastructure. In the 

20 page Olympic Supplement to this issue 

of the GC Ticker, we are presenting a sampling 

of these activities as well as what’s 

hot in sports, how Germans are involved, 

and what the Olympics and Paralympics 

are all about. 

In all of the joy of the Olympics, however, 

we must not forget the sorrow of those in 

China’s southwest, who experienced the 

tragic Sichuan earthquake. We continue to 

offer our condolences and are proud of the 

significant sum of money raised by our 

member companies and their employees, 

the generous contributions made by the 

German people, and the ambitious plans 

to rebuild schools in the affected areas 

being coordinated by the German government. 

Numerous German companies sent 

medical supplies and equipment, water 

treatment plants, power supplies, battery 

powered lighting, power tools, and food in 

the first hour of need. The fully equipped 

field hospital provided by Germany surely 

promoted the rapid recovery of many. 

During this great challenge, the Chinese 

people continue to persevere in the true 

spirit of Olympians and Paralympians. We 

wish China a memorable Olympics and 

Sichuan a successful recovery! 

Enjoy reading! 

Dr. Richard Hausmann 

Chairman of the German Chamber of Commerce in China, Beijing 

President and CEO of Siemens Ltd. China


10 

12 

14 

16 

20 

26 

28 

36 

38 

40 

42 

Business Focus 

Sino-German Dialogue Revived 

Minister Steinmeier and Chinese 

officials inject new energy into 

bilateral relations 

Holding up Half the Sky 

Five female German managers share 

their experiences working in China 

Chinese Market Demands 

Fast-Paced Business IQ 

Regional Spotlight: 

Xi’an - More than History 

Changzhou- Small Town Feel, 

Big City Plans 

Yunnan - Gateway to ASEAN 

Chamber News 

Beijing 

Chamber events highlight 

implications of Olympics, and how 

they will affect German businesses 

Guangzhou 

Guangzhou soccer fans cheer on 

German team 

Shanghai 

Chamber members share how they’ve 

contributed to Sichuan relief efforts 

and welcome more ideas for 

long-term reconstruction support 

from the German community 

Around Town 

All China 

Beijing 

Guangzhou 

South China celebrates Dragon Boat 

Festival 

Shanghai 

Soccer fans join together to cheer 

on Germany at the European Cup 

18 

28 

64 

10 

23 

40 

66 

Contents 

Members Mix 

Meet the Member 

Member News 

Updates from our member companies: 

relocations, new management, 

community events and anniversaries 

Community 

Expo in Brief 

Sichuan earthquake survivors visit 

Expo site, Shanghai steps up 

environmental regulations 

Health 

Learn how you can reduce 

office job back pain 

Training Courses 

Education 

How to attract and retain the right 

talent for your company 

Environment 

Is your office green? Participate in 

a free eco-office audit to find out 

how you can save the environment 

- and office supply costs 

Travel 

Snacks and bargains make Taiwan’s 

night markets attraction for 

travelers in Asia 

Art, Culture & Books 

German films featured at Shanghai 

Film Festival, Florian Schilling’s My 

Mother’s Tears wins Best 

Cinematography 

Community Calendar 

Competitions 

Benefit Program Update 

Two new South China partners and 

one venue closing in Shanghai 

Chamber Events Calendar 

Interchamber mixers, a special 

environmental seminar, 

beer festivals and a visit from 

Deutsche Bank’s Prof. Walter keep 

the autumn months rolling 

www.china.ahk.de 5 | August - September 2008 

44 

46 

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61 

62 

63 

64 

66 

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69 

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Chamber Teams 

Join Our Growing 

Network 

Now at Half Price 

Take advantage of our 

comprehensive, Chinawide 

network of German compa- 

nies. Six month memberships 

lasting through December 

2008 available at half price. 

Contact your local Chamber 

for details. 

Beijing 

Ms. Katrin Loch 

010 6590-6930 

Email: loch.katrin@bj.china.ahk.de 

Guangzhou 

Mr. Kilian Becker 

020 9755-8203 

becker.kilian@gz.china.ahk.de 

Shanghai 

Ms. Heidrun Buss 

021 5081-2266 ext. 1656 

buss.heidrun@sh.china.ahk.de 

June August - July - September 2008 | 62008 

| 6 

Beijing 

Guangzhou 

Shanghai 

Ms. Katrin Loch 

Executive Chamber Manager 

Tel: 010 6590-6930 

Email: loch.katrin@bj.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Claudia Barkowsky 

Regional Manager North China 

Tel: 010 6590-0926 ext. 329 

Email: barkowsky.claudia@bj.china.ahk.de 

Mr. Kilian Becker 

Manager Membership & Events 

Tel: 020 8755-8203 

Fax: 020 8755-1889 

Email: becker.kilian@gz.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Anna-Lisa Hartmann 

Senior Manager Chamber Affairs 

Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1630 

Fax: 021 5081-2266 ext. 5630 

Email: hartmann.anna-lisa@sh.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Heidrun Buss 

Project & Event Manager Shanghai 

Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1656 

Fax: 021 5081-2266 ext. 5656 

Email: buss.heidrun@sh.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Li Yandi 

Project Manager 

Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1609 

Fax: 021 5081-2266 ext. 5609 

Email: li.yandi@sh.china.ahk.de 


Ms. Lina Sun 

Chamber Affairs Management 

Tel: 010 6590-0926 ext. 210 

Email: sun.lina@bj.china.ahk.de 

Mr. Walter Jansen 

Publications Manager 

Tel: 010 6590-0926 ext. 308 

Email: jansen.walter@bj.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Esther Hu 

Chamber Assistant 

Tel: 020 8755-2353 ext. 217 

Fax: 020 8755-1889 

Email: hu.esther@gz.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Kristen Robinson 

Publications & Marketing Manager 

Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1637 

Fax: 021 5081-2266 ext. 5637 

Email: robinson.kristen@sh.china.ahk.de 

Mr. Ferdinand Pillenstein 

Regional Manager Zhejiang & Jiangsu Provinces 

Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1830 

Fax: 021 5081-2266 ext. 5830 

Email: pillenstein.ferdinand@sh.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Liu Li 

Chamber Team Assistant 

Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1650 

Fax: 021 5081-2266 ext. 5650 

Email: liu.li@sh.china.ahk.de


Contents 

www.china.ahk.de 7 | August - September 2008


Chamber Notices 


ALL CHINA 

Germany Responds to Sichuan 

Earthquake 

The German Chamber of Commerce in China would like to extend 

its gratitude to all member companies who took immediate 

action to support the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Over 

the past three months, companies have donated items ranging 

from medical supplies and tents to construction equipment and 

logistics services. 

Estimates put the total of public and private donations from 

Germany at over EUR 20m. According to a GCC • China press 

release on May 23 rd , German companies in China donated EUR 

9m. The German Chamber of Commerce in China donated EUR 

100,000 on behalf of its members. 

In the near future, the Chamber plans to host a platform for 

companies interested in funding a long-term project to find 

likeminded partner companies. These groups of companies aim 

to coordinate enough funding and manpower to rebuild schools 

or urban environments struck by the quake. 

GUANGZHOU 

New Chairman of the Board 

On 29 th May, the board of the German Chamber of Commerce • 

Guangzhou elected Mr. Michael Stein, General Manager of Trolli 

Confectionery Co. Ltd, as its chairman. Together with Executive 

Director Alexandra Voss he will also represent the interests of 

GCC • Guangzhou on the All-China Board. 

OKTOBERFEST 2008 Guangzhou 

16 th -21 st September 

New Location 

Although the China Hotel – A Marriot Hotel is again the coorganizer, 

the 4 th Oktoberfest in Guangzhou will take place in a 

new location. Opposite the China Hotel in front of the Jinhan 

Centre, the new tent will host more than 3,000 guests during 

the event period from 16 th to 21 st September 2008. 

New Band 

Already established in German-speaking countries as guarantors 

of fun and quality, the band Wirbelwind will perform for 6 days 

in Guangzhou, presented by GCC • Guangzhou. Don’t miss their 

program which includes the traditional duck dance and highly 

surprising new show elements never seen before in South China! 

The 4 members of the band will be accompanied by 21 year-old 

singer Michaela who has recently released her first CD. 

New Competition 

While the food and the beer will certainly be German, there will 

be a rather international competition for the crowning of Miss 

Oktoberfest. An “experienced” judging panel will pre-elect the 

Top 10, while the audience will make the final call on which 

Guangzhou beauty will win the title. Meet and celebrate the 

beauties on site in September! 


German Chamber Opens Office in Tianjin 

In May 2008, the German Chamber of Commerce in China, Beijing opened an 

office in the city of Tianjin. This important step serves to reinforce the Chamber’s 

commitment to the region and provides a base from which to serve the 

rising number of Chamber members and monitor the developments in the 

region. An official opening ceremony will be held in September 2008. 

Ms. Claudia Barkowsky | Email: barkowsky.claudia@bj.china.ahk.de 

3 Yuliang Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300191 

OUT NOW: Beijing 2008 Pocket Guide 

The Beijing 2008 Pocket Guide will make finding your way in Beijing easier, 

no matter whether you are a first time visitor or a Beijing resident. It provides 

essential information regarding travel precautions, the Olympic Games, top 

sights in Beijing and China and emergency contacts, as well as a listing of frequently 

used addresses and a Beijing city map. 

Ms. Constanze Boening | Tel: 010 6590-0926 ext. 201 

Email: boening.constanze@bj.china.ahk.de 

Last Minute Ball Sponsorships Available 

Don’t miss out – only a few sponsorship positions for the 8th German Ball in 

Beijing are left. The categories are Diamond, Gold, and Silver. Each category 

assures your company outstanding exposure and gives you and your employees 

significant benefits. 

Ms. Lina Sun | Tel: 010 6590-0926 ext. 210 | Email: sun.lina@bj.china.ahk.de 

SHANGHAI 

Kunshan International Beer Festival 

Back by popular demand, GIC Taicang will host a German tent at the 4 th 

Kunshan International Beer Festival. Last year’s festival saw 400,000 participants, 

and the city of Kunshan expects to welcome even more from around the 

world in 2008. Die Emsperlen and Die Schwabenlaedner Musikanten will fly 

in from Germany to perform at the German tent. Join us at the German Tent 

during the week of 28 th August – 7 th September for authentic German cuisine 

and 5 different fresh drafts brewed especially for this annual event. 

Mr. Richard Xu | Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1677 

Email: xu.hongmin@sh.china.ahk.de 

Ms. Christine Schütze | Tel: 021 5081-2266 ext. 1684 

Email: schuetze.christine@sh.china.ahk.de | Web: www.china.ahk.de/beerfestival 

Shanghai Daily German Supplement 

BEIJING 

The Shanghai Daily will feature a German Supplement this October in honor of 

German National Day. As well as featuring stories about the activities of German 

business in Shanghai and China, the supplement will celebrate the 36 th anniversary 

of the establishment of diplomatic relations with China. Opportunities to 

provide advertising support for Shanghai Daily’s German National Day supplement 

are also available. 

A feature will be ‘testimonials’ from leading German political and business 

figures commenting on why the nation’s involvement in China is important for 

both countries. The supplement also will carry a story about German Chamber 

of Commerce Shanghai and its activities.


Cover Story 



Sino-German Dialogue Revived 

Steinmeier and Chinese officials inject new energy into bilateral relations 

The Dialogue on Urbanization 

© Goethe-Institut Peking / Jiang Ziwei 

German Foreign Minister Frank Walter Steinmeier’s visit to China in mid- 

June reignited talks between the two countries. Stopping first in the 

capital, the foreign minister moved on to a Yangtze River boat tour, 

attended a conference on urbanization in Chongqing and visited the 

earthquake zone. During his visit, Minister Steinmeier covered topics 

ranging from business transparency to urbanization. Officials on both 

sides approached bilateral talks with a newfound enthusiasm and open, 

frank attitude. 

Officials Talk Policy Substance in Beijing 

In Beijing, Minister Steinmeier’s visit included meetings with Chinese 

Premier Wen Jiabao and the State Council’s highest-ranking foreign 

policy official, Dai Binguo. Premier Wen spent nearly twenty minutes 

detailing China’s effort to create transparent conditions for foreign business; 

in its legal framework, in intellectual property protection and in 

the ongoing opening of the country - efforts which the German foreign 

minister acknowledged gratefully later that day. 

Lengthy talks with China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi resulted in the 

fundamental recognition that the Sino-German relationship is of great 

importance. Calling the enhancement of bilateral relations “a top-priority 

item for both the Chinese and German governments” after the 

meetings, Minister Yang reinforced Minister Steinmeier’s assessment 

that future Sino-German dialogue would be “broad and resilient.” This 

improved outlook will allow both parties to handle issues such as visa 

requirements and perspectives on the Dalai Lama effectively. 

The Sino-German Strategic Dialogue at the Vice-Ministerial level on 

security and economic questions, and the Human Rights Talks will be 

resumed in the second half of 2008. Furthermore, the talks will be 

enhanced with new areas of discussion including climate change and 

cooperation on crisis spots in Africa. 

Implications for Global Policy 

Minister Steinmeier used his stay in Beijing to address broader foreign 

policy ideas on a global level. He coined the expression “Verantwor- 

tungspartnerschaft” (partnership in shouldering global responsibility) 

to characterize his view of future Sino-German relations concerning the 

environment, and political and economic issues associated with it. 

In a global foreign policy statement, Steinmeier called upon global 

powers to “re-measure the world.” He stated that upon doing so, it 

would become apparent that the formation of new economic and political 

blocks to replace the old would be counterproductive. 

He stressed the need for government and society everywhere to be “open 

and willing to modernize.” Such openness also entails “open dialogue 

between government and society, including the capacity for criticism,” 

although he warned that dialogue consisting only of criticism would 

quickly turn stale. 

Foreign Minister Consults Community Leaders 

In addition to talks with political leaders, Minister Steinmeier met 

several groups of the Beijing community. At a breakfast held at the 

German Embassy, he discussed various issues with 5 civilian leaders 

ranging from a university professor to a human rights lawyer. He fielded 

tough questions from students on capitalism, democracy, the depiction 

of China in the German media, and even the German chancellor herself 

at the China Foreign Affairs University. 

Finally, he attended the opening of two German art exhibits in Beijing. 

The exhibits represent the largest cooperation between German and 

Chinese museums ever – the ‘Gerhard Richter’ and ‘Living Landscapes’ 

exhibits at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC). His discussions 

with community members aim to foster promising ties between the 

people of China and Germany on a social and cultural level. 

Chongqing Events Continue Candid Discourse 

In Chongqing, often dubbed the world’s largest municipality, the 

frank manner demonstrated in Beijing was continued during meetings 

between Secretary Bo Xilai and Minister Steinmeier. The two-day conference 

in Chongqing not only underlined the city’s role as a model for


urban development, but also showed that cooperation between Chinese 

and German institutions, companies, universities and government entities 

is already well underway. Minister Steinmeier opened the ‘Chongqing 

Dialogue on Urbanization,’ a major event of the “Germany and China – 

Moving Ahead Together” series. 

During the events, former German Federal Minister Klaus Töpfer gave 

an insightful speech honoring Chongqing as the municipality that had 

brought industrialization to West China. However, industrialization 

brings both economic progress and environmental challenges with it. 

Steinmeier’s opening remarks analyzed the way in which the expressions 

“mega cities” and “urbanization” are often code words for problems 

rather than solutions. He stressed that in cases such as Chongqing, 

“urbanization becomes globalization under a magnifying glass.” Accordingly, 

global cooperation becomes vital to confront the challenges of 

urbanization. 

Steinmeier mentioned substantial investments from German companies 

in the region and indicated his willingness to accept Germany’s 

support in urban planning, calling it beneficial for the creation of “a 

livable environment for the people.” 50% of the municipality’s surface 

area is to become green. This advancement reflects the ideas of Prof. 

Ümüt Halik (Xinjiang University) who showed - based on the example of 

Urumqi - that regarding a city as an ecological system is a rather new 

but life-saving approach in our fast developing world. 

Mr. Martin Brudermüller (BASF) began the panel on “Visionary Long- 

Term Planning” by underlining the responsibility of urban planners, 

architects and designers to take environmental sustainability into consideration. 

In a later keynote, the German Chamber of Commerce in 

China • Beijing’s Jutta Ludwig pursued a complementary theme, arguing 

that private companies influenced the urban scene more than any other 

stakeholder with their decisions on location, staff and production facilities 

capacity. Enterprises must take responsibility, she said. 

Resource Management Plays a Key Role 

Focusing on the topic of urbanization, Minister Steinmeier acknowledged 

that responsible handling of resources is the job of both governments 

and companies. He specifically highlighted the importance of 

energy efficiency and water management. 

During the “Energy Efficiency and Transport” panel, Ulrich Walker (Daimler 

Northeast Asia) drew attention to the decreasing availability of resources 

at a time when the world’s population, and therefore demand for 

resources, is increasing. Panelists discussed possible solutions. Increasing 

fuel prices and providing energy-efficient vehicles was one strategy 

Jutta Ludwig in Chongqing 

© Goethe-Institut Peking/Jiang Ziwei 

proposed by Dr. Peter Kilgenstein (Bosch). Such efforts can be complesmented 

by the use of biodiesel and hydrogen-powered cars in future, as 

noted by Ren Xiaozhang (China Automotive Engineering Institute). 

The very nature of transportation networks is also not to be forgotten, 

as they play a key role in energy consumption rates. Dirk Hoke (Siemens) 

and Professor Shao Yiming (Traffic & Transport Institute of Chongqing 

Jiaotong University) pointed to better traffic and transport management, 

and advocated improving railway transport with an energy-saving 

mobility model. 

In another panel, “Environment and Water Protection”, moderator 

Claudia Wanner, (Financial Times Germany), involved the audience 

in a controversial discussion on the 4-action-plan (blue sky, green 

water, green land, serenity) introduced by Prof. Xu Zhonghua (Chongqing 

Water Resources Programming & Planning Institute). Participants 

debated various methods of implementing environmental protection 

programs. Dr. Roland Winkler (econet china), Prof. He Qiang (CQ Municipal 

Government Committee) and Nicolas Zuber (Herrenknecht) presented 

energy efficient alternatives like sustainable building technology, 

water transfer and urban planning schemes which integrate water 

supply sources. 

Steinmeier Visits Earthquake Epicenter 

Steinmeier praised the truly open and rapid manner in which the Chinese 

government handled the Sichuan earthquake, calling it a sign of “the 

true greatness of the Chinese nation.” Bo Xilai thanked Germany in his 

opening speech for the generous donations after the earthquake as well. 

Certainly German investment and know-how in infrastructure building 

will play an important role in the reconstruction of the earthquake zone. 

After offering the German people’s condolences for the victim’s of the 

disastrous earthquake again, Minister Steinmeier announced a German 

project which will construct 8 lighthouse schools in Dujiangyan, the 

hardest-hit area. German companies such as Bosch, ThyssenKrupp, BASF 

and Herrenknecht will take part along with the German government. 

Partner schools in Germany have already offered their patronage to 

these lighthouse schools, which are to offer safety of construction, topflight 

equipment, academic excellence and German language instruction. 

Before concluding his trip near the Sichuan earthquake’s epicenter, Steinmeier 

also visited a field hospital donated by the German Red Cross, and a 

site where workers of the German Technisches Hilfswerk were laboring to 

restore clean water to victims. Germany continues to support the reconstruction 

of the earthquake zone, and hopes that by working together the 

process can move forward as quickly as possible. 

Minister Steinmeier, Ambassador Schaefer and Ms. Gudrun 

Krögel-Schaefer Minister Yang, Minister Steinmeier, Dr. Roth 

Cover Story 


Business Focus


Sino - German Business 

Holding up 

Half the Sky 

Female Managers in China 

Chinese tradition promotes equality, including 

gender equality. Chairman Mao himself 

noted, “women hold up half the sky,” 

emphasizing the importance of their contribution 

to society. Leading business magazines 

including Time, Fortune and The Wall 

Street Journal have reported difficulty for 

female expat managers in China. In general, 

fewer expat women than men are working in 

China. Many of the women working here are 

younger or do not have children, most likely 

because of the concerns and challenges 

presented by moving overseas. 

However, due to the convenience of having 

an ayi and the family-friendly nature of 

Chinese culture, many expat women find a 

stay in China to be comfortable once they’ve 

arrived. The managers GC Ticker interviewed 

all find the environment in China to be more 

favorable for and respectful of female managers 

than many studies have demonstrated. 

Expat women in China even tend to look 

at their Chinese counterparts with a bit of 

envy. More Chinese women study subjects 

which are traditionally male-dominated, 

such as physics, engineering and machinery 

where the gender ratio is much closer to 

50:50. While programs exist to do the same 

in Germany, societal constraints have not 

yet been overcome. More Chinese women are 

able to stay in the workforce due to childcare 

infrastructure, not to mention they only have 

one child. This greatly affects the amount 

of time they need to take off from building 

their career compared with Germans. 

Despite the increased presence of women 

in these fields, these gains do not translate 

into increases in income. According to the 

World Economic Forum 2007 survey, Chinese 

women make roughly 66% as much as 

Chinese men in the same field, while German 

women earn 76% of the salary their male 

counterparts take home. 

What challenges remain for both expat and 

local women in China? Five female senior 

managers of German companies share their 

experiences and opinions on the advancement 

of women in China. 


Terese Bareth 

CEO & Principal Consultant 

Bareth Management Consultants 

In 1982, Terese 

Bareth began 

taking Chinese 

courses, which 

brought her to 

Beijing for study 

from 1986-1989. 

Upon graduation, 

she returned to 

China as Manager 

of Controlling and Company Development 

for a major German automotive supplier. 

Afterwards, she founded her own consulting 

company in Shanghai. 

When asked about her experience in China, 

Bareth commented: “I feel like a human 

being here, with equal rights and opportunities 

and this is a great feeling.” She finds less 

gender discrimination here than in Germany, 

citing the high numbers of women studying 

machinery or physics in China. “It’s easier 

here for professional women, grandparents 

are willing to take care of the children. In 

Germany, grandparents are more independent 

so they are willing to help on occasion, but 

not every day.” 

Chinese women generally also receive much 

more equal treatment in the workplace 

when compared to Germany in her opinion. 

However, promotions can be problematic 

when a woman is promoted above her male 

peers. However, she notes this happens in 

many situations when one employee receives 

a promotion, not only because of gender. Over 

the past 20 years, Bareth has noticed a lot of 

very positive changes. Now, Chinese women 

can go anywhere, the world is open for them. 

In major cities, some can decide to have a 

career instead of children, and although still 

rare, Chinese parents and husbands are slowly 

beginning to accept this. 

The biggest challenge Bareth sees for women 

managers in China is for Chinese female 

managers working in global companies. 

While they may achieve high-ranking positions 

here, it is very difficult for them to be 

sent to Europe or North America as a female 

Asian manager. This puts a limit on their 

advancement in a company headquartered 

in Germany. A second challenge is the wage 

gap. A former manager once remarked to her, 

“Hire a woman who will work harder than two 

men for half the price.” 


Katrin Braun 

Managing Director, Asia 

Machwürth Team International (MTI) 

Katrin Braun took 

advantage of her 

electrical engineering 

background to 

climb the career 

ladder at Siemens 

in Germany before 

moving to China 

three years ago. 

She pushed for the 

change after experiencing the rewarding work 

climate on business trips. She acknowledges 

that for most women who already have or are 

planning to have families, working abroad 

proves difficult. However, the support of her 

husband and their two children made the move 

possible. 

After her subsidiary was sold, she decided to 

take up Mandarin study and considered starting 

her own business. During her transition, former 

colleagues referred her to her current position at 

MTI. The opportunity came at the right time, as 

services are expanding in MTI’s realm of organizational 

development. 

When asked about how she perceives gender 

relations here in China, she remarked that the 

situation is more relaxed than in many Western 

countries. Professionally, women have much more 

say than in Germany, and are equally respected 

by male colleagues. However, the private vs. professional 

spheres contrast each other greatly. 

In the household, Chinese women still run the 

show, playing the role of executive by day and 

homemaker by night. 

As far as management strategy is concerned, 

Braun doesn’t feel as though she had to adjust 

her plans to consider potential gender conflicts. 

Instead, she was able to focus more strongly on 

the barriers created by linguistic and cultural 

differences. She emphasizes, “In China, you 

have to check progress more often, and give 

positive feedback. Many German managers give 

negative feedback without positive reinforcement, 

but in China you need to consider that 

professional relationships are much more 

personal.” 

Compared to German women, Braun notes that 

Chinese women have several advantages. Chinese 

women only have one child, and ayis and grandparents 

help. As a result, Chinese women continue 

working, and don’t lose the 5 to 10 years 

that German women do when having children.


Britta Ingenwepelt 


GEZE Industries (Tianjin) Co. Ltd. 

Britta Ingenwepelt’s 

father 

always wanted 

her to be an 

engineer. She 

found the profession 

suited both 

her temperament 

and interests. In 

China, she says, 

customers often first shake hands with a 

male staff member travelling with her, but 

she attributes this more to her youth than 

her sex. All in all, she adds, being a woman 

in the manufacturing industry has drawn 

greater attention to her, and that has been 

an advantage. The one thing she doesn’t 

regularly do here in China however, is the 

dinner and karaoke circuit. Quite often, she 

says, she isn’t even asked to join, while male 

employees are. As a German, she would have 

no problem with a beer or two at dinner 

time, she argues. In the end, not being a 

part of the ‘smoker’s club’ doesn’t hurt her, 

though. 

When sent to China by GEZE, Ingenwepelt 

recalls, there was a single General 

Manager handling everything. Then business 

expanded rapidly, so the position was 

divided. To her surprise, she was immediately 

recommended for the GM Production 

position. As she had already established 

credibility with her colleagues at work, 

there was no question about their accepting 

her ideas or directives. 

Soft spoken, but precise, Ingenwepelt says 

that China requires a more emotional leadership 

style. “At your wedding in Germany, 

perhaps 3% of your guests will be from 

work. In China, it’s 80%,” she says. This 

may be an advantage for women. Additionally, 

the help of ayis, grandparents and 

drivers help working moms have more free 

time. 

Asked for a further comparison, she found 

both production and sales culture to be 

very similar, and China to be much more 

open than expected. One telltale sign that 

China offers true quality of life reveals 

itself at the spa: men are assigned a masseuse, 

and ladies are assigned a handsome 

masseur. Sometimes, it’s not hard to be a 

woman. 

Michaela Stolz-Schmitz 

Vice President of Siemens Ltd. China 

Director of Corporate Marketing and 

the 2008 Projects Department 

Michaela Stolz- 

Schmitz first came 

to China nearly 15 

years ago as the 


of a German 

specialty steel 

manufacturer. 

Having studied 

economics, political 

science and sinology, she was prepared 

for China’s culture. Years as an international 

journalist (Süd-West Funk, ARD) made her 

aware of political and economic issues in 

Asia. 

She says there are more women in the ranks 

of the technical professions in China, even at 

higher levels. This helped her to gain acceptance 

with clients. As for gaining acceptance 

with employees, Stolz-Schmitz maintains 

that in China success very much depends 

on a manager’s ability to be better than the 

team, to further the team’s learning and to 

enable the team to win. However, it also 

depends on the ability to take an interest in 

individuals, strengthening their relationship 

with both the team and company by showing 

concern for their personal and professional 

well-being. While the ability to do this isn’t 

necessarily male or female, it is important to 

success. Perhaps women, she says, are quite 

adept at feeling the pulse of a team. 

From her first position, Stolz-Schmitz moved 

through the founding of a JV in steel, and a 

Chief Representative position in the medtech 

field, which led her to her appointment at 

Siemens. Returning to China in her current 

position at corporate marketing, she also 

took charge of the ‘2008 Project Office’ in 

2005. It aimed to support the many projects 

China was planning to execute for the big 

event in 2008. In all, Siemens gained more 

than EUR 1bn in business. As a great contributor 

to this success, Stolz-Schmitz seems 

to be a textbook case of the talented executive 

for whom China is a significant part of 

an international career. 

At Siemens China, by the way, the malefemale 

ratio is 63:37 overall, and 69:31 at 

the management level, a fact Michaela feels 

makes her proud. 


Ms. Renate Tietjen 


C. Melchers GmbH & Co. KG 

Guangzhou & Chongqing 

Ms. Renate Tietjen has 

been working in China 

for C. Melchers GmbH 

& Co. KG since 1997. 

Additionally, she is 

active as a long-term 

GCC • Guangzhou board 

member and the organizer 

of Women in Business 

in Guangzhou. 

When asked “Why China?” she responded: “By 

accident I learned about the university program 

in my hometown “Economics & Chinese” and 

within 2 weeks I was enrolled. Afterwards 

C. Melchers GmbH & Co. KG offered me the 

position of Purchase Manager in Shanghai. 

The Melchers Group sponsors the Economics/ 

Chinese faculty at Bremen University and over 

the years they have employed many female 

graduates in their overseas branches.” 

Tietjen feels that not only a stay in Asia but 

even frequent business trips here are beneficial 

to career development. She has noticed many 

female managers in high positions in US MNCs 

in the Pearl River Delta, but only a handful of 

German female managers are in the region. “In 

general, I believe that an increasing number of 

women - if given the opportunity - will consider 

an overseas stay more seriously. The question 

is how many will really commit themselves and 

head out,” she said. 

Based on her experience, there is more 

gender equality in the workplace here than 

in Germany. “Indeed it surprised me that 

the Chinese are not as gender minded as 

Germans…women do hold up half the sky. I 

am fully accepted in my position as a female 

Chief Representative…for German female managers 

the greatest challenge [in China] is to 

prove to their German counterparts that they 

are just as capable as men.” 

GC Ticker asked Tietjen if she had a particular 

female entrepreneur she admired. The answer: 

Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop. 

“Against all odds and far earlier than all other 

cosmetic companies she stressed environmental 

protection and no animal testing but still 

managed to establish a world-wide renowned 

brand and company.” 


Business Focus



Good advice is often simple and succinct. But how 

simple is the above quote? While the majority of 

companies value the wisdom of a phrase like this, 

how many are equipped to realize it? 

The China Potential 

Beyond the media coverage of phenomenal GDP growth rates and consistently 

bright economic prospects, managers are faced with a challenging 

set of business decisions. What sets the success stories apart 

from the failures is the extent to which these decisions are informed 

by detailed, reliable, accurate and timely research. How does a 

company get that competitive edge? 

Requests for business intelligence are steadily on the rise globally. 

China is a competitive business environment, with many international 

companies having now operated here for a number of decades. The 

importance of the market means companies are under pressure to get 

things right early and to hit aggressive sales and business growth 

targets. This means making informed business decisions quickly. Managers 

need market mapping, deep understanding of supply chains, and 

knowledge of where the decisions are made and who controls what 

and where. Industry research or business intelligence is a first step. 

From a global perspective, Fortune 500 companies are already monitoring 

the moves of China’s successful domestic companies and the 

techniques for tracking those moves need to become increasingly 

sophisticated. There is great value for smaller companies too, 

especially in terms of being ahead of your competitors. Take the 

example of the road safety equipment manufacturer, who discovered 

through market intelligence that a competitor had already 

registered their trademark for a similar product range in China. 

Primary research methods and an analysis of the competitor’s 

company finance information, helped to establish that the competitor 

planned to expand into overseas markets. Obviously, the 

implications for future decision making were significant. 

What Exactly is Business Intelligence? 

Business intelligence is a systematic and ethical program for 

gathering, analyzing, and managing external information that 

enables your company to make informed business decisions. By 

legally collecting and analyzing a range of information, such as 

databases and “open sources”, business intelligence can also 

highlight the capabilities, vulnerabilities and intentions of business 

competitors. (Fig. 1) 


Intelligence Providers 


Chinese Market Demands 

Fast-Paced Business IQ 

“A strategy without intelligence is not a strategy, it’s merely guessing.” 

Douglas C. Bernhardt, 1997 

There is a diverse range of business intelligence providers. The true 

value of a professional business intelligence provider is in the insight 

they provide, their ability to proactively recommend the best approach 

and to highlight the potential pitfalls for your business. A good business 

intelligence practitioner is one that’s instinctively curious about 

the way industries work, about what drives decision making and about 

the impact of corporate reputation. They should also have plenty of 

questions about the way your own business works too. 

China Challenges 

The very nature of business intelligence means that much of what 

researchers discover is often new and surprising. This is particularly 

true of intelligence gathering in China, where rapid changes in the 

commercial landscape result in immediate changes in commercial 

structures and processes. Projections change frequently, to the extent 

that an industry-specific report can become outdated in 6 months. 

As published commercial information is limited in the same way, the 

role of the researcher also encompasses that of a communications 

channel. When considering what your own business intelligence needs 

are and how a professional can assist you, it’s important to keep the 

difficulty of its goals in mind. (Fig. 2) 

Cultural considerations 

The culture-specific aspects of a market always present an interesting 

challenge to the business intelligence professional and China is cer- 

Market Entry 

Change 

Management 

Communications 

Marketing 

Business and 

Competitive 

Intelligence 

Brand 

Positioning 

Customer 

Loyalty 

Employee 

Retention 

Business 

Development


Difficult 

It can 

be done 

Easy 

Company 

Address 

Brand 

Recognition 

Industy 

Overview 

Investment 

Plans 

Acquisition 

Suitability 

Basic 

Financials 

Supplier 

List 

Shareholders 

Government 

Regulations 

Cost and 

Pricing 

Structure 

Corporate 

Reputation 

Media 

Monitoring 

tainly no disappointment in that respect. Firstly, there’s communication. 

The Chinese language is often vague and somewhat poetic where 

English would be specific and succinct. Often in our office in Shanghai, 

when a vague approach is required and language is optional, we’ll 

choose Chinese over English, as it allows for more flexibility. 

Another challenge is the approach to information collection and dissemination. 

Protecting information is an important characteristic 

of the local culture, along with a reluctance to be held responsible 

for losing it. If a research respondent perceives any risk associated 

with releasing information or providing feedback, they will often 

choose to simply provide no response at all. There is little incentive 

for the average purchasing manager or even government employee 

to provide information to an external party. In response to the specific 

risks associated with passing on information, and since the field 

of market research is also relatively new in China, researchers must 

assure respondents of the standard practices and procedures that are 

designed to protect them and the information they disclose. 

Having said that, China presents a dynamic, fast-paced business environment, 

that embraces an adaptable ‘can-do’ business ethic. In a 

country often considered to be mysterious and unpredictable, we find 

many of the respondents we speak to are open and keen to share 

knowledge. As the fields of business intelligence and industry research 

are new to most respondents here, many of the interviews and discussions 

we hold on behalf of our clients provide refreshing and innovative 

feedback. 

Another key aspect which is often overlooked is the country’s sheer 

enormity. In a market the size of China, geographic differences are 

wide and industries are often fragmented. Extracting comment on the 

nature of one industry across the entire country is unrealistic. It is 

often advisable to collate regional research from across the country to 

build the national picture. China’s administration according to province, 

municipality, district, town and village means a senior manager 

in the province of Zhejiang may well assume that a researcher is only 

considering Zhejiang province when posing questions about issues 

such as the development of an industry over the coming 5 years. The 

challenge for the researcher is that if they emphasize that a national 

perspective is being sought, it’s possible that the respondent will feel 

ashamed of their lack of broader knowledge and become uncooperative. 

For this reason, researchers in China need to carefully ascertain 

Competitor 

Market 

Market 

Forecasting 

Market 

Segmentation 


whether a subject is commenting on the local 

picture and precisely how local it is. 

These geographic differences extend to local 

business practices and customs. With companies 

based in Beijing, for example, it’s often 

a good idea to send a fax to lay down the 

groundwork for a phone conversation. On the 

other hand, in Shanghai, business is conducted 

predominantly over the phone. In Beijing, it 

can be necessary to conduct a face-to-face 

meeting at the outset before further meetings 

are agreed to. This extends the timeline on 

projects, and based on experience, it’s difficult 

for clients outside China to understand the significance 

of this initial face-to-face meeting. 

The value of recognizing a custom such as this 

is enormous, as there is often a transformation 

in attitude on the local side. 

Patience is a virtue – admit early on in the business intelligence 

process that you are never going to have enough data, and work to 

piece together parts of the puzzle over time. 

Laura Mitchelson is Strategic Director of Amber, a Shanghaibased 

consultancy specialized in market and competitive intelligence 

and business analysis in China. Contact: lmitchelson@ 

amberinsights.com. 


Customer 

List 

Organization 

Chart 

Business Focus


Xi’an - North China 

Xi’an – More than history 

To most people Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, is best known as the 

cradle of Chinese culture and a tourist destination where they can visit 

the relics of the ancient capital Chang An, of which the Terracotta Warriors, 

the City Wall, Drum Tower, Bell Tower and the two Wild Goose 

Pagodas are best known. The economic relevance and potential of the 

city in modern times, however, is widely underestimated. 

Xi’an was approved by the 

State Council to be an 

inland opening city in 1992 

and a comprehensive reform 

test city in 1994, which 

made it a key city in West 

China and led to its recognition 

as “The most innovative 

and vigorous city in 

the world” by the United 

Nations Industrial Development 

Organization (UNIDO) 

in 2002. The West China Development Strategy was implemented comprehensively, 

so that the infrastructural premises today surpass those 

of most central Chinese cities and still continue to improve. 

While its economical supremacy is unchallenged in the northwest 

region (i.e. the provinces of Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Qinghai and 

Ningxia), Xi’an competes with neighbouring Sichuan´s capital Chengdu 

and Chongqing in the southwest to attract foreign investment. All 

three cities benefit from their central location and offer ready access 



to the domestic market. For Xi’an it is 600m consumers and 10 provincial 

capitals within 12 hours´ travel time. Regarding export, Xi’an is 

connected to the east coast seaports in the Bohai area. As the largest 

transportation hub in northwest China, Xi’an has formed a network 

of high-level highways, railways and aviation stretching in all directions. 

A major advantage for Xi’an is its role as a logistics hub on the 

Eurasia rail link, which gives access to the Central Asian Republics, a 

connection of growing significance, as the ties to the growing markets 

in Central Asia and Russia among others are tightened by the bian- 

nual Euro-Asia Forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), 

which is also held in Xi’an. Due to its history as a center for research 

and production of military technology, Xi’an has become an important 

base of higher education with more than 80 public and private universities, 

providing companies with a deep pool of talents. For example, 

Jiaotong University In Xi’an is one of the few Top 10 Universities in 

China outside Beijing and Shanghai. 

The city uses a system of “Four Zones and Districts, one Base” to 

develop the six key industries of high technology, equipment manufacturing, 

tourism, cultural industry, modern services and software. Backbone 

of the high-tech industry are bio-medicine, electronic information, 

optical-mechanical-electrical integration, photoelectron, aviation 

and space flight, new materials and high efficiency and energy saving 

environmental protection industry. Main traditional industries in Xi’an 

are equipment manufacturing, light textile industry, chemical industry, 

food and beverage and building materials. The four zones and districts 

and one base are namely the Xi’an Hi-tech Industries Development 

Zone (XHTZ), Xi’an Economic and Technological Industries Development 

Zone (ETDZ), Qujiang New District, Chanba Ecological District 

(CBE) and Yanliang Aviation Hi-tech Industries Base (CAIB). 

For the future the Urban Development Plan of Xi’an is designed to 

lower residential density in the city center adding satellite cities 

outside the Third Ring Road and to establish an industrial region 

in the west, an economic region in the north, a region for tourism 

in the east and a leisure and resort region in the south of the presently 

developed areas. On a provincial level the expanded Xi’an will 

be the center on an east-west-axis along the Longhai Railway and the 

Baotong Highway (“One line and two belts”) from Baoji through Yangling, 

Xianyang, Xi’an, Weinan to Tongguan, forming the Guanzhong 

National Hi-tech Industries Belt, named after the Guanzhong plain 

where the cities are situated. 

Axel Brost | Managing Director - China Consulting Service Ltd. 

Jinyu Huayuan 3252 | No. 63 Xiying Lu | Xi’an 710054 

Tel: 013 9911-74967 | Email: axel.brost@china-consulting-service.com 

| Web: www.china-consulting-service.com


Small Town Feel with Big City Plans 

Changzhou 

Changzhou’s advantageous location right between Shanghai and 

Nanjing has clearly aided its development. Nicknamed the ‘Dragon 

City,’ Changzhou has a track record of flourishing during trying times 

in Chinese history. It benefited from the Taiping Rebellion, which 

constructed some of the city’s premier temples and pagodas. In the 

1930s, the Japanese occupation of Shanghai caused many businesses 

to relocate, resulting in Changzhou importing the entire Shanghai 

cotton and textile industry. Additionally, the city emerged successful 

from the period of the Cultural Revolution while cities such as Shanghai 

were struggling economically. 

With a population of 3.4m, Changzhou is certainly dwarfed by other 

emerging cities such as Nanjing or Hangzhou. However, it makes up 

the difference with its progressive policies. The Changzhou government 

acts to promote a more environmentally-friendly development, 

as evidenced by the closure or relocation of several polluting factories 

in recent years. Furthermore, the city ensures that 99% of its schoolage 

residents attend high school. Many continue onto institutions of 

higher education, which have healthy graduation rates. 

Attractive Environment 

Due to positive developments in the areas of environmental protection 

and human resources, many companies have chosen Changzhou 

as a strategic base along the Yangtze River. The local airport, Grand 

Canal, river network and highway network all make the surrounding 

areas, including Nanjing and Shanghai, accessible within an hour or 

two. Currently, 20,000 manufacturing companies have set up shop in 

Changzhou, including 42 international giants from the West and Asia. 

The Path from Agriculture to Textiles to 

Engineering 

Formerly, Changzhou was a center for the distribution of local agricultural 

products. However, while food processing and distribution are 

still prevalent, the share of traditional agricultural output has shrunk 

to less than 6% of the local economy. The textile industry, spurred by 

the influx of cotton processing in the 1930s, continues to churn along 

strongly. 

East China - Changzhou 

In the manufacturing sector, Changzhou excels in power generation 

due to its access to hydropower. Automotive and motorcycle production 

are also successful, and electronics and engineering machinery 

have made their mark. Diesel engines are one of their top manufacturing 

products. 

Service Sector Blossoms at Changzhou National 

Hi-Tech District 

New high tech industries have also landed in Changzhou, and now 

constitute 50% of the local economy, as evidenced by the Changzhou 

National Hi-Tech District. Since 1992, the CND has filled 20km 2 of its 

total 30km 2 area with 7636 companies, 18 of which rank as Fortune 

500. Located north of the city, the CND offers access to an oceangoing 

port for easy export of goods bound for Shanghai or overseas. 

The CND includes four subsections: 

• Start-up Hi-Tech Park: electronics, pharmaceuticals, biotech, mechatronics 

• Industrial Park: machinery, plastics, chemicals, electronics 

• Commercial & Residential Park: service arm of the CND, including 

educational facilities and residences 

• Tourist Park: Dinosaur Park, expat club and health clubs 

Tourism Initiative Set to Bring in Visitors 

While promoting its history for the purposes of tourism, Changzhou 

also welcomes fresh ideas to boost the number of visitors. From the 

scenic Tianmu Lake to the new Dinosaur Park, visitors can expect quite 

a variety. 

The Tianning Temple, built over 1350 years ago during the Tang 

Dynasty, is one of Changzhou’s historically significant sites. It is also 

known as the “Famous Spot of the Three Wu.” Destroyed and rebuilt 

5 times, the Tianning Temple covers 6.7 hectares and houses over 70 

monks, known for their strict interpretation of Buddhism. The Tianning 

Pagoda is the tallest in China, and perhaps the tallest in the world, at 

153m. 

The location of the temple is significant to the Buddhist religion, 

located in the middle of the 5 directions: east (Lingshan), west 

(Leshan), south (Hong Kong), north (Yuyuan) and center (Langmen), 

where 5 other Grand Buddhas may be found. 

The ruins of the former King’s Palace built during the Taiping rebellion 

are also of note and can be seen near the city center. The palace was 

one of 5 palaces built during the tumultuous era. 

Tianmu Lake, not far away, offers scenic repose from city life. The lake 

which is named “Heavenly Eyes” in Chinese, is shaped in two round 

circles. Visitors come to try the local delicacy fish head soup, hike and 

boat. 

Perhaps one of Changzhou’s most talked-about recent tourism developments 

is the Changzhou China Dinosaur park, sometimes referred to as 

“Oriental Jurassic Park.” The attraction contains fossils from all across 

China, some reconstructed into complete skeletons. The facility offers 

multimedia educational displays, and each room attempts to recreate 

a different scene from prehistoric times. 


Business Focus

BHUTAN L 

ANGLADESH 


y ofBengal 

Yunnan - South China 

MYANMAR 

AndamanSea 

Kunming 

LAOS 

THAILAND 

KAMPUCHEA 


Hanoi 

VIETNAM 

CHINA 

South ChinaSea 

TAIWAN 

Yunnan – Gateway to ASEAN 

PHILIPPINES 

BRUNEI 

Major construction MALAYSIA is now underway in eastern Yunnan Province 

MALAYSIA 

to complete a vast infrastructure project. A new highway linking 

Kunming to Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, should be completed by 

SINGAPORE 

2012, shortening the journey from three days to just 9 hours by truck. 

The Kunming - Hanoi highway is backed by a USD 1.1bn loan from the 

Asian Development Bank (ADB), making it the most expensive project 

in the ADB’s history. 


Philippine Sea 

markets more efficiently. Moreover, the highway will allow Vietnam’s 

Hai Phong and Cai Lan ports to access Kunming, which significantly 

shortens the current route through Fangcheng Port in Guangxi. As a 

result, the transportation network will not only integrate both economies, 

but also spur growth. Vietnamese products will consist mainly of 

agricultural and maritime products which will quickly reach previously 

untapped markets in southwestern China. 

The upgrade of the overland route comes at an opportune time, as 

traffic volume on existing roads between Hanoi and the Chinese border 

town of Hekou has been increasing at a rate of 12% per year. Over 5.5m 

vehicles are expected to use the corridor in 2012, a number that will 

expectedly increase more than three-fold to 17m by 2022. 

Trade in 2007 between Yunnan and the 10 member states of the Asso- 

PAPUANEW GUINEA 

ciation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) reached USD 3bn, up 

Construction workers from both China and Vietnam will soon join INDONESIA 

forces to build the highway, which promises increased opportuni- 

nearly 40% over 2006, with Vietnam replacing Myanmar as the provties 

for the once heavily-guarded border region. Exporters in Kunming 

ince’s top trading partner. 

will be able to ship products which depend on fast access to global 

The Kunming to Hanoi highway project will contribute to the ambitious 

Asian Highway program under which 27 Asian countries have 

IndianOcean 

pledged to build a 139,200km network of roads that meet minimum 

uniform standards. Additional infrastructure projects in Yunnan and 

China’s neighboring countries are currently underway to facilitate 

trade with ASEAN. Some of the more notable projects include a new 

international airport in Kunming and a rail network linking Kunming 

and Singapore via three trunk lines passing through Myanmar, Laos, 

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. 

New band • New location 

New competition 

16-21 September. Jinhan Centre, 

Guangzhou (opposite China Hotel) 

http://oktoberfest.dayoo.com 

These projects propel the ambition to turn Yunnan into China’s 

Gateway to ASEAN. The two emerging economic regions are preparing 

for the ASEAN-China AUSTRALIA Free Trade Area (ACFTA), which will launch 

its first phase in 2010. The ASEAN-China free trade area will have a 

total population of 1.8bn and a combined gross national product of 

USD 2tn when completed in 2010. ACFTA aims to reduce and eliminate 

tariffs and quotas on goods moving between China and ASEAN states. 

Analysts expect an increase in raw materials and natural resources 

flowing into China and manufactured products flowing out. By 2015, 

China and its immediate Southeast Asian neighbors (Vietnam, Laos, 

Myanmar) will also impose zero tariffs on most normal products. 

Due to the crowd-drawing World Heritage sites Ha Long Bay in 

Vietnam and The Three Parallel Rivers in Yunnan, the new highway is 

also expected to expand cross-border tourism between the two countries. 

An increase in demand for tourism is expected to help the region 

develop a more advanced service sector. 

Cutting through thick jungle and scaling steep mountain slopes, 

construction workers act as a vanguard for intensified cooperation 

between China and its regional counterparts. 

NorthPacificO



Business Focus

Minister Steinmeier - AHKs

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