Month: October 2006

Do you REALLY want to learn Chinese?

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Twenty-five years of China. Swell. Of course the first question/reaction I get: “So, your Chinese must be perfect?!”. Aaaaaaaaaah. That always hurts.
My standard answer is (in Chinese if needed): sorry, always too busy, 7 days a week, no time to learn. But I try. So sorry.
Yes I do try. Living in a country where you stare at the TV without having much of a clue what is going on is a frustration. Not to even mention the strong interest to be able to talk with any Chinese. I do defend myself with taxi drivers (my best teachers) and sometimes I wonder how we manage to talk about so many things. Worst for me: seems the pronunciation of my limited vocabulary is pretty good, so Chinese assume I am really fluent and rattle on with full enthusiasm. Help! Ting bu dong!!!! (= I don’t understand)
Most foreigners come here and have the best of intentions to learn Chinese. They look down on me as a kind of retarded, anti-Chinese expat of a bygone era. One year later they still try to order a taxi.
The truth is, Chinese is very hard to learn. I got a devastating look at reality when I bought a nice Pinyin/Chinese-English dictionary. Looking up a word I understood that it would be foolish to learn the language by spending 15 minutes a day. I meet so many bright young people who have studied Chinese for many years. When we interview them, the overwhelming majority is unable to independently use the language for business (except the ones you pay far over US$ 4,000 a month).
Of course some foreigners really master the language and their numbers increase by the day. But discuss with them and you discover it took them years of hard work, passion and dedication. You can’t (seriously) work in Beijing and learn the language. You have to chose.
Frustrating it is and I try my best every day.

don't click if you learn Chinese right now

China Daily is running some funny and interesting articles about foreigners trying to cope with Chinese. See here an illustration in the article of 29 September 06, it looks much like that devastating moment I had with the dictionary. Sun rubbed the salt in the wound by commenting, “Oh there are many more characters!”. Yes, dear, you are ALWAYS right. Amen. Lesson 1: Chinese is VERY hard to learn; lesson 2: never argue with a Chinese lady, even less if you are married to her.
(FYI: I speak some 6 languages quite decently, NOT including Chinese).

A new book: “De Essentie van China” – Jeanne Boden

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Sorry, this one is in Dutch. But I’ll comment in English. Click here (De_essentie_van_China.pdf) to have the official introduction (in Dutch) of Jeanne’s book.
Yeah, I know, one more about China. So, I am starting a new section on my blog dedicated to all those China specialists and their insights.
As Jeanne is from my home town – Ghent, Belgium – she gets my special attention. As she also uses an Apple laptop, she deserves it even more.
On Monday 25 September our Belgian ambassador, Bernard Pierre, opened his embassy for Jeanne to introduce her book. He opens his embassy A LOT recently, can’t criticize him for not reaching out to the Belgian community… The room was well filled with an attentive Dutch speaking audience.

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The ambassador introducing Jeanne, Jeanne talking about Chinese onions and Jeanne with her book.

Let me be straight – I was expecting the usual ramblings about how to behave here and do business. Well, she came with a very different angle, very much focused on the cultural and philosophical impact that Chinese history still has on its citizens. I might have a more straight-to-the-point attitude – I am an engineer for something – but I have to admit that explaining how our Chinese friends behave today referring to Confucius, Taoism and tradition can make a lot of sense for foreigners who have little clue about the country. It makes the pragmatic tips more acceptable.
In general I agree with her point of view, except for some minor aspects. Living here every day gives one a different perspective.
As for the impact of the old philosophies I would even say (that was not so well addressed in the presentation), after decades of brainwashing and removing anything closely related to culture, religion and philosophy I see a clear revival. Up to the point the Chinese government is embracing Confucius thought and traditions – Buddhism is OK too. Newspapers are filled with articles on Confucius and there is a hot debate on what Confucius is supposed to look like. Well, that’s settled as there is now an “official” statue and likeness of the philosopher. In another blog posting I’ll show you my very own official portrait of Confucius.

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The official portrait of Confucius – Shanghai Daily, 25 September 06

Jeanne might be disappointed I did not (yet) buy her book. I made a promise to first read the pile of other China books and euh… I concentrate on English literature.
I hope Flemish businesspeople will take the time to study her side of the story before heading to China unprepared. Wishful thinking, I know, watching so many clueless foreigners tripping over the booby-traps in business. Anyway, some never learn. Like listening to people who know the right door to knock on. Of course, they know best and those pests called “lobbyists” (they do not only exist in D.C.) dare ask for consultancy fees. How dare they.

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The view in the IHT on lobbyists

A new and major investor country in China!

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

We are currently reviewing the translation of an investment guide of one of the major Beijing government bodies (remains anonymous…).

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We discovered a new investor country, ranking no. 4 on the list: “British Viking Islands”. We consulted our atlas but failed to identify this British colony with an overwhelming population of Vikings. No embassy in Beijing either. We are still trying Google search. Maybe some Belgian newspaper talks about it but now Google cannot quote those news sources anymore. Pity.

Tough talk of Frank Lavin in Beijing?

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Frank Lavin, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, spoke to AmCham-China and US-China Business Council members at the American Club on 31 July 06.
He was in town to meet Chinese officials about ongoing market access and compliance issues. He commented that China is expected to replace Japan as the U.S.’s third largest export market by the end of 2006 and that U.S. exports to China grew 36.5% on a base of US$ 41 billion during the first half of 2006.

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Amcham’s Chairman Emory Williams introducing Lavin (he has a never ending list of achievements) and Lavin addressing the audience

Lavin said, recent sentiments in China for setting an FDI cap and tightening foreign investment policies were worrisome. “It is precisely the international sector of the Chinese economy that has been most successful,” he said. He added that for China to remain an export superpower, it needed to adopt international standards, those set by a free market rather than by the government. While noting that some protectionist sentiments exist in the U.S., the dominant philosophy was that U.S. economic growth lies in keeping its markets open and encouraging investment abroad, Lavin said. (comments from AMCHAM)
The China Economic Review added other comments – that the greatest challenge American businesses face in China is not lack of intellectual property rights or an undervalued yuan, but the “worrisome trend” of economic nationalism.
Mr. Lavin was in Beijing and Shanghai to address several issues, including US-based Carlyle’s attempted takeover of Xugong Construction Machinery, Citigroup’s bid for a controlling stake in Guangdong Development Bank, and Beijing’s upcoming decision on which 3G technology it will adopt as its standard.
For sure some sensitive and hot issues… I can agree with Lavin’s comments – nothing really new for me. Only now some observers start noticing the increasing trend of economic protectionism. The WTO grace period may come to an end soon but don’t expect the front gates to swing wide open. I made this comment five years ago when China joined the WTO. Just look at the closing doors as far as M&A are concerned.
It doesn’t mean there are no business opportunities – one just has to find the sectors where China agrees to open door to do the business it wants and needs, not the ones foreign companies dream about. That Mr. Lavin will have to understand… China wants to have a say in trade, investment and where it takes the country. It wants to decide its own fate and become more independent. Not that all will be pleased.

Beijing Rotary: Gift of Life program

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

On 20 July 06 the Beijing Rotary Club held a small reception, sponsored by Kempinski Hotel. The event was to welcome back Kong Li from Shaanxi Province, 9 years old, who had a successful surgery in New York. Media delegates also attended.

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See in the picture: Mr. H. C. Kwok, General Manager of Continental Airlines; Kong Li with his father; Mrs. Sarah Randt, wife of the US Ambassador; Ruby Chang (Chairperson, Gift of Life, Beijing Rotary); Mike Furst (Beijing Rotary President).
The Gift of Life was established in 1975 by Rotary International and started full scale in China in 2001. Its purpose is to fund corrective heart surgeries for less privileged children. As a result, by 2005 the program helped 170 Chinese children out of which 25 underwent heart surgery in the USA. Other operations were done in Chinese partner hospitals.
The Gift of Life is one of the many programs of our Beijing Rotary Club.