My friend Ng Sauw Tjhoi, journalist with Radio1 in Belgium came to bug me again. As he is a nice guy he had the full treatment and was shown around in the Gongti area (workers’ Stadium, the Gongti Strip with the discos, etc.). And yes, guess where he ended up: in my favorite sauna house. A real discovery for him and the interview had ample coverage of our visit. The staff in Pacific Ocean Club were a bit surprised by me being followed around with a naked reporter, microphone in hand. I did check with him – no hidden cameras (you never know with those guys!).
So I came on the radio on Saturday morning 17 February (Belgian time). See attached the PDF with the details. Some of my family and friends heard it and e-mailed me. Gilbert, the sauna & massage expert. Sounds better than just “China specialist”. Thanks to the Internet I could listen online to the program – the website of the radio works great really. Just like listening life.
Ng Sauw Tjhoi also wrote a book, see here my comments.
Casino Royale: 007 is no more
A couple of days ago I went with Valerie to see the movie in a theater near us, cozy seats, large screen and (loud) surround sound. Not cheap to watch the movie: 60 RMB per person (about € 6).
Valerie had the right verdict: “it just looks like another one of those action movies”. Indeed, what’s the difference with the like of Mission Impossible? The charm and predictability of the REAL Bond movies is gone. Valerie: “he’s not really sexy either”. Can’t fully judge about that but I tend to agree. No more funny gadgets and secret weapons shown at the beginning.
And M is not calling when Bond is busy with a gorgeous girl at the end of the movie.
As a true 007 fan, I’ll stick to my collection of the old Bond movies. Call me old-fashioned – maybe – but it’s not the same anymore. Not the type of movie you want to watch again and again and add to the collection.
Celebrating The Year of the Pig – the traditional way
On Saturday afternoon I tried to have a last visit to the gym but had the wrong closing time – when I arrived at 4 pm they were closing for the holidays. So I walked a bit around in the area up to Full Link Plaza where I had a coffee at Starbucks. There was an eerie silence in our neighborhood, like during SARS. What were they all doing?
Simple. Making JIAOZI – Chinese dumplings. When I arrived home soon the family came over and started the sacred ritual: making them all together (the modern version to buy them at the supermarket is not the right stuff). And then the whole family sat down to eat, simply in the kitchen (our kitchen is more than big enough).
See the family busy in the kitchen – preparing jiaozi and eating
This year, again, fireworks are permitted. We got two boxes from friends (the stuff we get from Chinese has no limits, from fruit to vegetables, a whole lamb, cognac, cigars, etc.). So, Sun had to put up a sign of “no smoking”. We wouldn’t want to blow up the office, or? (Hmmm… sometimes I feel like). All around in the neighborhood stalls went up to sell the vast array of ear piercing fireworks. Biggest outlet was at the north gate of Workers’ Stadium (comes in handy, buy one before entering Mix or Vics).
I am not fond of those dangerous rockets. One of our friends once got one straight hitting her neck – a dog had jumped on the stick and it misfired. She ended up in the hospital. In Belgium.
Well, no escaping for me, life in Beijing is dangerous (= hardship post!!!). So, there we all went in front of Babyface near the building under-permanent-construction-but-now-being finished. I stayed far enough (excuse: I have to make the pics). Valerie had her protective gear. Nobody got hurt and the workers of the building had their fun too. A fire truck came to check us out but left disappointed – nobody on fire.
Valerie protected – our best shot – being checked by the firemen
Of course in China pictures are mandatory so we had a long photo shoot.
the entire family – Valerie & Beibei
The good thing about most Chinese dinners: start early, finish early. So after 9 pm we retreated to our top floor to watch the famous (?) CCTV New year program on TV, with the curtains open to watch Gongti Xilu and Julong under fire.
As I wrote earlier, NO PIGS under whatever form in the program. This Chinese Year is “muslim friendly” and animal-less. A bit boring for me to watch, too much blabla but Sun and Valerie were laughing with all the jokes. Yeah, yeah, one day (2027) I’ll understand it too.
The fireworks were never-ending and gave the impression we were under attack and the Guancai Building (where the Alliance Française is located) on fire. I hope those people closed the windows… they were literally being hit.
fireworks in Gonti Xilu, near Guancai & Coco Banana and right above Bar Destination (those were GAY fireworks?) – Julong compound being surrounded by artillery
So, with a bottle of Muscadet, some cigars and Belgian chocolates we entered the New Year. Now we can all eat like a pig.
The Year of the Pig is coming – saudades do Brasil
Sunday 18 February – a new Chinese Year.
Strange, I always feel emotional during this period of the year. The noise of the fireworks and fire crackers make me nervous. Why? Not that I have something against this traditional holiday (I’ll eat lots of dumplings this evening). I could say, the booms remind me of some war I went through. Not the case. Maybe it reminds me too much of my Brazilian time, very often the Festival comes at the same time as Carnival – both days are linked to moon: 50-47 days before the first Sunday after the first full moon after Vernal Equinox, or in layman’s terms, Ash Wednesday is calculated as 46 days before Easter Sunday, and carnaval falls on the 4 days before Ash Wednesday. (see www.brazilcarnival.com). Easter is linked to the moon cycle…
So this year, both dates are once again the same. When the Year of the Pig starts I always want to put some Samba Enredo at full blast – my Brazilian spirit awakens. Listen here to Unidos de Vila Isabel – 2006.
Saudades, saudades… Vou tomar uma boa pinga. Sim gente boa, achei aqui mesmo em Pequim. Saúde.
8 Feb 07: the EU is called for an exciting meeting by MofCom
Well, this is what we all thought.
The meeting was held in the Beijing News Plaza Hotel and attended by a wide range of European embassies and chambers of commerce (the room ended up fully packed). So, out of faithful dedication to the European Chamber I took part, together with its chairman, secretary general and others.
The speakers panel from left to right:
The moderator; Mr. Werner Hans Lauk (German Embassy, Minister Counselor), vice minister Yu Guangzhou of the Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Xu Bingjin, president of CEATEC; Dr. Michael Pulch (EU delegation, Deputy Head, Minister Counselor).
Germany presently holds the EU presidency.
While the EU side was constructive in its declarations and warmly thanked MofCom for hosting the meeting, the much anticipated speech by the vice minister was unfortunately once again a poor example of how some officials make us spend time to listen to non-information. What was communicated in terms of “data” one can read in better detail in China Daily or any other newspaper. Nothing new. As I am used to those lengthy waste-of-time type of meetings, my brain has been trained to do other things (review notes from other meetings, learn Chinese) while being on stand-by to any worthwhile points. Well, I heard three that woke my brain up:
– Germany was in the past a good friend of China but that seems to “have changed”, better tell that to their Chancellor (what did SHE do wrong?)
– the EU should do more to export to China but if EU companies are not competent enough, well, nothing much MofCom can do.
– IPR enforcement is fine and people can get years of prison for it (really? sure?)
Obviously, many in the audience were not amused, particularly by the “comment” about Germany in front of the whole EU audience. They surprised me by their strong reaction (maybe I have become too used to this?)
The EUCCC in the corner: Ian Kay (interim Secretary General), Ms. Carol He (Government Affairs), Ms. Hanna Boehme (SME Working Group Chairperson – Landesbank Baden-Württemberg)
As for us of the European Chamber, we had to provide our name in advance for the seating arrangement. But nothing was done, we had to scramble to find a seat. Who knows what we have done wrong too. Our Position Paper?
Conclusion: I guess few people will turn up in the future for similar meetings. Talking about “communication and bridge building between China and its top trading partner”.
Our consolation prize: a big heavy book (621 pages) all in Chinese, version 2005, about “China and Europe”. Mentions Czechoslovakia. Belgium was not listed (maybe they only know Brussels?). Possibly the ministry had to clean out their stock before printing the 2006 edition.
China does have some excellent communicators and of course needs to defend its national interests, fair enough. They were in other meetings?
The good point for me was to meet other friends from the EU. As for the buffet, I run back home and preferred my bread from the Kempinski and cold cut & Cheese from the Sanlitun Friendship Supermarket.
Later comments: 28 February 07
I received some interesting feedback on the meeting from others. They actually felt the EU speakers came up with too many and too lengthy (and repetitive) complaints on trade issues, upsetting the vice minister. It seems the vice minister then cut short and changed his speech, lashing out at the EU representatives… and omitting the news he was supposed to announce. Well, maybe a valid point. So, as often happens – miscommunication on both sides?