Foreign Correspondents' Club of China

Whither North Korea? A View from Pyongyang

manager — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:48:27 +0000

Change is afoot in North Korea. Kim Jong Il just returned from a lightning dash to China, his main ally, presumably in search of material and political support in a time of great uncertainty. The fallout of the Cheonan sinking continues to unfold: The U.S. has just slapped new sanctions on North Korea, and a new round of naval exercises with South Korea commences this weekend. Meanwhile, Kim, is health reportedly in decline, is grooming his third son as heir in a race against time. Glyn Ford, a member of the European Parliament, is just back from a trip to Pyongyang and will share his thoughts on the current state of play and what dividends engagement may bring at this time.

DATE: Friday, September 3
TIME: 2:00-3:30pm
VENUE:
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Liangmahe Nanlu 4
荷兰王国驻华大使馆 – 北京
中华人民共和国北京市亮马河南路4号
Phone: 010 85320200

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 RMB on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security
clearance

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Glyn Ford was a British Labour member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 2009, during which he has almost constantly been a member of the Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula and Japan. His book “North Korea on the brink: struggle for survival” (Pluto Press, 2008) has been published also in Japanese and Korean, and is currently being translated into Chinese. Before his election to the European Parliament, Glyn worked as a researcher in Manchester University’s Department of Science and Technology Policy, and as professor at the famous Tokyo University.

Meet the CEO: Lee Kai-fu, Chairman and CEO of Innovation Works

manager — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 14:09:33 +0000

Innovation Works was founded one year ago as a business building and investment platform targeting early-stage Internet companies. Its opening received a lot of attention because of its high-profile founder: Kai-Fu Lee, the force behind Microsoft Research China and Google China. It also triggered much debate about whether this type of Silicon Valley style early-stage investing is suitable for China.

After a quiet year in which Innovation Works has largely stayed out of the headlines, Lee will give FCCC an inside view of what his team has been working on, including an Android-based Operating System tailored for Chinese users, an “iTunes for non-iPhones”, an analytic and advertising platform for mobile developers, a social gaming platform that will reach 30 countries, and an innovative e-commerce website. Lee will also outline a new program offering first-time entrepreneurs a chance to receive funding and disclose that more industry giants are investing in Innovation Works.

This event will be hosted in Innovation Works’ new facilities, which will be used for the first time.

DATE: September 6 (Monday)
TIME: 10:30am-12:00pm
VENUE:
Disanji Tower Block B 18/
66 North 4th Ring Road West
Haidian District, Beijing
北京市海淀区北四环西路66号第三极大厦

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 rmb on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Kai-Fu Lee is Chairman and CEO of Innovation Works. A computer scientist by training who received a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in 1988, Lee was a leading figure in the establishment of Microsoft Research China and Google China.

We’d like to thank Andy Mok, president of Red Pagoda Resources and associate member of FCC China, for helping organize this event!

Meet the CEO: Joerg Wuttke, Chief Representative of BASF China

manager — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:53:07 +0000

Event Premiere: Meet the CEO (first in an occasional series)

Joerg Wuttke, Chief Representative of BASF China, will share his thoughts on the current business climate in China.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Since joining BASF in 1997, Mr. Wuttke has been responsible for helping guide the company’s investment strategies for China, negotiate large projects, and cultivate government relations. In 1999 he was founding member of the German Chamber of Commerce in China and from 2001 to 2004 was Chairman of the Board. From April 2007 to April 2010, Mr. Wuttke served as President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China.

BASF Greater China’s revenues in 2009 were about Euro 4.1bn. BASF is the largest chemicals company in the world.

PLEASE NOTE: Mr. Wuttke will speak in his capacity as former President of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China. His views are not meant to represent those of BASF.

DATE: September 1 (Wednesday)
TIME: 10:30am-12:00pm
VENUE:
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
17, Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
德意志联邦共和国驻华大使馆 – 北京市朝阳区东直门外大街17号
Tel: 8532 9000 (map)

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 rmb on the door to non-members

REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance
Please bring your passport or photo ID!

Village Democracy and China’s Coming Political Reforms

manager — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:09:43 +0000

Since 1988, China has been running a huge experiment in village democracy. The results have been mixed. More than 3 million village-level officials have been elected—sometimes, however, in contentious circumstances. There are few signs that such elections will occur at higher government levels. But this process encapsulates many of the challenges that face China as it looks to build on its dramatic economic experiments with political reform. This talk will link what is happening at the most basic level of governance in China with the fate of the nation as a whole.

DATE: Tuesday, August 31
TIME: 4:30-6:00pm
VENUE:
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Liangmahe Nanlu 4
荷兰王国驻华大使馆 – 北京
中华人民共和国北京市亮马河南路4号
Phone: 010 85320200
Website: click here

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 RMB on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Kerry Brown is Senior Fellow at Chatham House on the Asia Programme. His book on village elections, “Ballot Box China,” will be published in early 2011. Kerry has worked in the China Section of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, as First Secretary in Beijing, and as head of the Indonesia East Timor Section at the FCO. His books include “The Cultural Revolution in Inner Mongolia” and “Friends and Enemies: The Past, Present and Future of the Communist Party of China”.

August Happy Hour At The Bookworm

manager — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:07:58 +0000

Come hang out with our members and fellow friends over a drink!

DATE: Friday, August 6th
TIME: 6:30-10:30pm
VENUE: The Bookworm
ENTRANCE: Free. Non-members very welcome as always
DIZZY DRINKS DISCOUNT: FCCC members wielding a valid FCCC membership card get the usual crazy discounts on drought Carlsberg and Yanjing, bottled Tsing Tao, house wine and mixed drinks.

Book Talk: The Party

manager — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 20:02:08 +0000

The most remarkable part of China’s transformation over the last thirty years has been left largely untold—the central role of the Chinese Communist Party. As an organization alone, the Party is a phenomenon of unique scale and power. It not only has a grip on every aspect of government, from the largest, richest cities to the smallest far-flung villages in Tibet and Xinjiang, it also has a hold on all official religions, the media, and the military. It presides over large, wealthy state-owned businesses, and it exercises control over the selection of senior executives of all government companies, many of which are in the top tier of the Fortune 500 list. Journalist Richard McGregor will discuss his recently released book The Party, a probing look at the most powerful force in China today.

DATE: Friday, August 6th
TIME: 10:15-11:30am
VENUE: Italian Embassy Cultural Office
2, San Li Tun Dong Er Jie – 100600 Beijing (enter from 3rd Ring road, see map)
Phone: +86 10 8532.7600
Website: click here
ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 RMB on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance

Please bring passport or photo ID!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Richard McGregor is a journalist and author based in London. Born in Sydney, Australia, he started his career at the Glebe & Western Weekly and Australian Associated Press before joining the Sydney Morning Herald. He has worked for most of the last two decades in north Asia, in Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and China, first for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and The Australian newspaper.

In 2000, he was appointed as the Shanghai bureau chief for the Financial Times, and in 2005, as the China bureau chief. Mr McGregor has also reported for the BBC, the International Herald Tribune and the Far Eastern Economic Review and is the recipient of a numerous regional awards for his reporting.

Mr McGregor is the author of two books, ‘Japan Swings: Politics, Culture and Sex in the new Japan’, published in 1996, and most recently: ‘The Party: The Secret Life of China’s Communist Rulers’, described by The Economist as a “masterful depiction” of the Chinese political system. He is now the deputy news editor for the Financial Times.

Environment Armageddon And China’s New Development Path

manager — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 00:00:30 +0000

For a down and dirty look at China’s environmental challenges, join us for an evening with Jonathan Watts, author of “When a Billion Chinese Jump”, an environmental travelogue published this month. Traversing 100,000 kilometers, the book traces the course of China’s development from coal mines and cancer villages to eco-cities and science labs. Watts considers four key questions: How environmental destruction became the new ‘China threat’; Why history and geography are conspiring against China; Whether scientific development is turning red China green; and Which values offer the greatest potential for future growth.

DATE: Monday, July 26
TIME: 19:00-20:30
VENUE: The Embassy of Romania, Ritan Lu Dong Er Jie (on the East side of Ritan Park)
ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 RMB on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance
**Bring passport or photo ID**

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Jonathan Watts is Asia Environment Correspondent for The Guardian and a former president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China. His multimedia career includes seven years in Japan, five trips to North Korea, the 2000 G8 summit, the 2002 World Cup, the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, and work for CNN, BBC, TV Tokyo, Mother Jones, South China Morning Post and Asahi Shimbun. After taking up his current post in 2009, he covered the Copenhagen climate conference, the Boao Forum, renewable energy and more rubbish dumps than he cares to remember.

The Dragon’s Gift: China’s Overseas Aid

manager — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:18:12 +0000

Is China a rogue donor, as some media pundits suggest? Or is China helping the developing world pave a pathway out of poverty, as the Chinese claim? In the last few years, China’s aid program has leapt out of the shadows. Media reports about huge aid packages, support for pariah regimes, regiments of Chinese labor, and the ruthless exploitation of workers and natural resources in some of the poorest countries in the world sparked fierce debates. These debates, however, took place with very few hard facts. In a presentation based on her new book, “The Dragon’s Gift: The Real Story of China in Africa,” Deborah Brautigam will tackle the myths and realities of China’s “going global” strategy.

DATE: Thursday, July 22
TIME: 10:30am-12:00pm
VENUE:
Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Liangmahe Nanlu 4
荷兰王国驻华大使馆 – 北京
中华人民共和国北京市亮马河南路4号
Phone: 010 85320200
Website: click here

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 RMB on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance
**Bring passport or photo ID**

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Deborah Brautigam is a professor in the International Development Program at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC. A long-time observer of Asia and Africa, Ms. Brautigam has lived in China, West Africa and Southern Africa, and traveled extensively across both regions as a Fulbright researcher and consultant for the World Bank, the UN, and other development agencies.

Exploding Myths About Chinese Spending Power

manager — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:49:08 +0000

The 2010 World Expo has everyone’s attention focused on Shanghai, but the real growth story in China is in 2nd and 3rd tier cities like Hangzhou and Hefei. With the RMB possibly set to appreciate further against the US Dollar, consumer spending power may increase. Is it time for multinationals to sell to 1.3 billion people, or is still an elusive dream? Shaun Rein, the founder of China Market Research Group, will discuss trends in consumption in China and break down myths about high savings rates, price sensitivity, and Chinese women’s spending power. Shaun will also take a look at specific consumer segments and industries to see who will be helped – and who will be hurt – by an appreciating RMB.

DATE: Friday, July 30 2010
TIME: 14:00-15:30
VENUE: Royal Norwegian Embassy - 1, Dong Yi Jie, San Li Tun 100600 Beijing (enter from 3rd ring road South direction)
挪威使馆，朝阳区三里屯东一街1号 Tel: +86 10 8531 9600, website, map

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 RMB on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance
**Bring passport or photo ID**

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Shaun Rein is Managing Director of CMR, a leading strategic market intelligence firm. Shaun writes columns for Forbes and for Business Week’s Asia Insight section. He appears regularly on American Public Radio’s Marketplace and NPR and is a frequent commentator on TV news programs.

Solving The Mystery Of Yunnan Sudden Death Syndrome

manager — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 09:47:09 +0000

For more than 30 years, people of all ages have been dropping dead from sudden cardiac arrest in northern Yunnan. The vast majority of deaths occur during the summer rainy season, from June to August. But this summer, people across Yunnan may be able to rest easy. After a 5-year investigation, a team led by the Chinese CDC in Beijing believes it has uncovered the syndrome’s chief cause. Dr. Robert Fontaine of the U.S. CDC in Beijing will describe a fascinating medical detective story and unveil the surprising culprit.

DATE: Tuesday, July 13 2010
TIME: 02:00-03:30pm
VENUE: Singapore Embassy
No. 1 Xiu Shui Bei Jie (map)
Jian Guo Men Wai, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600
Phone: 6532 1115

ENTRANCE: free to FCCC members, 50 rmb on the door to non-members
REGISTRATION: email fcccadmin@gmail.com so we know numbers and for security clearance

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Robert Fontaine is an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is currently on assignment as senior adviser to the Chinese CDC’s China Field Epidemiology Training Program (CFETP), a unit formed in 2001 to crack the toughest disease cases. In 2007 he received the Friendship Award, the highest honor given to foreign experts by the Chinese government.