China Direct

Protecting your IP in China - free Webinars for EU SMEs

 

[Image courtesy of www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu]

Dear CBI members,

Kindly find an invitation below from our strategic partner, the EU SME Helpdesk (Beijing), for EU SMEs to register for a series of free IP webinars to be held on Wed 30 May and Tues 19 June.   

Register now for the Upcoming China IPR SME Helpdesk Webinars

China IPR SME Helpdesk web-based seminars are free of charge, practical and business-focused training sessions that you can join from the comfort and convenience of your own computer.

Our IP experts will deliver a detailed, jargon-free overview of the key IPR considerations that European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) need to be aware of, and present a range of simple, cost-effective measures to protect European SMEs’ intellectual property and business in China. 

The seminars will also highlight the long term costs to businesses that do not take preventative action, through case studies and information on typical costs of recovering IP assets.

 Save the dates of our webinars:

1. 1.      Wed 30 May 2012 - Using IP as a Business Asset in China (click here)
2. 2.      Tues 19 June 2012 - Protecting Online IPR in China (click here)

 For more information on Helpdesk webinars and the simple registration process, please visit the following link and view our 2-page Quick Start Guide.

 

 

Using Intellectual Property as a Business Asset Join us for a Webinar on May 30     Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/455474750 Intangible assets such as inventions, designs and brands frequently represent over 50% of a business' value, which are usually protected by intellectual property such as trade marks, patents and copyrights. Managing these assets strategically will help you capture the value of your IPR and could significantly increase the financial valuation of your business. This webinar will introduce the following : •  Maximising IP assets to manage return on investment, and drive your business     infringers •  Providing security for financing through IP •  Optimising business strategy and structure in China to protect IP assets •  How IP assets can affect tax rates Join China IPR SME Helpdesk expert, Davide Follador, on Wednesday 30 May 2012 for:   “ Using Intellectual Property as a Business Asset ”     This free, 45-minute webinar presentation and 30 minute Q&A session on Wednesday 30 May 2012 at 10.30am Brussels time (9.30am London, 4.30pm China) will take you through a range of simple, cost-effective measures to protect your intellectual property and your business in China. Get valuable insights from our expert, and ask live questions throughout the webinar. Please see our short 2-page Quick Start guide for more information on Helpdesk webinars, how they can help your business, and the simple registration process. This webinar and associated materials will be in English. Title: Using Intellectual Property as a Business Asset Date: Wednesday, May 30, 2012 Time: 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM CEST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer Special note for Mac users: If you are joining our webinar on a Mac®, please make sure your computer meets the system requirements below: •   Safari™ 3.0 or newer, Firefox® 3.0 or newer or Google™ Chrome™ 5.0 or newer     (JavaScript™ and Java™ enabled) •   Mac OS® X 10.5 – Leopard® or newer •   Intel processor (512 MB of RAM or better recommended) •   Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection If you are asked to enable Java™ during the setup process, press the “enable” button, and then restart your internet browser for the changes to take effect. Please note: you cannot just close the browser window. You must quit and restart the browser for Java™ to be enabled. If you experience technical problems joining the webinar, please call the GotoWebinar 24 hour technical support team who will take you through the process. This is a local number that varies between countries - visit http://support.gotomeeting.com under the ‘Contact Us’ section to see your local technical support number. COMING SOON: Be the first to sign up for our other upcoming webinars: Protecting Online IPR in China: Tuesday 19 June 2012 (click here)

11th National People's Congress (NPC) Policy Highlights

[Image courtesy of www.news.cn] 

On Monday, China opened the Fifth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Nearly 3,000 NPC deputies from across the country attended the opening meeting together with top Party and state leaders.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao delivered a government work report at the opening meeting covering major targets for 2012, fiscal and monetary policies, price control, agriculture, economic restructuring, nuclear power, marine development, people's wellbeing, spending on education, cultural development, etc.

Highlights included:

• Major targets set for 2012 included GDP growth of 7.5%, the creation of nine million new jobs in towns
and cities, growth of the volume of total exports and imports by about 10%, etc.

• The broad money supply is projected to increase by 14%.

• RMB 1.23 trillion will be allocated for agriculture, rural areas, and farmers, RMB 186.8 billion more
than last year.

• China will formulate and implement a strategy for marine development.

• Spending on education will account for 4% of GDP.

• The government will complete five million units of low-income housing and start construction on more
than seven million units.

Please click here to read further highlights of the government work report and here for additional media coverage.

CBI Director General upbeat about UK-China trade prospects

[Image courtesy of www.cbi.org.uk]

CBI Director General John Cridland CBE was interviewed by the Global Times during his recent visit to China.

Despite the challenging economic environment there are huge opportunities for UK business to increase its trade with China.

John Cridland shares his thoughts on UK business in China, opportunities for Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the UK and highlights the outstanding success of CBI members Intercontinental Hotels Group and Jaguar Land Rover in China.

Please click here for the interview, published today in the Global Times newspaper.

 

 

   

Game, Set and Match. Penguin secures rights to Chinese Tennis Star Li Na Memoir

 

[Image courtesy of www.penguin.com]

Penguin's acquisition of rights to a book by a Chinese author to be published in the Chinese language is a first for the UK-based publisher, marking a new direction for Penguin's growing business in China.

Jo Lusby, Managing Director of Penguin China, said, "We are privileged to be able to work with Li Na to share her insights into the highs and lows of professional sport. With her reputation as a thoughtful, intelligent, straight talker, we believe this book will provide a fascinating window into the life of a professional sports player in China. This is a book that will not only appeal to fans of tennis, but also to those in China who are striving for success in this changing and dynamic country."

Penguin will co-publish Li Na's memoir, provisionally titled "How to Go West and Win", with a Chinese partner in early 2012.

Please click here to read the full press release by Penguin.

European Business in China - 2011/2 Position Paper launch

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.euccc.com.cn]

Yesterday, the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) released its 2011/2012 Position Paper, which provides an overview of the views of many European companies doing business in China.

The Position Paper is the product of six months of consultation, which involved hundreds of companies and individuals from European businesses operating across China.

The report includes chapters on a wide range of sectors, including aviation, construction, information and communication technology, logistics, maritime transport, travel, banking & securities, insurance, private equity, etc.

The report also includes chapters on numerous cities and regions across China, including Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing, the Pearl River Delta, Shanghai, Shenyang and Tianjin.

Highlights from the 2011/2012 Position Paper include:

     • China's strategic importance for global companies is rapidly increasing.
     • Key goals outlined in China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) such as upgrading the industrial 
       sector, developing the service sector and encouraging innovation and green development match the 
       strengths of European companies in managerial know-how, the provision of services and green 
       and advanced technology.
     • The Position Paper brings together a significant number of recommendations for both Chinese and 
       European policymakers.

The CBI, together with the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) , is organising the launch of the Position Paper in London on 22 September, which will be hosted by leading global insurance broker and CBI member Willis Group.

Pleease click here to read the Executive Summary of the Position Paper and here to access the full report.

Chinese Premier Wen visit to the UK - the real deal

 

 

China and the UK signed trade deals worth £1.4 billion ($2.3 billion) during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s three-day visit to the UK this week. 

Premier Wen's visit demonstrates the growing commitment of both China and the UK to continue deepening bilateral ties through engagement at the highest levels.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang visited the UK earlier this year in January while UK Prime Minister David Cameron led the largest ever British delegation to China last November.

Each of the three high-level visits in the past eight months have yielded impressive packages of new business deals.

CBI members were well-represented in the commercial agreements signed during Premier Wen’s visit this week. Highlights include:

CBI member BG Group signed an agreement with Bank of China for $1.5 billion of new funding options to support the UK company's global growth plans.

CBI member Diageo received approval from Chinese regulatory authorities in Beijing to acquire a majority stake in well-known Chinese liquor maker Shuijingfang.

CBI member Benoy announced four new contracts for infrastructure projects worth over £10 million for the British company

CBI member Arup signed an MOU on railway cooperation with China Railway Engineering Corporation.

CBI member Nottingham University signed an agreement with China Aviation Industry Corporation to establish a new R&D centre at the University of Nottingham.

CBI member University College London signed an MOU with leading Chinese ethanol producer Tianguan Group on the development of a biogas research facility near the city of Nanyang in central China's Henan Province.

Premier Wen's visit also yielded a number of important government-to-government agreements, including:

UK Trade & Investment and China's Ministry of Commerce signed an MOU on cooperation on investment promotion.

The agreement reflects the UK government's desire to support Chinese investment into priority asset classes, such as infrastructure, as part of the new UKTI strategy to encourage more innovative and high-growth foreign direct investment into the UK.

UK Trade & Investment and China's Ministry of Commerce signed an agreement on trade in services, which will help support increased exports of UK services to China. The UK enjoys particular expertise in the services sector, and the country's services exports to China have been growing at an average of 17-18% annually over the last decade.

Please read more about the outcomes of Premier Wen's visit to the UK here and here.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper, CBI Policy Analyst, for this contribution.  

2011 European Business Confidence Survey - China - Headlines

 

 

Yesterday, the European Chamber of Commerce in China (EUCCC) released the results of its 2011 Business Confidence Survey.

The EUCCC achieved a record response rate of 44% of its members, with nearly 600 European companies having completed the survey. The Chamber identified the following three key messages arising from the results of its survey:

     1. China is an increasingly strategic market.
     2. Competition in China is increasing.
     3. Companies are concerned about China's regulatory environment.

Other key highlights include:

     • 79% of respondents have an optimistic business outlook for growth in China.
     • 59% of respondents are planning new China investments, up from 48%.
     • 78% of respondents reported an increase in revenue over last year.

Please click here to read the full EUCCC Business Confidence Survey and here and here for additional media coverage.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper of the CBI's Beijing office for preparing this summary.

Stop Press - 2011 EU China Business Confidence Survey

 

 
[Image courtesy of www.europeanchamber.com.cn]

The findings of the annual EUCCC business confidence survey will be circulated tomorrow, Wednesday 25th May 2011.

China Direct will be attending the official Survey Launch event in Beijing and looks forward to sharing with members key headlines and observations shortly.

EUCCC Business Confidence Survey

Background:

Since 2004, the European Chamber has conducted an annual survey of member companies to monitor their views on the business environment and gather their opinions on trade and investment in China.

The European Chamber Business Confidence Survey 2011 is once again produced in partnership with Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, and draws on feedback from nearly 600 European companies – the highest participation rate ever.

This year's survey offers insight on European business confidence in the Chinese market at a time of impressive growth, rising competition, and the release of China’s 12th Five Year Plan.
 
The results – the most comprehensive and wide-ranging set of data yet gathered for this annual survey – will provide the most up-to-date and in-depth analysis on sentiment among European businesses about the Chinese business environment.

This information will have important implications for Chinese and European policy-makers, businesses, organizations as well as the general public.

US-China Relations - May 2011 Strategic Economic Dialogue

 

 

 [Image courtesy of www.apcoworldwide.com]

CBI Member APCO has provided a useful summary of last week's 3rd US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue held in Washington DC from 09-10 May.

Kindly review the summary below.

Download APCO - US-CH SED May 2011

China's Twelfth Five Year Plan (2011-2015) - the Full English Version

 

The Delegation of the European Union in China has very kindly prepared a full English translation of China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).

In mid-March 2011, the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, approved the new Five-Year Plan (FYP).

China's FYPs are blueprints which outline key economic and development targets for the country for the next five-year period.

This is essential reading for businesses seeking to either expand their existing China operations or position themselves in the market for the first time.

To download the full translation of the current FYP please click below:

Download Full translation 5 Yr Plan 2011-2015