China Direct

CBI makes the case for British Business in China

 

CBI MAKES THE CASE FOR BRITISH BUSINESS IN CHINA

The CBI’s Director-General is visiting China this week on a trade visit with the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Theresa May.

Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI Director-General, said:

“The Sino-British relationship is a tremendous success story. From services to schools, and iPhones to tea, our countries have a special and integral place in each other’s lives.

“British businesses are keen to play their part in further deepening and engraining the economic ties between China and the United Kingdom. With the consumer market alone worth over £3.3 trillion, this relationship creates thousands of jobs in the UK and China, raising living standards and boosting productivity.

“As the UK forges a new global trading future, it is well ahead of the curve in making the most of its relationship with the world’s fastest growing economy. By making inroads into China’s lesser economically known regions, the UK stands to profit from China’s move from manufacturing and infrastructure into technology and services, writing a new chapter in the golden era of relations.”

30 January 2018

Notes to Editors:

Read the CBI’s latest report on British trade and investment with China, Sterling Assets China.

Across the UK, the CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors. The CBI’s corporate members together employ nearly 7 million people, about one third of private sector-employees. With offices in the UK as well as representation in Brussels, Washington, Beijing and Delhi, the CBI communicates the British business voice around the world.

Media Contact:

CBI Press Office is available 24 hours a day on 0207 395 8239, or email: [email protected]. Follow the CBI (@CBItweets), Carolyn Fairbairn (CBICarolyn) and CBI China (CBIBEIJING) on Twitter.

CBI Member ABB wins China Green Award

 
 

[Image courtesy of www.abb.com]

CBI member ABB aims to invest $100 million in China in 2011 as it positions itself to take advantage of significant opportunities arising from the Chinese government's push to improve energy efficiency in the national economy.

According to Joe Hogan, CEO of ABB, "We look at any type of power resources in China to find opportunities that support China's transition to a low-carbon and high-efficiency economy in its 12th Five-Year Plan. Thus, the investment in energy efficiency and renewable resources sectors will be our emphasis.”

With its deep presence in China, the leading Swiss power giant is well-situated to supply the power and automation technologies that will help China achieve its goals of improving energy conservation and environmental protection in the years ahead.

Please read more here.

Last week, ABB was recognised at the 2010 China Ecology Award Ceremony for its green contributions to the Chinese economy when it received the "2010 China Ecology Cooperation Award."

The event was held by the China Green Foundation and supported by the United Nations Environment Programme, the National Forestation Committee and the State Administration of Forestry.

At the award ceremony, Zheng Shiwen, head of Sustainability Affairs for ABB China, said, "ABB honours its commitment to corporate social responsibility in an active and sustainable way, and fully contributes to the development of a harmonious society. This award recognises the tremendous efforts that have been made by ABB's local companies and their staff in environmental protection."

ABB's green activities in China have included:

     • An anti-desertification programme in the Maowusu desert, implemented by ABB and its partners the 
       Inner Mongolia Power Group and the Ordos Power Supply Bureau
     • Contributions to the Special Fund for the Yangtze River Reforestation in the Chongqing Area in 
       Southwest China
     • Improving the environmental performance of its business operations and production processes by 
       adopting efficient and energy-saving equipment and advanced technology

CBI China would like to extend its congratulations to ABB for receiving the 2010 China Ecology Cooperation Award. Please read more here.

China Direct would like to thank Ben Cooper of CBI China for kindly preparing this information.

Stop Press: China's 2010 Census - making sense of the results

 

Today saw the release of population statistics collated during Nov 2010's China census.

Headlines:

Population (2010): 1.34 billion

Population (1953): 594 million

Urban: 49.7% (+13.7% 2000 Census)

Aged 60+: 13.3% (+3%)

Aged <14: 16.6% (-6.29% )

Av size of household: 3.1 (-0.34%)

To read the NBS Press Release please click here.

Please refer to China Direct's original article on the 2010 Census on 04 November 2010.

Kindly select 'archives' from the menu above and month/year to access.

Rare Earths - significant disruptions to US supply chain by 2012?

 

[Image courtesy of www.seekingalpha.com]

China Direct's Washington DC office recently gauged the mood amongst business and academia at a Rare Earths Event at the Centre for Strategic & International Studies (www.csis.org).

This is what they ascertained:

David Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, US Dept of Energy, presented highlights from the recent DoE report, Critical Materials Strategy 2010 (executive summary attached below):

• Rare earth material are not rare. They can be found all over the globe. However, China currently represents 95% of production.
• MolyCorp’s Mt. Pass mine in California just got its permits and should start producing in 2 years.
• Short term there is a risk of supply disruption for a few specific elements.
• Long term there will be an increased demand for rare earth materials but there will also be breakthroughs in technology that will allow man-made substitutes to be used.
• Rare earth materials only represent a small fraction of the total cost of many products (esp. Cars). Therefore a price rise in materials will not greatly raise the overall cost of the product. This situation will not send the necessary market signals to investors to increase domestic production.

The second panel consisted of rare earth investment consultants Anchor Group, the Chief Scientist for materials from GE, and the DC Rep of Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporations (JOGMEC).

• China controls the rare earth market for at least the next five years.
• Significant disruptions to the US supply chain of rare earth by 2012 is highly likely. 
• Many end users do not realize that they will soon face a rare earth minerals problem.  
• Man-made ‘material substitution’ could reduce end users' dependence on rare earth by 80%, recycling could add an additional 10%.
• China’s export quotas of rare earth have increased by 40%-70% over the past year.

For an Executive Summary please click below:

Download Critical_Materials_Summary (2)

 

 

 

Rare Earth Issues & China - foreign enterprises hitting rock bottom?

 
  
The vexed issue of resource nationalism has been inextricably linked to China's recent announcement that it will cut supply of rare earth minerals (essential elements required in the manufacture of high tech equipment e.g. iPads) by 62% in 2010.

Given that China controls more than 90% of global production of rare earth minerals this announcement has sent shock waves through the foreign business community in the PRC.

For an overview and assessment of the issues please read a short briefing paper prepared by Ben Cooper, Policy Analyst at the CBI's Beijing office. China Direct would like to thank Ben for his contribution.

Download CBI Briefing China's Rare Earths Export Curb Aug 2010

When a Billion Chinese Jump - China & Environmental Issues

 

[Image courtesy of Faber Publishers & Author]

China Direct is delighted to announce the imminent publication on July 14th of Jonathan Watts' first book "When a Billion Chinese Jump".

This unique and unsettling look at China's worsening natural environment and the government's policy responses to its huge environmental pressures is a must-read for businesses, policymakers and China watchers alike.

James Kynge, author of "China shakes the world", describes it as "the book on China and climate change that the world has been waiting for".  

An extract of Jon's book can be read at: http://bit.ly/bkpcIW. 

More information at: http://site.whenabillionchinesejump.com/ (VPN may be required if in the PRC).

China Direct will be linking up with Jon in September and is looking forward to hosting several events with him on this topic of critical importance.

Jon Watts is the Guardian's Asia Environment Correspondent and is based in Beijing.

Inner Mongolia - the new business frontier?

CBI China has just visited Inner Mongolia on a UK business delegation led by UK Ambassador Sebastian Wood. It was his first trip to the region and marked the final leg of his "8 cities in 88 days" programme.

Cities visited included the region's capital Hohot and neighbouring cities of Baotou and Ordos.

The delegation enjoyed high level engagement with Inner Mongolia's Governor, Bateer, and senior officials.

There are good business opportunities in clean coal and pollution control technologies, wind & green power generation and logistics. 

 For an overview of the region please download the CBI's report below:

Download Inner Mongolia Background April 2010