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.

UK luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover continues to roar in China

 

[Image courtesy of: www.jaguarlandrover.com]

CBI member and leading UK luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover recorded a 26% increase in global retail sales for September 2011. China delivered another record month, with sales up 157% for Jaguar and 85% for Land Rover.

Jaguar Land Rover sold a total of 4,069 vehicles in China in September, with Jaguar accounting for 559 units and Land Rover accounting for 3,510 units. China retail sales were up 60% for the year to September.

Please click here to read the full press release by Jaguar Land Rover.

Bentley driving ahead in China

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.bentleymotors.com]

Leading luxury automaker and CBI member Bentley sold 396 vehicles in China in the first quarter of 2011, up two-thirds from one year earlier.

The new sales results mean that China is now officially Bentley's second-largest market in the world, surpassing the UK and accounting for a quarter of the British automaker’s global sales. 

Bentley's sales in China have soared in recent years as the country's pool of extremely wealthy people continues to expand rapidly on the back of China's torrid economic growth.

In 2010, Bentley's China sales nearly doubled, reaching almost 1,000 units.

According to a survey of nearly 400 mainland Chinese millionaires conducted by Hurun magazine earlier this year, respondents identified the Bentley Continental Flying Spur as their favorite luxury car (self-drive), indicating the tremendous popularity of the Bentley brand in China.

Last week, Bentley held its global dealer conference in Beijing, marking the first time that the company had held such an important global event in China and signaling the top priority it attaches to the Chinese market.

Commenting on Bentley's outlook for China, Geoff Dowding, Bentley's Regional Director for Asia and the Middle East, said during the conference that, "We expect a significant growth in China in 2011, and China will be our biggest market in the foreseeable future."

To meet surging Chinese demand, Bentley plans to significantly expand its distribution capabilities in the country and aims to open new dealerships in the cities of Wenzhou, Zhengzhou, Ordos, Xi'an and Taiyuan this year. Bentley already has 13 dealerships across China.

Please read more here and here.

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

 

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.

China's new cities - economic powerhouses of the future?

 

 
[Image courtesy of McKinsey & Company]

Leading management consulting firm and CBI member McKinsey & Company has issued a report titled, "Urban world: Mapping the economic power of cities," which projects a shift in the centre of gravity of the urban world to emerging markets in the south and the east.

According to McKinsey, 600 urban centres account for roughly 60% of global GDP today.

In 2007, half of global GDP came from 380 cities in developed regions.

However, McKinsey forecasts that one-third of these developed market cities will fall out of the top 600 ranking by 2025, with 136 new cities from developing markets entering the top 600.

China will account for the overwhelming majority of these new economic centres, contributing 100 cities.

Click here to access the full McKinsey report and here to read additional media coverage.

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

China's 2010 Census - making sense of the numbers?

 

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.boston.com]

China's first census since 2000 is now underway and will last until 10 November.

An army of 6 million volunteers will crisscross the country seeking to count the world's most populous country at an alleged cost of US$100 million.

The phenomenal growth of the Internet over the past decade will make this latest head counting exercise particularly taxing.

Many of the country's estimated 420 million netizens have already started discussing the census via a bewildering array of micro-blogs, websites, live chatrooms, bulletin boards and Tencent's QQ, the world's largest networking platform.

Not all of the feedback has been positive. Indeed, according to various media reports more than 30% of respondents have had negative views of the 2010 Census.

Many younger generation netizens have raised concerns about the sharing of personal information with the census takers. This in turn has prompted the authorities to water down some of the questioning, particularly regarding the submission of personal residency ID (Hukou) data. 

The census will, however, serve an important purpose, namely confirming whether or not China's total population has been under-reported by a staggering 200 million as was widely believed in 2000.

The census's statistical information and data will also help China's policy makers and city planners tackle the huge challenge of designing the Chinese Megacities of the future.

These are expected to accommodate more than 250 million inhabitants by 2030.

Whether conducting a national census or designing megacities of the future China continues to face a unique set of challenges that few if any other countries have experienced.

For more on China's Census please download the following report.

 Download Ch Census Nov 2010  

 

 

China's maturing real estate market - but for how long?

 

 

[Image courtesy of www.businessinsider.com]

China Direct would like to share with you the latest insights into the domestic real estate market.

Our thanks to CBI member Jones Lang Lasalle for kindly providing this overview highlighting the current state and future trends of this rapidly evolving market.

Download JLL - Ch Real Estate Mkt Sept 2010  

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