iChinaForum - Recent Interviews

An Historic Perspective on Democracy in Hong Kong

iChinaForum — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 09:30:01 +0000

Frank Ching

Hong Kong has experienced less than 20 years of popular suffrage. After inheriting few democratic institutions from the British, Hong Kong residents have struggled to assert themselves in the governance of their territory. With vague promises of greater autonomy from Beijing, the final shape of Hong Kong’s democracy has yet to fully solidify.

In this interview, Frank Ching recaps the long road that Hong Kong has traveled to find its democratic identity, while negotiating the demands of interested parties, both local and afar.

Developing Renewable Energy Partnerships

mgarber — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 04:13:49 +0000

Husayn Anwar

Serious about renewable energy, new Chinese government incentives have sent manufacturers scrambling to grab market share, and foreign expertise, technology and know-how are welcome. Husayn Anwar discusses the importance of two critical factors to develop strong and successful partnerships in the renewable energy industry in China: conducting extensive due diligence on potential partners, local governments and the industry as a whole, and bringing value-added to these partnerships.

Building a High-Performance Crisis Preparedness Team

mgarber — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:19:18 +0000

David Chard

When a fire is already out of control, it may not be the most opportune time to discuss the organization of a fire department. David Chard explains the steps every company should take to ensure top management, key public-facing managers and every employee are provided with the knowledge and tools necessary to properly respond to emerging crisis situations and protect the company’s assets and reputation in the long term.

Starting and Growing a Business in China

mgarber — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:23:41 +0000

Mark Secchia

Mark Secchia discusses Sherpas’ business model in terms of marketing, finance and growth strategy. He shares his experience and rationale for decisions such as focusing on servicing the English-speaking expatriate community exclusively and expanding the business by offering the same service in different cities, instead of trying to service other customer segments or deliver other products in Shanghai.

He also provides valuable insight on Sherpas’ self-sufficient approach to finance issues and tells us about his plans and strategies for future expansion.

Assignment: China - "The Week That Changed The World"

iChinaForum — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:51:50 +0000

Mike Chinoy

Environmental Remediation: Risks and Opportunities in China

mgarber — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:26:47 +0000

Wen-Jei Fang

In China, 30% of the usable land is considered contaminated, leading to over $400 billion US dollars in environmental earmarks in the 12th Five Year Plan (2010-2015). As awareness of environmental problems increases and enforcement is strengthened, there will be immense opportunities in China for companies that can help reduce pollution and mitigate the adverse environmental effects of rapid economic development.

What Today's Cross Strait Leaders Can Learn From Sun Yat-Sen

iChinaForum — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:22:57 +0000

Wang Zhongfang

Mr. Wang Zhongfang shares his views on cross strait relations. He suggests that current leaders in China and Taiwan would learn important lessons from Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s “Three Principles of the People”, which are the ideological foundation of the Xinhai Revolution that ended dynastic rule in China.

Mr. Wang acknowledges that the two dominant political parties in China and Taiwan have their roots in Dr. Sun’s Three Principles, but would serve their societies more effectively by revisiting the Three Principles of Nationalism, Democracy and Peoples Livelihood.

Starting Up in China: Lessons for Entrepreneurs

iChinaForum — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:46:52 +0000

Calvin Chin

Calvin discusses differences between the business environments in the US and China as they relate to tech startups. He argues that even though Qifang had a long development period compared to a similar venture in the US, this delay allowed him and his partners an opportunity to learn more about the community and the customers they would be serving before launch. This extended “learning period” also uncovered advantages such as a flexible regulatory environment when it comes to social entrepreneurship in China.

Empathetic Education Breeds Happy Citizens: Montessori in China

mgarber — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:23:29 +0000

Judy Townsend

Judy Townsend talks about her experience in Shanghai and her forecast for the development of the Montessori organization in China.

China’s economic boom is bringing quality education within reach to many more people than at any time in China’s past. While gains in material wealth are impressive, Judy Townsend is concerned that traditional values in China are being eroded by consumerism.

The Montessori Method in Shanghai

mgarber — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 04:23:40 +0000

Judy Townsend

Ms. Townsend gives a general description of the Montessori Method of education and its advantages over conventional education.

Dr. María Montessori, an Italian doctor and educator, developed the Montessori Method from her observations of the behavior of children in a natural environment and visualized the Method as a holistic approach to education.

Ms. Townsend talks about her decision to move to China to spread the Montessori Method, and explains the features that make this method different from any other approach to children's education.

Future Trends in Wealth Creation and Management

mgarber — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:57:11 +0000

Craig Chapman

Mr. Chapman discusses future trends in wealth creation and management in China, such as capital markets liberalization to allow derivatives and securitization, as well as the effects of the global financial crisis in the local economy. He also shares insight on the likely development pathway that these markets will experience in the following years.

Opportunities in the Water Management and Treatment Industry in China

mgarber — Fri, 14 May 2010 06:29:35 +0000

Richard Hardiman

There is a popular myth that China does not have enough water to satisfy the needs of its own population and industry. Professor Hardiman exposes the truth behind water shortage, that inefficient infrastructure and failed water-education and management result in a culture of wastefulness. Solving this dilemma is represents a lucrative opportunity for companies, and a brighter future for China.

China's New and Original Approach to CSR

mgarber — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:14:10 +0000

Henri-Claude de Bettignies

Professor Bettignies talks in this video about how different concepts of Corporate Social Responsibility coexist in China today. He contrasts the Western tradition, embraced by multinationals, and the more cost effective, humanistic approach based on Confucianism that is found even in small family own businesses. Professor Bettignies discusses how the blending of both of these concepts is producing an entirely new approach for CSR made in and for China.

CSR's Inroads Into China

mgarber — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:14:03 +0000

Henri-Claude de Bettignies

Professor Bettignies talks about the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility, its importance in the philosophy of business and the way that it is addressed in China.

The concept of CSR was once viewed as an invention alien to the Chinese business world. However, it is gaining popularity as one practical way to achieve the goal of Social Harmony set out by the Chinese leadership.

Introducing AVIRA

mgarber — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:13:51 +0000

Henri-Claude de Bettignies

Professor Bettignies talks about his AVIRA training program for Chief Executives.

INSEAD started AVIRA as a pilot program which offered one convenient alternative for busy executives to develop their Corporate Social Responsibility awareness. Indeed, AVIRA stands for "Awareness" of the surrounding environment, "Vision", "Imagination", their "Responsibility" as individuals, corporate and family leaders and their ability to take quick and effective "Action".

Approval Procedure for Joint Ventures in China

iChinaForum — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:27:58 +0000

Nicholas V. Chen

Nick provides a detailed chart of the process to establish a joint venture in China. This roadmap demystifies the process by setting forth clearly the role and tasks of each participant in a joint venture formation, from the concept stage through the wrap up stages. This lifts the curtain and illustrates at each stage in a Joint Venture’s life cycle what the foreign/local JV parties are supposed to do as well as the legal/business team and the government.

Related Downloads:

Detailed Joint Venture Formation Checklist

Economic Research as a Tool for Change

mgarber — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:51:17 +0000

Mao Yushi

Professor Mao talks about the history and achievements of the Unirule Institute of Economics, focusing on how the guiding principles of intellectual independence and social responsibility have enabled the institute to gain and maintain their position as China's foremost private economic policy think tank.

Sea Change: Asia as the New Global Economic Center of Gravity

mgarber — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 07:43:49 +0000

William Mobley

Dr. Mobley discusses trends and issues the Chinese economy will face during the next decade. Such trends include the shift of the global economic center of gravity to Asia, caused by the transformation of the Chinese and Indian economies from manufacturing dependent on foreign direct investment to consumer-fueled and focused on value-added sectors.

Pioneering New Media Art in China

mgarber — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:29:12 +0000

David Ben Kay

David Ben Kay decided to leave behind his life as Microsoft's Anti-Counterfeiting Czar, and devote himself to making a home for New Media Art in China, the Yuanfen gallery in Beijing's legendary 798 art district. New Media Art combines the aesthetic experience of viewing classical art, with the immediacy of creation that is the hallmark of the digital age.

Trends and Opportunities in China's Mobility and TMT Industries

mgarber — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 11:31:33 +0000

David Sullivan

Mr. Sullivan discusses how trends such as growing engineering talent pools, expanding user bases, increased cross-strait cooperation and the development of high speed wireless networks by all major carriers in China present unique opportunities and threats for foreign and local solution providers in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) space.