10 million registered enterprises, 98% of them are privated-owned
Among 371 million employment, 81% are from the private sector, 19% (71mn) are from SOEs
Private enterprises took 70% of SOE laid-offs
Private enterprise contribute to 48.5% GDP growth in 2002, and 60% in 2003.
Cover +40% of taxation, 40.3% (1.7 bn RMB) of investment

Post my notes here without fact-check
From Prof. Zhang Weijiong’s presentation at CEIBS info session, March 27, 2005

Finally, George you got me…

Even if I have been very slow - sorry, I mean, unforgivably slow - to update my own blog, I am now taking a god-know-where-is-it-from courage to write a column for George Chen’s blog called “Love and the City”. Here is a very arousing write-up of the launching annoucement.

Honestly, I don’t know where to start yet. But I do plan to stick to English (and more importantly, journalism) on this site, and maybe bilingual for George. And suggestion from my visitors here?

Any unsolicited advice is welcome   

I just finished reading Ken Auletta’s biography of Ted Turner Media Man: Ted Turner's Improbable Empire. Besides the warmth to read the portrait of these people with CNN and Time Warner that have changed my vision (former Time Warner CEO Gerald Levin created the internship program back in 1998, which later selected me to CNN; and I have also met some CNN executives mentioned in this bio when I was in Atlanta), I am more obsessed with the idea that the marriage of AOL and Time Warner have failed to improve news reporting of its network and magazine divisions. Distracted by the glory and greed of Wall Street, I saw Ted and Gerald struggling, and compromising in this hard battle. I know CNN and Time are regarded as noble; but I realized now, there should be more space for them to strive, journalistically.

Good news is indeed expensive. I remember how my Chinese media friends were appalled by the idea that I was told to spent money to save time, and travel to a place just for an opening scene. And high news standard is so costly - I drove people nuts with the back and forth to get the facts right, and went over every detail to make sure I have located the right expert to give voice in a story.

Time mag’s assistant chatted with me last week and bewailed over the different news standards western media and Chinese media hold – she climbed down to a coal mine and got horrified when caught sight of a miner smoking underground; a Nanfang Weekend reporter paid 50rmb to get a miner tell him what it is like down there; still we could tell, most Chinese reporters would simply make a couple of phone calls and jot done whatever they were informed.

If news standards can be compromised, I guess TW should have already got more into their China business. If Rupert Murdoch could have done such as to remove its BBC content from the satellite to please the Chinese officials and hence got entry permit, should TW follow suit?

Good journalism or business? I wonder what is on Dick Parson’s mind now…

It is centainly worth your time to download and watch the EPIC !

While a full room of stylish-dressed guests at the PLAYBOY launch in Ritz Carlton are anticipating to be invited to cut the ribbon for the grand open of its first membership Club in Shanghai one year later; on another less flashy room – Internet chatroom, Chinese citizens are displaying their strong objection to allow such “erotic” activity.

Officials from Shanghai’s Industry and Commerce Admission and the Culture Bureau have claimed that they will DEFINITELY refuse to stamp on the approval, reported Beijing Morning Post.

Can PLAYBOY Club, the 1st after 20 year, come to Shanghai? Or is it another bunnies’ show?

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Below is the speech by Michael Nussbaum, Chairman and CEO of Shanghai Entertainment Ltd and the Playboy Club Shanghai.

Mr. Nussbaum announced the licensing agreement between Playboy Enterprises and Shanghai Entertainment Ltd, to use the playboy trademark and the rabbit logo for the establishment for the future Playboy Club Shanghai.  

Under Chinese regulations that foreign entertainment company must enter with joint venture with a Chinese partner, Playboy has chosen Shanghai Times Supermarket as the Chinese partner for this project.

No. 88 Yili Lu is selected as the future home of the club. Remodeling of the existing building has begun and application to receive the various permissions to operate the club is underway – applications required include operate disco, sell apparel, fire control, and other public security. The company pledged to establish a club that will apply all the laws and regulations required in Shanghai.

First step to begin the project is to establish a management company to deal with the membership, international marketing and public relations, and other essential business. To do this we have agreed to open and establish a legal entity to operate this business, known as Shanghai Shenshi Club International.

Last month the government approved our company. We expected to receive all the licenses and finish the remodeling by the end of 2005, said Mr. Nussbaum.

The new club will be a celebration of Playboy’s life style, and will give opportunity to both man and woman to join the club as members.

In the 7-floor building, there will be a Playboy store to sell Playboy branded clothes and various items, which is the first of its kind in Shanghai. There will be a disco, a night club to attract international celebrities to perform, and also a cigar bar, wine seller and spa for members.

Mr. Nussbaum also introduced the chosen designers for architecture, lightening, disco, etc.

In the entrepreneurial Wenzhou city, here is what a shoe-maker need to set up his business, all in a single market.

First of all, leather, of course.


Here is what you need to punch the pattern. In this little booth, they offer over one thousand varieties, labeled by the shape and size.


Shoe sole


To stick them together, you need a piece of machinary like this.


Add the shoe heel.


Add some fancy decorations.


Maybe some ribbon.


Don’t forget the shoe lace! 1 yuan for 5 pairs!


Have you ever been to a market more colorful than this one?

From Left to Right:

Clay Chandler
Asia Editor, Fortune

Jonathan Anderson
Managing Director/Head Asia Pacific Economics, UBS

John H. Zhao
Vice President, Legend Holdings imited/CEO, Legend Hony Capital

Philip F. Murtaugh
Chairman and CEO, General Motors China Group

Vincent H.S. Lo
Chairman, Shui On Group

Panel notes later...

Survivor
How photography, drive by the power of media, can change the nature of a war.


A paper-cut work of Mao.


Anyone wants to live in this upside-down house?

Zeng Guangzhi’s work draw political situation, both in China and internationally, by imposing iconic symbols of the west, which appeared like ruined state-set in his performance photography.









身穿中山装表情肃穆的曾广智将自我形象政治化, 符号化, 把身体当作一个尖锐的政治纪念物, 嵌入到西方历史的视觉文化记忆中. 帝国大厦, 好莱坞, 自由女神像被一个象征性的, 弥漫着不祥气息的身影逼迫着, 成为一场由个体发起的国际政治秀的废墟般的道具.

Premiere of Shanghai City’s Promotional Video Starring Yao Ming.

The video is entitled “Millions of Yao Ming is Making a Fantastic Shanghai”, and will soon be on air with SMG’s various channels.


“No matter how wonderful this video is, the best way to know about Shanghai is by coming here.” The 7-foot-6 Shanghai native said. Yao told reporters in an early media conference that he was happy to be home, but didn't consider his visit a social call.


Yao is already a "big brother" to the kids that he "escorts across the street" in the video.


Huge poster of Yao outside of Shanghai Center on Nanjing Road West. The Ritz Carlton in this compound is hosting the King’s team.

Houston will play the Kings in Shanghai tomorrow and in Beijing on Sunday. This is the first NBA games played in China.