CHINA IN TOUCH A fortnightly newsletter since 2007 for Northern Territory branch members Northern Territory Branch April 22, 2015 Issue 150 NT secretariat (08) 89270061 NT President’s observations Fans of the brutal Chinese dating show If You Are the One on SBS TV will have some idea of the requirements of the girls when it comes to assessing prospective dates. Just having money, or an apartment and a car is not enough. As I was told in Shanghai, the definition of true love is when a women agrees to meet with a man who has an apartment in Pudong as this is considered very much less prestigious area of Shanghai. But the translation of If You Are The One is not quite correct. 非诚勿扰 (Fei Cheng Wu Rao) is better translated as Please Do Not Disturb Me Unless You Are Sincere. The difference in translation is important in several ways. It highlights the importance of the quality of translation and interpretation to capture the correct meaning. And the dating show reveals some significant aspects that can be applied to business dating in China. Last week in Shanghai I worked with an excellent interpreter, Amanda Zhou and good interpreters are not as easy to find as you might expect. A poor interpreter can do more damage than good, so finding a quality interpreter is important. My interpreter worked for 2 hours during my speech, and then handled the hour of questions, and comments that followed. How do you know if the translation is good? The first method is to accept the recommendations of others who have worked with the translator. The second method is to listen to the flow of the translation as you speak. If the translation is smooth then there is a good chance the translator has fully understood you, and is translating effectively and smoothly. The third way is to follow the questions. If questions repeatedly come back to the same issue or concept then there is a higher probability that the original translation was not correct. Or your original explanation was unclear. The fourth method is useful only if you have a smattering of Mandarin. You can follow parts of the translation and verify they are correct. Why use a translator if you can do this? First because the translator will always be better than your Mandarin unless you are very skilled. Secondly, you are often hosted as a foreign guest or expert, so it gives face to your host if you speak in English. The dating show is brutal and so is business dating in China. In Shanghai I was asked to talk with an Australian SME which is thinking of expanding into China. Like some of the men on If You Are They One, the SME was very confident of its appeal. They have an established brand in Australia and they believe their service will be appealing to Chinese customers. Although by Australian standards they are a well-established and reasonably sized SME this does not transfer well in the Chinese environment. Their entire staff size is the equivalent of the full staff in a small branch office of a Chinese company in a tier 4 city. It's a little bit like having an apartment in Pudong because its going to require true love for a much larger Chinese partner develop cooperation with this smaller SME. The task is not impossible but the way the SME goes about attracting the interest of a cooperation partner and then developing a cooperation agreement is very different from the way the SME was imagining. Like the male contestants on the dating show, their worth is not self-evident and the features they think are of value may be of little interest to the prospective partner. As Wu Zhengzhen told one suitor on the dating show, its not about what you can offer. Its about understanding what the prospective partner wants. In business this means understanding how you can contribute to the Chinese partner because its they who are doing you a favour by working with a much much smaller company. Rather than rush into a proposals, its better to spend time to understand the market environment before entering the dating scene. Working with a good interpreter is the first step in the process. Daryl Guppy, President, NT Branch – Newsletter editor CHANGES TO VISAS FOR CHINESE Chinese travellers will be able to make repeat visits to Australia with ease, with a current online visitor visa pilot extended to offer three-year, multiple entry visas to approved applicants. Mr Robb said the government was determined to do what it can to help Australia capture more than its share of the rapidly growing Chinese tourist market. Previously, visitor visas for Chinese travellers were only valid for 12 months. The new visitor visa provision follows the introduction of three-year, multiple entry Chinese business visas in February 2014 “Chinese tourists are increasingly more discerning and looking for an authentic Australian experience. Repeat visitors are an increasingly important market sector as they tend to stay for longer periods and are higher yielding in terms of their spending,” Mr Robb said. Mr Robb said research also showed that repeat Chinese visitors were more likely to venture to regional areas, which was good for local economies. “Ongoing visa reform and deregulation was part of a broader effort to ensure our tourism and hospitality sector remains competitive in an increasingly crowded global tourism market,” he said. Around 100 million Chinese left China for an overseas holiday last year, a figure that is predicted to reach 200 million by 2020. Nearly 790,000 Chinese travellers visited Australia in the year to September 2014, spending close to $5.4 billion. In the year to September 2014, 47 per cent of arrivals from China were repeat visitors and they accounted for around $3.3 billion or 60 per cent of Chinese expenditure. This latest initiative follows a series of other measures which include: Striking a landmark air services agreement with China that will see capacity triple over the next 18 months from 22,500 seats per week from China last year to 67,000 per week by the end of 2016. $43 million for a new Tourism Demand-Driver Infrastructure Programme. $2 million to support the staging of Australia Week in China (AWIC) again in 2016. Extending streamlined SmartGate traveller processing trials to visitors from Hong Kong and China during 2015. $10 million in new funding for the Australia-China Approved Destination Status (ADS) scheme. Freezing the Passenger Movement Charge for this term of office. “Tourism and hospitality is one of Australia’s great strengths. It is our largest services export – worth $30 billion in export income – and directly or indirectly employs one million Australians, including large numbers in regional Australia. As a government we are determined to back our strengths,” Mr Robb said. GUIZHOU DELEGATION The delegation from Guizhou had a busy schedule when they visited Darwin this week. This included a presentation by Asian Engagement, Department of Business, meeting with NT Tourism and then meeting with NT Department of Mining. The delegation also met with Peter Style, Minister for Multicultural Affairs. The delegation was also given an ACBC briefing. The delegation bought a photo exhibition which will remain in Darwin at the civic centre until April 30. Katrina Fong Lim, the Lord Major of City of Darwin opened the exhibition at the City of Darwin Community Art Hall (upstairs of library). The opening ceremony included a dance selection from the Australia China Friendship Society and the Confucius Institute. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APRIL MEETING REPORTS President report , April 2015 Represent National ACBC with release of Australia China Trade report by Finance Minister Cormann in Shanghai. Further discussions in Singapore with GZIFE organising committee re participation in Expo event for NTG and businesses in Guangzhou 2015 Lisa Goodhand event – thanks to committee for organisation Attend by phone the ACBC Board meeting in Canberra rd Attended the Chinese New year Celebration—Goat Year at Parliament House on 23 of February 2015. Discuss with SA the potential for NT business to join the SA delegation to Shandong in May – cancelled due to conflicting SA political objectives China and ACBC briefing for Minister Styles Represent ACBC at Huizhou investment delegation Represent ACBC at Merlin investment delegation Golden Koala Film Festival in Darwin – meet with organisers in Beijing Discussions with DFAT re China Free Trade Agreement briefings in Darwin Attend Thought leadership committee meetings and finalise release of Australia China Trade report release in Australia. Attend fortnightly national board secretariat committee phone meetings NATIONAL ACBC Coordination with Austrade and DFAT on the China Free Trade Agreement briefings Launch of the Australia China Trade report in Canberra and Beijing Daryl Guppy President April 2015 Vice President report , April 015 rd Attended the Chinese New year Celebration—Goat Year at Parliament House on 23 of February 2015. Attended Northern Territory Government’s Welcome Reception for 2015 International Students in th Parliament House on 25 of February 2015, the Minister for Education, the Hon Peter Chandler MLA, was invited to give the welcome address. The event was a great networking opportunity for international students who have newly arrived to the Northern Territory. st Invited to attend the ACFS Chinese New Year celebration on the 1 March 2015 at CDU . Attended the lunch meeting with NSW ACBC CEO—Mr. James Hudson in Darwin to discuss and share the opinions and experiences in expanding ACBC NT Branch and strengthening the potential corporation with Sydney headquarter and other branches to reach the mutual benefits on 16 March 2015. Xian LI Vice President April 2015 Accor Hotels ACBC MEMBERS DEALS Member companies of the Australia China Business Council can take advantage of up to 10% off the best unrestricted rate of the day at over 1800 Accor hotels worldwide in more than 90 countries. Benefit from multi brand availability at Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Mercure, Ibis, all seasons, and Barriere hotels and optimise your hotel spend. This special offer is redeemable through your ACBC branch office. MEET YOUR NEW ACBC NT EXECUTIVE MEMBERS Jane Wang – Committee Member Jane has many years experience in business development in Australia and China, and has been based in China over 10 years in international trade and investment with advisory and government bodies. While working with Austrade in China (2005-2011) as manager of Austrade Xi’an office, Jane was responsible for promoting Australian export and bilateral investment in China Northwest region including Agriculture, Food, Mining/Resources, Manufacturing, Services sectors, etc. Jane has participated in many Australian promotion projects, including Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Shanghai World Expo in MayOct. 2010, and Mission 2.0 in 2011. Jane has assisted many Australian businesses to succeed in China, through successfully identifying business opportunities, managing trade & investment promotion projects, developing good government and business network, leveraging ally resources to deliver services beyond clients’ expectations. Jane is experienced in communication facilitation for multi-parties with different culture background, and is also strategic, innovative in developing business plans and achieving clients’ objectives. Prior to the work in China, Jane has worked in Australia in manufacturing sector and research institutes. Jane holds a Master of Engineering Management degree from Queensland University of Technology and a bachelor of Engineering from Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. Fluent in Mandarin and English, Jane is a NAATI credited interpreter. Jane enjoys reading, walking and travel at her leisure times. Jane joined the investment attraction group of NT Department of Mines and Energy in Feb 2012. ACBC NT OBJECTIVES We aim for these services for ACBC NT members: To assist members to understand the nature of the business environment in China and where relevant opportunities lie. To raise the profile of ACBC NT members within the NT and Chinese business environment To share information regarding industry issues in the China market. To assist in generating business between member businesses. To facilitate co-operation with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade in relation to business issues. To present the views of NT SMEs operating in China to government authorities and other business groups where appropriate. To share market and economic intelligence and insights on critical industry issues. To create and maintain a collaborative community of business owners that can draw on each other for support in their engagement with China. To work in a collaborative community of Chinese business, cultural and friendship organisations to expand the networking capacity of NT members. These objectives are achieved with networking events, workshops, conferences, briefing, newsletter communication and participation in creation of NT and national Government strategies. NT ACBC Branch Meeting Dates – Meetings are open to all members of the ACBC, not just the committee members. Most matters discussed at the meeting are passed by general agreement. All members are encouraged to contribute ideas to the discussions. Current proposed meeting dates are: May 21, Thursday 12:10 to 1 .00pm June 18, Thursday 12:10 to 1 .00pm July 30 , Thursday 12:10 to 1 .00pm 2014-2015 NT ACBC Executive Daryl Guppy - Guppytraders.com (President / National Board Member) [email protected] Xian Li – Department of Mines and Energy [email protected] (Vice President) Karen Green - Partner Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu [email protected] (Vice President) Myriam Giovanazzi – Colliers [email protected] (Treasurer) Committee members Jane Wang – Dept of Resources [email protected] Rachel Telford - Dept of Tourism - [email protected] Ex-Officio members Wayne Fan – Department of Chief Minister Lorenzo Strano - Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade Bernadette Eggington - Austrade Lisa O'Donoghue – SCHEDULE OF NT BRANCH CHINA BUSINESS BRIEFINGS 2015 The Business Briefings will continue in 2015 and be provided free of charge for members only. Visitors are welcome to attend, but a small $20 fee is payable. (Free if you join ACBC at the briefing) . Briefings run for about 60 minutes. Business Briefing sponsorship options are also available. Proposed briefing events include: China Australia Free Trade Agreement and the NT Importing/exporting Translation tips Negotiation and deal structuring in China for Australian companies. For more information, or requests for specific briefing topics, please contact ACBC Secretariat on 89270061 or [email protected] ACBC NT WELCOMES NEW AND CONTINUING MEMBERS WESTPAC NT Branch – Suzi Hullick Have your member business profile included in the newsletter. Send details to [email protected] GOT A CHINA STORY TO TELL? READ A GOOD CHINA BOOK - SEND US YOUR NEWS OR VIEWS You are a valued member of the Australia China Business Council and we are keen to receive news on your business activities that we can published on our national website or in our NT newsletters. Do you have an amusing, or interesting or cautionary tale. Drop us a note for the newsletter. Send us a review of China book you read. It doesn’t have to be long. Just a paragraph or two is ok. The newsletter is designed to link with NT members so share the experience and help others to understand this China challenge. Send your notes to [email protected] China News reports that did not make it into the local media. China's first-quarter FDI growth steady as shift to services continues Foreign direct investment (FDI) grew 2.2% to US$12.4 billion in March compared to the previous year as total inbound FDI for the first quarter grew 11.3% to US$34.88 billion, Reuters reported. The focus of said flows point to a continued shift away from manufacturing, which saw FDI fall 3.6% to $11.22 billion in the first quarter year-on-year, and toward services, where FDI rose 24.1% to $21.59 billion. Meanwhile, outbound investment for the period rose 29.6% to US$25.79 billion, as the government encouraged firms to invest abroad to increase their competitiveness, utilize surplus capacity and slow the rapid build-up of foreign exchange reserves. China Cosco said to plan order of 10 megaships China Cosco Holdings (1919.HKG) is planning to order at least 10 Triple-E megaships capable of moving 19,000 containers apiece as the shipping and port giant seeks to dominate major ocean trade routes, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed sources. The vessels will be ordered from a Chinese yard and cost around US$1.4 billion in total. When fully loaded, Triple-E's can cut the cost of moving a container across the oceans by around 25% in an industry that carries about 95% of the world's manufactured goods. State Council announces plans for Yangtze River urbanization China's State Council has released a framework to develop 317,000 square kilometers along the Yangtze River as urban areas to host transportation and energy projects, Reuters reported. No specific investment details were released, but the area will span the three provinces of Hubei, Hunan and Jiangxi near and around the metropolitan areas of Changsha and Wuhan. China's top leadership has previously stated its intention to turn the Yangtze, which runs from China's western highlands and empties into the East China Sea near Shanghai, into an economic axis on par with China's developed coastal regions. For more China business news and information, visit www.chinaeconomicreview.com AUSTRALIA CHINA FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY The Darwin branch of the ACFS is a co-operative partner with ACBC NT. ACBC NT members are encouraged to attend ACFS events. ACFS has completed their first News Letter, a website and facebook. The web address is: www.acfsnt.org.au The facebook address is https:\\www.facebook.com/acfs.nt CHINESE-ENGLISH TRANSLATION SERVICE Amanda Zhou – interpreter and translation services Amanda is an excellent interpreter based in Shanghai but will travel as required. She is a contracted interpreter for Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Hermes Group and MBA Textbook Translator for Harvard Business School. She has worked with US Department of Commerce Delegation , Consulate General of France, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, Shanghai overseas Chinese interpretation association and Shanghai Research Institute of East Asia Affairs. She has provided lengthy interpretation services for conferences and workshops. Full Cv available from [email protected] Please contact +86 18621993515 E-mail: [email protected] RCG Events - design and translation services This team will develop, design, translate and publish your material for distribution in China. They work with Beijing based translators to ensure the highest quality translations. This RCG Events team prepared all the material for the 2013 ACBC NT Beijing conference. They designed and produced the Beijing Conference report. RCG Events have staff in Darwin and Singapore. Please contact Crystal [email protected] for further details. Amy Yu – interpreter and translation services Amy has 21 years experience as an English teacher in College of Foreign Languages of Fujian Normal University. During 2006 2007, Amy had taught Chinese at Department of Modern Languages at Northern Arizona University, U. S. Amy is now working as a Chinese lecturer at School of Creative Arts and Humanity at Charles Darwin University. Amy can provide interpreting services for delegations events, meetings, conferences and also provide translating services on documents or any related works. [email protected] 0451 817 988 Hyman East Translation 东方海门翻译公司 – Beijing Web [email protected] They provide translation services for written material. They also provide translators and interpreters. Guppytraders uses them for translation of weekly financial market columns and translation at speaking engagements and workshops throughout China. China Translation and Publishing Corporation – Beijing, Shanghai Phone - 86 10 68005858 / 68002858 / 68001820 Web www.ctpc.com.cn Able to source interpreters for work in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen area. XIN ‘DAVID’ WANG -DARWIN Mobile: 0403 524 760 Email: [email protected] NAATI-accredited English-Chinese translator, I can provide you with first class translation service. Translation efficiency and quality assured. If you are looking for a English-Chinese translator, please feel free to contact me. Chinese-English translation services also provided. I work with meetings and conferences and other events where translation is required. FORWARD THE NEWSLETTER TO A FRIEND NEWSLETTER CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME. Keep other members informed about China experiences. Please email notes or comments to [email protected]. Please use email header ACBC NOTE. Information received up to the day prior to publication will be included. NOTE. The views of contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ACBC NT or the ACBC. Content is copyright and cannot be used without permission. Northern Territory MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Please complete this Membership Form with your details if you are applying to join the Australia China Business Council for the first time. BASIC DETAILS Company Name Company name in Chinese Industry sector Branch membership Member Type - This is based on the annual turnover (See page 2 for details). Company email address Company web site http:// Date of application PERSONAL DETAILS Title First name Last name Job title Personal email address NT Branch CONTACT DETAILS Company phone Company fax Direct phone Direct fax Mobile phone LOCATION DETAILS Street address City State Northern Territory Post code Postal address Please cross out if you do not want your contact I agree to be included in all associated ACBC and details to be given to third parties who issue appropriate third party event notifications event invitations to ACBC members Country Australia PAYMENT METHOD Cheque Please post to: GPO Box 2769, Darwin NT 0801 Cash Deposit ANZ Darwin, BSB: 015901, A/C: 487 379 699 Credit Card Card type / VISA / Mastercard Card number Name on card Expiry date CCV# Amount paid (See member type) $ PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED FORM TO ACBC NT GPO BOX 2769, Darwin NT 0801 Or Email: [email protected] Membership TOTAL NT Government Departments Companies Annual turnover: More than $ 50 million * $ 15 million to $ 50 million $ 5 million to $ 15 million Less than $ 5 million Individual membership Associate membership ** (non-voting) Student member (non-voting) 770.00 2,310.00 1,210.00 770.00 396.00 396.00 132.00 77.00 * Companies with turnovers greater than $50m are entitled to nominate a representative from each of the other states in which they have a business presence. For additional nominees, please provide contact details on a separate sheet, giving title, given name, surname, postal and street address, telephone and facsimile numbers, and email address. ** Associate members are academics or retired business people
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