¿El modelo chino como alternativa Occidental?
Por Ángel Villarino

Beijing.- Occidente se tumba en el diván, preocupado por su futuro, aquejado por un pesimismo paralizante, desbordado por las deudas, por la incapacidad para generar empleo y por la baja tasa de crecimiento.

Mientras que China saca pecho, orgullosa de sus logros y de su aparente inmunidad frente a la crisis global, con la autoestima reforzada por el argumento de peso que supone sostener un aumento del PIB que ronda el 10 por ciento.

El Gobierno de Beijing invierte fuera, presta dinero, da lecciones de gestión y exige que el mundo occidental “cure su adicción al endeudamiento”.

Con este panorama, era sólo cuestión de tiempo que alguien empezara a proponer el modelo chino como alternativa.

Aunque la idea lleva algún tiempo asomando tímidamente la cabeza, sus defensores se expresan ahora con más vehemencia que nunca. En los últimos meses se han publicado decenas de artículos y algunos libros que sugieren diferentes grados de imitación del modelo chino.

Algunos se limitan a sugerir que se copien unas cuantas fórmulas, tales como regular más los mercados, nacionalizar sectores estratégicos y dar poder al Estado frente al sector privado.

Otros se atreven a sostener que la entera propuesta de Gobierno del Partido Comunista Chino (PCCh) es moralmente superior y más eficaz que la democracia liberal. Siguen siendo voces minoritarias, pero reflejan un entusiasmo que hacía años que no se escuchaba al hablar de un modelo alternativo.

La verdad es que lo de “importar el modelo chino” es algo de lo que en otras latitudes llevan hablando muchos años. En el entorno asiático y en África es tema de debate frecuente y algunos políticos no esconden sus preferencias.

Olusegun Obasanjo, ex Presidente nigeriano, dejó dicho que le gustaría ver “un mundo dirigido por China, y cuando eso ocurra queremos estar justo detrás”.

El Presidente de Madagascar, Marc Ravalomanana, admitió que “China es un ejemplo de transformación y en África tenemos que aprender de su experiencia”.

A la idea se están sumando analistas europeos y estadounidense de relativo prestigio y generalmente ligados a la izquierda (aunque hay de todo).

La italiana Loretta Napoleoni, quien nos tiene acostumbrados a mensajes provocadores, aborda el asunto en “Maonomics”, un libro recién traducido al español en el que plantea la presunta superioridad del sistema chino.

En plena campaña de promoción, ha expuesto con convicción sus argumentos. La autora ofrece una visión parcial y muestra sólo la cara amable del sistema chino, adoptando tonos incluso más triunfalistas que los del propio Partido Comunista.

Entre otras cosas, Napoleoni da por supuesto que el “capitalismo de Estado” chino es capaz de repartir la riqueza mejor de lo que lo han hecho las democracias occidentales, algo que contradice el apabullante aumento de las desigualdades generado en China en los últimos años.

Paradójicamente, un libro tan “anti-sistema” como el suyo difícilmente pasaría el corte de la censura si las reglas de juego fueran las mismas en Occidente que en China. Es más: por algo parecido a lo que ella hace, por proponer un cambio de modelo, el Premio Nobel de la Paz Liu Xiaobo lleva una larga temporada pudriéndose en la cárcel.

Otros autores, como la economista y colaboradora del New York Times, Dambisa Moyo, dan directamente por perdida la partida. En su ensayo “¿Cómo se perdió Occidente?” asegura que Estados Unidos sólo puede salvarse adoptando medidas extremas, como optar por la suspensión de pagos. “Salvo eventualidades no previstas, China va a ganar”, concluye.

SOURCE: http://www.reforma.com/blogs/postalesmundo/

En un mundo en desempleo, China multiplica contratos

Por Ángel Villarino

Beijing.- Desde Estados Unidos a Europa, pasando por Japón y Medio Oriente, las opciones laborales se reducen. El desempleo es una de las señas de identidad de esta crisis económica y afecta sobre todo a las generaciones más jóvenes.

La excepción, una vez más, la encontramos en China. Un reciente informe de la compañía de recursos humanos “Manpower” refleja que las empresas del gigante asiático tienen intención de seguir contratando trabajadores a lo largo del último tramo de 2011.

Cerca de un 30 por ciento de las compañías chinas encuestadas admitieron que aumentarán su plantilla antes de que finalice el año, mientras que tan sólo un 4 por ciento mostró intenciones de recortar nóminas.
En sectores como los servicios, la manufactura, la venta de seguros o los transportes, se espera acabar el año con hasta un 25 por ciento de puestos de trabajos más de los que había en agosto.

El dato sorprende incluso tratándose del gigante asiático, un país que no es del todo inmune a la crisis y donde la mayoría de los analistas económicos pronostican un enfriamiento inminente de la tasa de crecimiento.

Factores como la inflación, el descenso de la venta de automóviles y el miedo al estallido de la burbuja inmobiliaria han generado incertidumbre entre inversores locales y extranjeros.

“Sin embargo, estamos asistiendo a un incremento gradual en la contratación de personal cualificado y managers del sector industrial, especialmente en empresas automovilísticas, de energía y farmacéuticas”, aseguró Sophie Shang, de la consultora Robert Walters Talent.

Las expectativas a medio plazo, la robustez de la economía, los bajos salarios y la flexibilidad del mercado laboral son tres de los factores que, a ojos de los expertos, contribuyen a explicar que China siga contratando a un ritmo superior al del propio crecimiento de la economía.

Con todo, las oportunidades para los migrantes siguen siendo muy reducidas en un país donde una enorme proporción de la población desarrolla labores que les garantizan poco más que la subsistencia.

En el gigante asiático viven ya cerca de 600 mil extranjeros y la competencia ha crecido mucho en los últimos años en aquellas carreras en las que el país necesita importar talentos.

Así, la mayoría de los consultores desaconseja viajar a China a buscar trabajo, con excepción de sectores muy concretos.

Source: http://www.reforma.com/blogs/postalesmundo/

A friend of mine just sent this video, its definitely worth taking the time to watch it.

China Blocks Export of Crucial Minerals to Japan as Dispute Escalates
source NY Times

Sharply raising the stakes in a dispute over Japan’s
detention of a Chinese fishing trawler captain, the Chinese
government has placed a trade embargo on all exports to Japan
of a crucial category of minerals used in products like
hybrid cars, wind turbines and guided missiles.

Chinese customs officials are halting all shipments to Japan
of so-called rare earth elements, industry experts said on
Thursday morning.

Read More:

News Update January 17

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Firan Technology Group Plans Aircraft Parts Factory For Tianjin

Precision illuminated display systems and aerospace manufacturer Firan Technology Group (FTG) recently reached an agreement with the Tianjin Airport Industrial Park to construct an aerospace technology plant in the Tianjin Free Trade Zone. The plant will mainly manufacture aircraft cockpits, LED panels, and control systems.

1330196_iphone-china-unicom6
China Unicom Acquires Core Assets

On December 16, China Unicom announced that it has acquired two of its largest shareholders, China Network Communication Group and China Netcom Group, for a total of approximately RMB 6.4 bln. China Unicom is one of China’s three largest telecom operators.

For more information on these or other topics, get in touch with us today!

— The Dragon Exports Team

News Update January 16

Opportunity: Chinese Medicine

Due to meriad reasons including smell, bitter taste, and troublesome preparation, Chinese traditional medicine has never been particularly successful in Western countries. Many people in the Western world don’t even feel brave enough to walk into a traditional medicine shop, let alone buy some exotic mushrooms! Even as Italy puts more stringent requirements on Chinese medicine imports this week, Dragon Exports believes there to be significant market potential for Chinese traditional medicine — if someone can work out a successful marketing approach.

Global Financial Crisis Affects Chinese Markets

At the 104th Canton Fair recently held in Guangdong province, it was revealed that Chinese export markets have entered a period of negative growth due to the on-going global financial crisis. Exports of toys, furniture, clothing, and shoes all have gloomy prospects for the first half of 2009. Zan Wenzhong, China’s foreign trade minister, warned that in 2009 “most labour-intensive enterprises will likely see harder times”. The majority of orders placed during the Canton Fair were for the first half of 2009.

— The Dragon Exports Team

News Update January 13

Canada Welcomes WTO Decision

In a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling, import taxes levied against Canadian auto firms by the Chinese government were found to be inconsistent with global free trade obligations, and China was asked to remove the offending levies immediately. China has reportedly been charging an additional import tax of 25% on all vehicle accessories from Canada, leaving foreign automakers in that country with a considerable cost disadvantage.

China is the primary market for Canadian autoparts, with average annual imports between 2003 and 2007 of CDN 225 mln. The most recent ruling by the WTO comes after several years of appeals by China.

McDonald’s, KFC Lower Prices To Weather Financial Storm

After years of increases, large fast food chains in China are finally lowering prices. According to China’s “National Business Daily”, McDonald’s and KFC have launched value meals and promotions providing discounts of as much as 32% and 35% below regular prices.

For more info on these or other stories, get in touch with us today!

— The Dragon Exports Team

News Update January 11 2009

Chinese Clothing Exports To US Rising

According to the American Department of Commerce, Chinese clothing exports occupied 54% of all clothing sold in America in November, marking the first time China’s exports to the US had exceeded 50% of the market.

Large Increase In Microwave Imports To US

Chinese home appliance manufacturer Guangdong Galanz Enterprise recently revealed that its American exports rose 18% in the first ten months of 2008.

For more information concerning the above or any other topic, please contact us today!

— The Dragon Exports Team

Valentine´s Day

Have you got your gifts ready for Valentine´s day?
You are just on time to get ready! Here are some suggestions we have for you:

Heart Shaped USB Mouse

heart-mouse-300x2431

heart-usb-21-300x2572
A lovely USB mouse that suits the occasion!

USB Memory Stick in a Heart

heart-usb1-300x3001

USB Heart Light


Let the love flash with this heart-shaped USB light.

All this items available at Dragon-Exports. Get in contact with us for more details!
info@dragon-exports.com


The Dragon-Exports Team

According to media reports, Chinese electronics manufacturer Prima Electronics recently received 2009 flat-screen television orders for export to America worth more than USD 20 mln. The increase in orders is due to American plans to end analog television signal broadcasts in February 2009, leading to new demand for digital televisions. Demand is also being stimulated by economic stimulus vouchers recently issued by the American government.

When looking for market opportunities, an obvious but sometimes overlooked place to begin your search is the direction of industry development. As in the above example, many aspects of technology are continually undergoing upgrades, or being made obsolete. At the end of the day, those revamps, upgrades, and obsolete machines mean market demand from consumers and companies as they seek to keep up with the pace of technological development.

Take China’s telecommunications industry as an example. In that field, the development of the TD-SCDMA network is unfolding rapidly, causing a massive telecommunications revolution right across China, and forcing companies AND customers to purchase replacement equipment or to upgrade their old equipment. China is also currently undergoing digital television conversions, with Chinese cities converting en-masse to DTV as you read this.

While some might suggest predicting these things is next to impossible, the truth is that a little research goes a long way to figuring out the future industry hotspots. Below are some examples our Dragon Exports team considers research-worthy.

Electrical batteries for cars and scooters
and other accompanying parts are a huge industry in China, and manufacturing prices are unbelievably low due to stiff competition in the market. Electric scooters themselves cost just RMB 1,000 – RMB 3,000, and are sold at several times that price in Western countries for similar models.

Solar powered water heaters. There aren’t many better ways to save money AND help the environment than to switch to solar power. It simply makes sense from an economical point of view, and where there is logic and rationality, there is money to be made. It simply doesn’t make sense to pay for heated water, when the sun will do it for free.

Plumbing tubes and other construction materials are some of the cheapest things to export from China, and are in constant demand in new and old homes alike. Anything that is perennially needed by people all over the world is definitely a good industry to research.

There are almost as many types of web cameras in China as there are people! Any technology market has them arrayed along shelves like jelly beans on display and in all shapes, colors, and designs. Like computers themselves, the market is only going to expand in the foreseeable future, and with creatively designed cameras, it’s a better bet for success.

Notebooks and paper are equally varied in China, and just as cheap, with the added advantage of being easily customizable. While the business world has switched to laptops and blackberries, we don’t think the same trend is likely to unfold in classrooms. Notebooks and paper geared toward primary, middle, and high school students is probably a good market to research.

Samples of all the above products are available through us at Dragon Exports, not to mention anything else you might think of! If you have an idea, then run it by us and we’ll help you find a way to make things happen for you. And don’t forget that we guarantee the industry’s LOWEST prices!


The Dragon Exports Team