China, India travel, consumer, investment, banking, outsourcing, trade news : IMC Santiago

Timely books on globalized finance, investment, economy and development strategies and management.

1. China and the new world order: how entrepreneurship, globalization, and borderless business are reshaping China and the world

2. China's global reach: markets, multinationals, and globalization

by George Zhibin Gu
journalist/consultant based in China

China is the world's number-one growth story now. But how is it that China has achieved such quick growth in this era? How is it that
made-in-China products can flood the globe? Is a trade war going to happen? Or is a new world order in the making? This second volume of a trilogy-by Chinese journalist/consultant George Zhibin Gu-aims to answer these
questions and more.

Today, more than a half-million overseas companies conduct business
inside China. Learn about all the opportunities this exploding market
presents, including banking, insurance, and stock market, as well as the
yuan and trade and cross-border business issues. Moreover, it contains
extensive studies on China's political-economic reform as well as evolving
international relations.

This volume addresses eight key topics:

I. China's New Role in the World Development

II. The Yuan, Trade, and Investment

III. China's Fast-Changing Society, Politics, and Economy (in light of
Chinese and global history)

IV. China's Banking, Insurance, and Stock Market Reforms

V. Chinese Multinationals vs. Global Giants

VI. The Taiwan Issue: Current Affairs and Trends (federation as an
alternate way for unity)

VII. India vs. China: Moving Ahead at the Same Time

VIII. The Japan-China Issue: Evolving Relations in Light of History

Today, all nations increasingly rely on one another for development, a
trend that will only strengthen as time passes. As a saying goes, "The
future is being shaped today." This book will appeal to readers everywhere
regardless of their particular interests. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Synopsis
Get the inside story from a Chinese journalist/consultant about China's surge under globalization and capitalism. This second volume of a trilogy covers (1) political-economic trends; (2) Chinese multinationals vs. global giants; (3) trade, the yuan, banking, insurance, and the stock market; and (4) issues with Taiwan, the West, India, and Japan.

About the Author
George Zhibin Gu, a native of Xian in central China, is a
journalist/consultant based in Guangdong, China. He obtained his education
at Nanjing University in China and Vanderbilt University and the University
of Michigan in the United States. He holds two MS degrees and a PhD from
the University of Michigan.

For the past two decades, he has been an investment banker and business
consultant with an emphasis on China. His work focuses on helping
international multinationals to invest in China and helping Chinese
companies to expand overseas. He has worked for Prudential Securities,
Lazard, and State Street Bank, among others. He generally covers mergers
and acquisitions, venture capital, business expansion, and restructuring.

The author is also a journalist on China and its relations with the
world. His articles or columns have appeared in Asia Times,
Beijing Review, The Seoul Times, Financial
Sense, Gurus Online, Money Week, Online
Opinion, Asia Venture Capital Journal, and
Sinomania, among others. He has written three other books,
China's Global Reach: Markets, Multinationals, and Globalization
(revised edition, Fultus, 2006), Made in China: National and Business
Players and Challengers in the 21st Century (English edition
forthcoming, Fall 2007; Portuguese edition, Centro Atlantico, 2005); and
China Beyond Deng: Reforms in the PRC (McFarland, 1991). He is a
member of the World Association of International Studies hosted by Stanford
University.

Reiews

Really good book written by a very outspoken Chinese journalist/consultant on the ground inside China. Offers sweeping insights on how a fast-changing China is altering global business, trade, production and politics and how the outside world is reshaping the Chinese society, politics and business. Many books on the subject are not nearly as good or insightful as this one. In my opinion, it is the very best book on China and current global affairs. Strongly recommended.

Arguably one of the most significant books in the last 20 years. Author George Zhibin Gu focuses on the most fundamental issues confronting China and the world. It details this picture: How a poverty-filled China has been moving away from a bureaucratic society into an open and dynamic place. And above all, how China has achieved a fast development in this era.

But what are the causes behind such movements? He claims that an openness, entrepreneurial spirit, family-based private enterprises, and massive foreign involvement are the key factors behind it. These new elements have helped China to gain a high-speed growth, despite all the imperfections.

He offers tremendous info and analysis on foreign involvement in all business sectors and regions. More than a dozen case studies are presented, which includes topics on international trade, tourism, banking, manufacturing, outsourcing, investment, insurance, stock market, and Chinese multinationals vs. global giants. Also, huge practical advice is given on how to do business with China and vice versa. (Canadian readers should be delighted to get vast business info and insights on all important things and issues in this thin volume)

One other great strength comes from his analysis on current Chinese political-economic system and tradition in light of Chinese and global history. He argues that China's further development demands the abolishment of the traditional bureaucracy that is inherently self-serving, destructive and abusive. But he sees that China is quickly walking away from this old trap, due significantly to the ever-increasing global involvement and openness.

Furthermore, he places the China issue in the global framework. He claims that all the political bodies in the world had been self-appointed governments until recently. Vast info and analysis is given to support his analysis on global and Chinese political development. Such analysis is both fresh and new to the Western world.

Author Gu is a very outspoken Chinese journalist. Also very insightful cmparative studies cover China, Japan, India, the West and Taiwan. In particular, the author claims that a federal system is the best choice for the Taiwan issue.

...
Being an expat working inside China, life is rather different. One can see that China is changing month after month. But understanding this fast changing nation is not easy at all. Out of all the books on Chinese business and politics, this one stands out in big ways. It offers vast new insights on what is behind all the political and business affairs inside China and beyond.

The author is one of the most famous journalists inside China, whose very outspoken newspaper pieces are highly influential. He identifies several key elements that push China forward: 1. individual private initiative; 2. ever-increasing openess against a bureaucratic domination (which trapped China for long); and 3. massive international involvement, among others.

His critical views on the Communist ills are extremely significant. It is the very first book I have read that offers extensive knowledge on the inner workings of China's self-appointed government, which continues to be abusive and corruptive. As such, the author asserts that dumping this unlimited officialdom is the key for China's progress. All the discussions are set in a historical, global framework, which is more insightful and penetrating.

Well, an execellent book for readers of whatever interests. Also, I am reading one of his other books, which is equally interesting.