A bit of globetrotting assists business
By Victoria Fei |
May 25, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
FOR businessmen wanting to drum up new clients, there's nothing like pressing the flesh in person.
For businessmen wanting to sell overseas, nothing beats getting a seat on a foreign trade mission.
Jiang Jinxing, owner of Minhang-based timber-products company Shanghai Rong Rong Wood Working, said he has accompanied state officials on four overseas trips in the last three years and the experience never fails to excite him.
His most recent foray abroad was to Russia as part of President Xi Jinping's maiden trip overseas after taking office in late March.
"It's always a learning experience," Jiang said of trade missions. "Many of the ideas I encounter are fresh to me. It helps broaden my international vision and insight."
Officially, Jiang was a member of the China Trade and Investment Promotion Delegation travelling with Xi. He said he was very honored to be on such an historic trip.
"It gave me the chance to obtain business information first-hand, build international partnerships, enhance my competitiveness and ultimately raise the overall status of my own company," said Jiang, a private businessman.
Indeed, a seat on a high-level trade mission is always prized.
"With so many excellent enterprises and outstanding entrepreneurs in China and only 50 to 60 allowed on a trade mission, I was lucky to be chosen," he said.
There were, of course, hoops to jump through.
"The chosen entrepreneurs did not necessarily come from state-owned or large enterprises," Jiang explained. "But they had to be leading lights in their industries."
Mission delegates are also chosen on the basis of markets tying into the products Chinese businessmen are seeking to promote abroad.
Jiang had to apply for a spot on a trade mission. He submitted information on his company and his personal identification to the Ministry of Commerce in late February.
"The fact that I had already been on three other trade missions helped my application," Jiang said.
Prior to the trip, business people selected to accompany the president were given a strict checklist of what they could and could not do. For example, taking photos was not permitted without permission. Anyone violating the rules would be blacklisted, the mission delegates were told.
"Of course, we clearly understood that we were representing China and had to uphold the proper image. We had to behave ourselves," Jiang said.
Jiang covered his own expenses for the trip. They amounted to about US$4,000 a week.
In Russia, Jiang attended the opening ceremony of China Tourism Year in Russia and a Sino-Russian trade forum.
"I was very much inspired by President Xi when he addressed the opening ceremony just 10 meters away from me," Jiang recalled. "I can still feel the power of his speech."
Born in Putian, Fujian Province, in the 1970s, Jiang is normally a rather reticent man, easy-going and always smiling.
He's been in the lumber business since he was 16 years old. He moved his factory to Minhang in 2002. His company employs more than 3,000 people.
The timber products his company makes are widely sought. They went into the construction of Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai International Financial Center.
Jiang is currently expanding the business. A new headquarters and a research and development center are now in the planning stages.
"I want to be an asset to Minhang," he said. "I would like to get all the entrepreneurs in the lumber industry united to give us greater clout in negotiating contracts overseas."
His office is a blend of East and West. A coffee machine sits alongside ingredients to make kungfu tea.
He fondly remembers past trade missions. In November 2011, he accompanied former Chinese President Hu Jintao on a trip to Lithuania, Poland and Austria.
In April 2012, he visited Poland with then Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and later that year visited Russia with then Vice Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
"With each visit, I felt China's international stature ratcheting up," he said. "I realize more clearly that China needs the world and the world needs China. And I am fully aware of my social responsibility as an entrepreneur."
The foreign trips enabled him to meet business leaders in other countries and exchange views with them.
"That kind of personal contact can't be valued in monetary terms," he said.
A growing number of private business leaders are being allowed to join trade missions, a sign of the government's emphasis on nurturing smaller businesses and innovative entrepreneurs.
"Our involvement helps reinforce the image overseas of China as a solid market economy, with private enterprise as a key part," Jiang said.
For businessmen wanting to sell overseas, nothing beats getting a seat on a foreign trade mission.
Jiang Jinxing, owner of Minhang-based timber-products company Shanghai Rong Rong Wood Working, said he has accompanied state officials on four overseas trips in the last three years and the experience never fails to excite him.
His most recent foray abroad was to Russia as part of President Xi Jinping's maiden trip overseas after taking office in late March.
"It's always a learning experience," Jiang said of trade missions. "Many of the ideas I encounter are fresh to me. It helps broaden my international vision and insight."
Officially, Jiang was a member of the China Trade and Investment Promotion Delegation travelling with Xi. He said he was very honored to be on such an historic trip.
"It gave me the chance to obtain business information first-hand, build international partnerships, enhance my competitiveness and ultimately raise the overall status of my own company," said Jiang, a private businessman.
Indeed, a seat on a high-level trade mission is always prized.
"With so many excellent enterprises and outstanding entrepreneurs in China and only 50 to 60 allowed on a trade mission, I was lucky to be chosen," he said.
There were, of course, hoops to jump through.
"The chosen entrepreneurs did not necessarily come from state-owned or large enterprises," Jiang explained. "But they had to be leading lights in their industries."
Mission delegates are also chosen on the basis of markets tying into the products Chinese businessmen are seeking to promote abroad.
Jiang had to apply for a spot on a trade mission. He submitted information on his company and his personal identification to the Ministry of Commerce in late February.
"The fact that I had already been on three other trade missions helped my application," Jiang said.
Prior to the trip, business people selected to accompany the president were given a strict checklist of what they could and could not do. For example, taking photos was not permitted without permission. Anyone violating the rules would be blacklisted, the mission delegates were told.
"Of course, we clearly understood that we were representing China and had to uphold the proper image. We had to behave ourselves," Jiang said.
Jiang covered his own expenses for the trip. They amounted to about US$4,000 a week.
In Russia, Jiang attended the opening ceremony of China Tourism Year in Russia and a Sino-Russian trade forum.
"I was very much inspired by President Xi when he addressed the opening ceremony just 10 meters away from me," Jiang recalled. "I can still feel the power of his speech."
Born in Putian, Fujian Province, in the 1970s, Jiang is normally a rather reticent man, easy-going and always smiling.
He's been in the lumber business since he was 16 years old. He moved his factory to Minhang in 2002. His company employs more than 3,000 people.
The timber products his company makes are widely sought. They went into the construction of Pudong International Airport and the Shanghai International Financial Center.
Jiang is currently expanding the business. A new headquarters and a research and development center are now in the planning stages.
"I want to be an asset to Minhang," he said. "I would like to get all the entrepreneurs in the lumber industry united to give us greater clout in negotiating contracts overseas."
His office is a blend of East and West. A coffee machine sits alongside ingredients to make kungfu tea.
He fondly remembers past trade missions. In November 2011, he accompanied former Chinese President Hu Jintao on a trip to Lithuania, Poland and Austria.
In April 2012, he visited Poland with then Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, and later that year visited Russia with then Vice Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
"With each visit, I felt China's international stature ratcheting up," he said. "I realize more clearly that China needs the world and the world needs China. And I am fully aware of my social responsibility as an entrepreneur."
The foreign trips enabled him to meet business leaders in other countries and exchange views with them.
"That kind of personal contact can't be valued in monetary terms," he said.
A growing number of private business leaders are being allowed to join trade missions, a sign of the government's emphasis on nurturing smaller businesses and innovative entrepreneurs.
"Our involvement helps reinforce the image overseas of China as a solid market economy, with private enterprise as a key part," Jiang said.
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