Visitors Since October 2007

 

Introduction

Journey to the Eye of the Tiger
China’s Economic Centers of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong

 

There isn’t a day that can go by without your hearing someone saying something about China. And in stores all over the world – from Orlando to Paris to Cancun – you see merchandise bearing the label “Made in China.” China, the oriental country bearing a rich history and culture, has come to matter much more to the rest of the world in recent years. Since its open door policy was adopted in 1979, China has experienced a fast-growing GDP with an average annual increase of 9% and exports have jumped more than tenfold over the past 15 years. In 2005, China’s exports rose by 28.4% to $762 billion while imports grew by 17.6% to $660 billion.  China’s surging economy has captured increasing attention, and it has begun to play an important role in shaping global business.

In studying China we face many questions: What are the major driving forces behind the rapid development of China’s economy in the past two decades?  Is China’s economic development sustainable? Is China more than the “world’s factory”? Would outsourcing to China be beneficial?  What kind of business opportunities exist in China? How do we benefit from the rising purchasing power of 1.3 billion Chinese? How do we face the tremendous challenges of doing business in China?

The GIM China 2008 class will bring you to the “Eye of the Tiger”, the heart of the Chinese economy and help you find answers to these questions and more. This class aims to help you explore Chinese cultural, political, business and social issues through a combination of speakers’ presentations, readings, in-class discussions, group projects, and a two-week trip to China. Special attention will be paid to China’s major industries and its key themes, including the trends of the Chinese consumer market, the development of China’s financial systems and stock markets, the impact of the increasing exchange rate of Chinese currency on the manufacturing industry, and the development of the high technology industry in China. Furthermore, the class will help you grasp the essentials of cross-cultural management and business norms in China. During the Winter Quarter, you will have the opportunity to hear prominent speakers sharing their views on various topics regarding China’s economy and business practices, and to interact with Chinese political regulators and industry leaders to gain a better understanding of the complexity of China’s capitalist market under a socialist political regime.

Where will GIM China 2008 visit?
The 2008 GIM China “Journey to the Eye of the Tiger” is designed for you to fully embrace the dynamics and energy of China’s fast developing economy. We will visit cities and economic areas which have been the backbones and powerhouses in leading the country’s economic development. The trip will start in Beijing, then travel to Shanghai/Suzhou and culminate in Hong Kong.  We will focus on the east coast of China, as these are the places where China was first opened to the world two decades ago and have since become pillars of China’s economy.
After visiting Beijing, the political and cultural center of China; Shanghai, the major business center and the largest metropolitan city in China, and Suzhou, a city of gardens and an emerging competitor to Shanghai; we will conclude our trip in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. In contrast to Beijing and Shanghai, Shenzhen is a relatively new city, and it was chosen by Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980’s to be one of the four special economic zones. You will learn and see firsthand how it transformed from a fishing village of 70,000 people twenty years ago to a major business base and metropolitan city of more than 7 million people today.  Hong Kong, once the only gateway into China and the long established financial center of Asia, has kept its capitalist system after its return to China in 1997. In Hong Kong, we will truly appreciate where the East meets and integrates with the West!

Welcome to GIM Metropolitan China 2008!