I am leaving China!
(And then I am coming back!)
I fly to New York City on Sunday for a stateside trip I wasn’t really planning until a couple weeks ago. That’s when I learned that the return flight on a ticket I own — the first leg of which I used last May on my way back to Shanghai from Brian and Jill’s wedding — expires on May 8. So, I’m using it … on May 8.
The timing of the trip works out quite well, actually. In New York, I can meet with my literary agent face-to-face and hopefully get things moving on my book project. And, later in May, Dave, Lani and Sam will be in Pennsylvania — so prepare yourselves for many more photos of my nephew.
Other than that, I don’t have much planned. I’ll need to buy a ticket to get back to Shanghai — the cheaper the better — and I was thinking about trying to find a travel agent in New York’s Chinatown (any suggestions?). Maybe I’ll buy a new computer, seeing how my iBook’s hard drive appears to be fried again. Maybe I’ll help my dad sell his house — half of which is in my name — so I can actually afford a new computer. And maybe, while I’m home, the Yankees will actually win a game.
I’ll be spending most of my U.S. time in Bloomsburg, Pa., but I also plan on visiting New York, D.C. and maybe either Pittsburgh or Philadelphia. If you live any of those places and would like to get together — or buy me a new computer — drop me a line.
05.06.2005, 3:15 PM · Site News
5 Comments
Dunno but iBook hard-drives fail with alarming regularity in my experience.
I’m assuming that the reason for no more trip posts is because the material is being reserved for a book. Because otherwise I’ve been waiting for that Changchun post for like six months! :)
I hope you are able to come back. Reading shanghaidiaries.com just wouldn’t be quite the same if it was written state side. Have a great trip and best of luck with your agent.
Dan, better give us an opinion on this interesting paper.
Japan Inc hooked on China
George Zhibin Gu
In the past three decades, Japan and China have enjoyed ever-increasing economic ties, but their political relationship has been lagging behind. The ongoing political rows cast a shadow over their economic ties. So what’s really at stake?
Japan Inc. in China
Japan Inc. has been the third-most important investor in China, after “Overseas Chinese Inc.” and “US Inc.”. By 2004, Japan had invested US$66.6 billion in equity into China, while Japanese banks are leading international lenders to China. At the same time, the booming Chinese economy has become an engine for Japan’s economic recovery. Recently 50 per cent or more of the total increase in Japanese exports has been attributable to China.
Japan Inc’s investments in mainland China have come in three waves. The first wave, which really only tested the water, came in the 1980s. Japanese investors at that time felt the Chinese lacked sufficient buying power to make investments worthwhile.
In 1993-95, as Chinese growth began to accelerate, the second wave arrived. Still, however, Japanese investments remained limited in scope and reach. China was treated as a factory, not a market. Goods made in China by Japanese manufacturers were largely sent to overseas markets.
But by the late 1990s, seemingly all of Japan Inc. rushed in - the third wave. By 2005, not only giant Japanese multinationals, but also countless small and medium-size firms had arrived. Shanghai alone has more than 40,000 Japanese residents. Japanese schools operate in major cities such as Xian, Dalian, Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai. In 2004, the number of people travelling between the two nations reached 4.35 million - a new record.
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http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3422
Dan, if you’re still looking for a travel agent in Chinatown, try Sylvia at Paradise Travel. The office is located on Bowery St. between Bayard & Canal Sts, on the second floor. The entrance is next door to the Duane Reade.