FosteringC Businessh iand n Cultural a HarmonyIn between s i the g China h and t the U.S. VOL. 9 NO. 3 www.chinainsight.info MARCH 2010 The U.S. and China: Census A relationship marred by misperceptions By Greg Hugh, Staff Writer

he China Center at the Uni- versity of Minnesota began its Chinese New Year celebration Tby holding its annual Bob & Kim Griffin Building U.S.–China Bridges Lecture recently in the Great Hall of Coff- man Memorial Union on the University’s Minneapolis campus. The guest speaker was Burton Levin, former Ambassador to Burma and Consul General in Hong Kong who spoke on The U.S. and China: A Rela- Shanghai Expo tionship Marred by Misperceptions. Prior to the lecture, Yongwei Zhang, Director, China Center, welcomed the gathering with a few comments and stated that there would be a question and answer session following the lecture and then a reception to celebrate Chinese New Year which is the year of the Tiger, and according to Zhang, this year is actually the Golden Tiger year which occurs only every 60 years. L to R: Bob Griffin, Burton Levin and Yongwei Zhang (Photo by Tim Rummelhoff) Continues on Page 12 U.S. pavilion most anticipated People France, UK, Japan halls next on list for Expo visitors, survey finds

By Bao Daozu, China Daily SHANGHAI–The United States’ pavil- ion is the most anticipated foreign country exhibition center in the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, a survey has revealed. This is despite the country being one of the last to confirm its participation. The most anticipated foreign pavilions were ranked in the order of people’s inten- tion to visit. The online survey of 15,000 respondents showed the [United States] topped the list at 48 percent, France next at 38 percent, the United Kingdom at 32 per- cent, Japan at 32 percent, and South Korea at 28 percent. “Familiarity with the country still is the top motivation for visiting pavilions, as indicated by 90 percent of the respondents,” said Debby Cheung, group managing di- rector of Ogilvy Public Relations China. “This explains why the American pavilion, although the 240th to confirm its participa- tion, is No. 1 on the list.” But other factors also drive the trend, Cheung added. ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Pavilion theme is one of the most impor- tant factors in determining their popularity. Commentary / 2 Pavilions need to promote a powerful theme Arts / 3 & 10 that reflects both the contents of the pavilion and the country’s brand to create greater Economy / 4 -6 & 12 familiarity and bring in more traffic, Cheung Census / 7 suggested. U.S. pavilion under construction Chinese New Year / 8 The Denmark pavilion, with its promo- with 55 percent of the respondents think- choices include art and culture exhibitions, Travel / 9 tion of the “welfairytales” (a blend of the ing it is “very attractive”. Its ranking in the high-tech experiences and interactive ac- People / 11 words “welfare” and “fairytale”) theme list of pavilions to visit also climbed from tivities. Culture / 13-16 featuring a little mermaid, has been voted 24th to 20th. Across the board, countries participating the most beautiful foreign country pavilion Other factors that may affect visitors’ Pavilion continues on Page 9 PAGE 2 > MARCH 2010 commentary www.chinainsight.info Is America stuffed full of Ch i n a In s i g h t Publisher: Gregory J. Hugh Chinese products? [email protected] By Chris Devonshire-Ellis Jan. 8 – I have spent two of the last three ing released from the Royal Navy following fashion – is there much more of a new Editor: months in the United States, mostly on busi- World War II, so his business acumen was consumer market left now that everyone ap- Jennifer Nordin ness trips. Taking in New York (twice), Chi- not forged on the shop floor. However, his pears to have one? Has the market changed [email protected] cago, Miami, Austin and San Francisco (also words do ring true. from servicing a totally new product (digital twice), several things are clear. One is that It is also apparently true, 18 months into replacing film) to now being purely one of Manager of Operations/ the U.S. recession is not across the board, the global downturn, that the first decade upgrades and replacements? If so, demand as in certain areas, especially in added value of this century was marked by conspicu- will drop. Circulation: such as the tech sector, U.S. businesses are ous consumption of cheap goods. Driven Richard He booming. The recession has not affected all mainly by China, and absorbed globally, the Shoes [email protected] aspects of the U.S. economy. consumption boom rode the wave of several China manufactures and sells about What has been telling, however, is the new and popular technologies – digitization 10 billion pairs of shoes each year, mainly Production Editor: difference in perception over the need for changing the way we operate – and by the from Guangdong Province. That is one and Dawn Murphy America to continue to purchase cheap im- continuing growth of China’s own massive a half pairs for everyone on the planet, each [email protected] ported goods. Several times, and in different population. Yet in many products and indus- year. Now that Homo sapiens as a species are totally shod, is growth in this industry, cities, a newer picture began to emerge that tries, the saturation point appears to have Artist/Intern: apart from fashion and replacements, really has major implications for exports to the been reached. In short, has a manufacturing Lauren Hugh United States. On numerous occasions I bubble developed and is China in danger possible or indeed sustainable? The current was told “American households are stuffed of producing huge quantities of goods and global population growth rate is 1.17 per- full of Chinese products. We simply can’t products that they will be unable to sell? cent, according to the World Bank. Staff Writers: buy anymore.” While that would appear a To explore this further, let’s take a look Greg Hugh generalization, it is an attitude that is worth as some of China’s runaway spectacular Christmas trees [email protected] examining. industries. Are they sustainable, or is the There are just over 2 billion Christians China has been selling products to the global procurement cupboard stuffed to globally. However, manufacturers based Albert Leung mainly in South China have exported 500 United States in large quantities for 20 years overflowing? [email protected] now, and if many of these are classed as one million artificial trees in the last ten years, Cameras one for every four Christians, who tend to time only buys, then the steam may have Jennifer Nordin The city of Foshan, in Guangdong use them for family use over several years, run out for many of China’s cheap exports. [email protected] As my father used to say, perhaps in the Province, is the world’s camera manufac- rather than annually, per individual. Maybe mistaken belief I would end up a factory turing base churning out some 15 million time to convert? cameras last year, or about 15 percent of Mike Xiong owner, “Always manufacture breakable Computers items such as China mugs. If you manufac- the world’s total. Yet looking around, many [email protected] Shenzhen manufactures 90 percent of ture unbreakable ones, eventually you’ll of my friends possess more than one. Sure, the global demand for computer keyboards, go broke. Everyone will have one and your cameras need to be updated, and they break. mouses and screens sold worldwide. Suzhou market will have disappeared.” My father But in the rush to go digital – China has rid- About Ch i n a In s i g h t den the digital camera wave in spectacular worked for the BBC for his career after be- Chinese Products continues on Page 3 Ch i n a In s i g h t is a monthly English language newspaper fostering business and cultural harmony between China and the U.S.

Ch i n a In s i g h t is a Member of The Minnesota Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA).

Submissions & Correspondence

Ch i n a In s i g h t welcomes guest articles and mail for the Letters to the Editor column. Correspondence should be addressed to:

Editor, Ch i n a In s i g h t 6520 South Bay Drive Minnetrista, MN 55331 Tel: 952-472-4757 Fax: 952 472-6665 [email protected] Ch i n a In s i g h t In s i g h t Letters to the Editor become the SUBSCRIPTION ORDER FORM Guaranteed property of Ch i n a In s i g h t and may 10 issues - $24 for a domestic subscription and $40 for be edited for length and published. Articles will not be published international. YES you could run to the without the express consent of Please make check payable to Ch i n a In s i g h t , 6520 South store and pick up a copy, but the author. Bay Drive, Minnetrista, MN 55331 did you know you can have NOTICE TO READERS: The Name______Ch i n a In s i g h t delivered directly to your mailbox? views epressed in articles are Address______the author’s and not neccesarily City/State/Zip______A subscription costs a mere those of Ch i n a In s i g h t . Authors Phone______$24 and brings a full year (10 may have a business relationship Email______issues) of new understand- with the companies or businesses they discuss. Company______ing about today’s China, from language to business oppor- Title______tunities. Copyright 2008 Ch i n a In s i g h t , Inc. All Rights Reserved. www.chinainsight.info arts MARCH 2010 > PAGE 3 Panel of renowned experts delves Yellow Face into issues of Asian American showcased at portrayals in the media Guthrie Theatre By Albert Leung, Staff Writer By Albert Leung, Staff Writer Prior to the Yellow Face premier at of people and many points-of-view. There Mu Performing Arts conquers the Guth- the Guthrie Theater on Feb. 6, 2010, Mu can be no one representation of Asian which rie Theatre stage with its latest production Performing Arts held a panel discussion can be equivalent to the masses. Yellow Face, which debuts for the first time addressing common trends of how Asians Hwang discussed how reality television in the Midwest. The semi-autobiographical and Asians Americans are portrayed in the has brought much more diversity in the me- play written by Tony-award-winning David media. The discussion, called Asians in the dia than scripted programming has. Henry Hwang is a clever farce that addresses Media, featured a panel of media members, “One can argue that producers need the topics surrounding what race means in actors, academics and award winning play- to distinguish the different contestants on the media and general public, and issues wright David Henry Hwang. reality television and using a wide range of over type- and racial-casting in the entertain- Flanked beside Hwang included lo- color pallets is one way to do so,” Hwang ment industry. cal thespian and the star of Yellow Face said. “Whatever the reason, it still allows In Hwang’s play Yellow Face, we follow Randy Reyes, Minneapolis Star Tribune opportunity for more representation and the the character DHH (Randy Reyes), which newspaper’s theatre critic Graydon Royce, fact that people do watch these shows tells is playful mock of the award winning play- University of Minnesota – Asian American me that the audience is ready for a diverse wright himself, after his Broadway success Studies Professor Josephine Lee and Star group of players on their television shows of M. Butterfly. The character is drawn into o r t h m e r i c a n ranslations Tribune reporter Thomas Lee. and entertainment.” N A T the bitter protests by the Asian American The panel, moderated by Minnesota’s From an actor’s perspective, local actor Your one-stop source for pre- community when in 1991, Welsh actor Jona- Public Radio’s Marianne Combs, compre- Randy Reyes shared his personal experi- cise technical translations be- than Pryce was chosen to continue his role hensively discussed the historic examples ences working as an Asian American actor. as the mixed Asian-Caucasian lead character tween Chinese and English. of Asian stereotyping such as “yellow Reyes spoke about his acting idol and noted in the play Miss Saigon when it debuted in We specialize in legal, financial, peril” and the “model minority” which that he had no real Asian actors whom he the United States on Broadway. The deci- engineering and medical trans- were perpetuated throughout the media and could look up to. Instead he had particular sion was protested by the Asian American entertainment industries. The panel also admiration to other minority actors such as lation work. community as an example of “yellow face” discussed where and if Asian Americans are Will Smith and Denzel Washington whom casting but the media widely scrutinized the properly represented in today’s media. he admired because they played the complex Asian Americans’ stance on the issue. Our high-quality serice is com- “Racial stereotyping of Asians has been roles which he wanted to portray. Stemming from the controversial cast- petitively priced. Contact us going on for centuries,” said Josephine Following college, Reyes lived in New ing, DHH’s life and career seemed to tumble today to get your free quote. Lee. “When people often talk about racial York City to pursue an acting career but into a downward spiral after finding himself stereotypes, they often refer to ‘yellow peril’ found many unexpected difficulties in find- in a similar casting controversy for a failed which is the enemy, hostile Asian country ing roles as an Asian American actor. Phone: 612-799-5415 Broadway project called Face Value, which which arose during the rise of Japan with its “When I was living in New York, going Fax: 612-643-3498 was a real failed production Hwang suffered political and military prowess.” out for movie or television parts was embar- after his M. Butterfly success. Email: Many of ‘yellow peril’ images and por- rassing and humiliating,” Reyes said. “For With a strong cast led by local actors [email protected] trayals were most famously propagandized the parts I had to read they would ask, ‘Can Randy Reyes and Matt Rein, Yellow Face during World War II, and have since been you put on an accent?’ delivers a witty and enlightening show that recycled among other ethnic Asian groups I would ask them what kind and they will surely captivate the audiences with its month of February in the Dowling Studio such as Koreans and Vietnamese said Lee. would say it doesn’t matter. So I would charismatic humor. The play also features of the Guthrie Theater. Most recently, North Korea has fallen into make up one and they didn’t know the dif- a strong ensemble of supporting actors who Yellow Face first premiered in 2007 in this stereotypical portrayal explained Lee. ference.” are called upon to portray multiple charac- Los Angeles, Calif., in the Mark Taper Fo- “These kinds of images have been end- Reyes was also frequently asked if he ters throughout the show. Mu Performing rum. The play earned Hwang his third Obie lessly disseminated over time. Imagine the could speak his native language, which Arts’ Artist Director Rick Shiomi took on Award in playwriting and made him a third- impact it has on people who has never met is Tagalog, and then asked if he could director duties for Yellow Face through the finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.  an Asian before, which is true in some parts showcase some of his language during of this country,” said Lee. auditions. Lee believes that these stereotypes con- “I would just make up something. I’d tinue to persist because they have seemingly make up gibberish and they were like that’s been commodified by the media to an extent great,” Reyes said. “I just didn’t see the Xiamen exports 120 million pairs of where Asians do not seem to protest it. She career out there that I want.” sunglasses each year. However, now they This entry was posted on Friday, Janu- said that if someone was to portray yellow The discussion was insightful and of- are showing up in cheap piles on every ary 8th, 2010 at 12:43 pm and is filed under face there would probably be no protest fered audience goers an array of perspec- street corner globally, from Fifth Avenue Culture & History. where as black face portrayals are rightfully tives. The common theme, though, was in New York to street corners in Lagos. Just and vehemently protested. that Asians and Asian Americans continue how many pairs of sunglasses do we need? Reprinted by permission of China Brief- Yellow Face creator David Henry to struggle in finding opportunities where Add the unsold world stockpiles together ing www.china-briefing.com Hwang touched on the difficulty in find- they can represent themselves as regular and that would appear to be an awful lot of ing “authentic” Asian representation in the individuals instead of the perpetuated poor quality shades that need to be shifted. Chris Devonshire-Ellis is the founder of media. According to Hwang, it is difficult stereotypes. Although it was difficult for Once a product is sold from plastic mats on Dezan Shira & Associates (www.dezshira. to have one or two individuals represent everyone on the panel to discuss why that dirt floors, you can be pretty sure the market com), Asia’s largest independent business an extremely diverse group of individuals might be, each of them were hopeful that saturation point has been reached. advisors and tax consultants, advising mul- who fall under the Asian umbrella. Similar opportunities for Asian Americans to do so tinational businesses on matters of foreign Microwave ovens to any diverse group, there are many types would come soon.  direct investment into China, Hong Kong, Dongguan is the world’s largest manu- India and Vietnam. Established in 1992 and facturer of microwave ovens. But they’re now in its seventeenth year, the practice has too expensive for much of the world, which nine offices in China, five in India, and two Chinese Products from Page 2 still relies on burnable fuel. in Vietnam. is the world center for manufacturing hard only about 25 percent of the world’s popula- He also founded the Asia Briefing drives. Now computers are again part of tion sleep in their own bed at night and only Cheap jewelry publishing house in 1999 with its well re- most people’s daily lives and are apparently about 30 percent of the world’s population Seventy percent of the world’s supply ceived China Briefing magazines and books everywhere. However, a search on Wiki- are rich enough to have a bank account.” of costume (cheap) jewelry is in manufac- concerning matters of China business law Answers reveals otherwise, and I quote: tured in Shandong Province. Do the more and tax. “Computer ownership is now at about 4-5 Toothbrushes conservative consumer years of the centu- percent of the world’s population. However Yangzhou, a major world center for ries second decade mean a boom for cheap with many social projects putting computers manufacturing toothbrushes, produces 80 jewelry or is the world full of more plastic Advertisers in villages in developing countries, between percent of China’s domestic needs and 35 bracelets and cut glass diamante than we Your potential customers are can possibly need? 12-14 percent of the world’s population have percent of global consumption annually. reading Ch i n a In s i g h t . Shouldn’t access to a computer. Approx 3-5 percent of However, with wear and tear, and an in- you be bringing them in the door Note: Manufacturing statistics related to the world’s population have internet access.” crease globally in hygiene levels and dental with an ad? This would suggest high-tech industries still care, toothbrush manufacturing is likely to China were sourced from the China Brief- have a lot of market penetration and growth remain a bright industry. ing series of Regional Business Guides. To Contact: Greg Hugh potential on a massive scale. However, the read more about these books please visit (952) 472-4757 web site also warns: “To put this into context Sunglasses our bookstore. Email: [email protected] PAGE 4 > MARCH 2010 economy www.chinainsight.info Just Call Me “Three F Li” Narrated by Li Yining, collated by China Today staff reporter Liu Qiong Li Yining is a well-known Chinese econ- graduation, when I was recommended for omist with an impressive set of responsibili- immediate admission to Nanking Univer- ties. Currently he is president of the Market sity, I chose the Department of Chemical Economy Academy of Peking University, Engineering without hesitation. honorary president of the Guanghua School However, when I received the admission of Management of Peking University (and notice from the department in February its doctoral supervisor for work related to 1949, the political situation had changed. national economic policies), member of the Two months later Nanjing was liberated. In- Standing Committee of the National Com- stead of going to college I went to Yuanling mittee of the Chinese People’s Political Con- in Hunan Province that December to work, sultative Conference (CPPCC), and deputy first as an accountant for the county’s school director of the Subcommittee of Economy of supply cooperative, and later as a clerk with CPPCC. Li Yining didn’t start out thinking the county’s construction committee. In the of himself as a “numbers guy.” Born in summer of 1951, I decided to take the en- 1930, his earliest career aspirations were trance examination for university. For con- to “bring salvation to the people through venience, I asked my former classmate Zhao science” and “rejuvenate the nation through Huijie, who at that time was studying in the industry.” Department of History of Peking University, to sign up for me. He considered several fac- tors in selecting a field and a major for me – my working experience as an accountant, my academic strength in both the arts and science, and the country’s needs – before deciding the Department of Economics was the best choice and one where I had some advantages. So the application was filed with the Department of Economics as my first choice. In August, I was admitted into this department and my lifelong academic preoccupation with economic theory and practice began. Upon graduation in 1955 I didn’t leave Peking University, but was engaged for translation and compilation work in the Reference Room of the Department of Economics. At that time, in addition to loaning books and materials to teachers, the Reference Room also undertook collecting, collating, translating and compiling new materials. To me, work is best experienced as total immersion, like putting a fish into Three F Li”–Li Yining water. Facing a wall of texts on economics They used to call me Private Enterprise – Chinese and foreign books, and scores Li (Li Minying), but I would rather be of foreign periodicals – I naturally became known as “Three F Li” (Li Sannong). It was familiar with the spectrum of viewpoints by accident that I became an economist. At on economic management, and translating the very beginning of China’s economic re- books and theses on economics was a way to form, I presented the concept of transform- continue my education. Later I served as the ing China’s economy through shareholding, main contributor to Economics Information and suggested that the private sector and Abroad, a journal run by the Department of the state-owned sector enjoy equal status in Economics of Peking University. the economy. As a participant in economic In the late 1970s, a nationwide debate on policymaking in China I have witnessed the maxim “practice is the sole criterion for a lot of changes to the People’s Republic. testing truth” raged for six months. Minds These days I am looking for solutions to were emancipated, and it became clear there problems posed by rural development, or were serious disadvantages to the blind wor- what we know as the “Three F (Sannong)” ship of theory. Since then, I balanced my issue – farmland, farmers and farming. book-learning by participating in China’s economic reform, and, I hoped, did my share The Winding Path to Economics to contribute to it. From primary school to middle school, I was partial to literature. I read carefully, over “Shareholding Reformer Li” and over, such Chinese classics as A Dream It was the spring of 1980 that I suggested of Red Mansions, Romance of the Three shareholding reform for the first time. As Kingdoms, and poetry. I was also moved by an associate professor at the Department the works of foreign authors, such as Balzac, of Economics of Peking University, I Maupassant, Tolstoy, and Turgenev. participated in the Labor and Wage Forum Then as an adolescent, I experienced convened jointly by the Research Office of Japanese aggression, the curse of civil war, the Secretariat of the Central Committee of and the dire poverty of those years. On the the Communist Party of China and the State eve of my graduation from high school, the Labor Bureau. school authorities organized a student visit In those days, millions of “educated to a large chemical plant. It was there that I youth” (middle school graduates who were began to realize the importance of chemical sent to labor in the countryside during the fertilizer to strengthening China’s agricul- “cultural revolution”) had returned to the tural production. That’s what inspired my cities and were demanding the government “salvation through science” phase. So on Li continues on Page 5 www.chinainsight.info economy MARCH 2010 > PAGE 5

Li from Page 4 Reform” in which I advocated that we give priority to the reform of enterprises, that is, provide them jobs. At this meeting I sug- give priority to the evolution of sharehold- gested one way to solve the problem of un- ing, but certain people had their doubts. employment was to have people pool money In April of 1987, the policy of contracted to run shareholding enterprises, and the management responsibility for the state- enterprises could then expand their opera- owned sector regained official blessing tions through issuing stocks. My suggestion and backing. Although people had already got no response, although shareholding had seen the problems with this system, it was emerged in the countryside by that time. generally believed they could be overcome. Certain commune-run enterprises adopt- By the end of 1987, 80 percent of the large ed a system of pooling capital, issuing shares and medium-sized state-owned enterprises and providing dividends. These enterprises had put the system into effect. developed well, and their operations showed About that time, a champion for urban great vitality. Farmers became shareholders industrial reform appeared. Ma Shengli through pooling various elements of produc- contracted to manage 100 paper mills in tion and forming rural shareholding coop- more than 20 provinces and municipalities erative enterprises. These are the rudiments throughout the country, and formed the of shareholding. Of course, operations were China Ma Shengli Paper Industry Group. In not always smooth. 1988, due to reckless expansion, the group Of all those in Chinese economy, the suffered a collapse of its revenue, and Ma reform of state-owned enterprises turned Shengli was forced to leave his post. out to be the hardest nut to crack. In late Soon after Deng Xiaoping made his 1978, China embarked on a drive to ease famous remarks during the 1992 inspection government control on the management of tour in South China, encouraging bolder enterprises and allow them a share of their reforms, the central authorities invited me, profits. Enterprises would have greater Wang Jiafu of the Chinese Academy of So- decision-making power over their operation. cial Sciences and Lu Baifu, deputy director But more decision-making freedom alone of the State Council Development Research couldn’t fundamentally improve the man- Center, to discuss the shareholding system agement of state-owned enterprises. They concept. Wang Jiafu gave opinions from the remained in a quagmire throughout the legal angle, I from the perspective of eco- early 1980s. nomics, and Lu Baifu from the standpoint Many officials then sought a cure in the of policy research. All three of us held that contracted responsibility system for cities. a shareholding system was both necessary They demanded state-owned industrial and and feasible. commercial enterprises, in the fashion of the nation’s farming communities, carry out a management contracting system based on economic performances. Haiyan Shirt Fac- tory, located in a small town in Zhejiang Province, became a shining example of the success of this reform. Bu Xinsheng, director of the factory, learned a lot from linking remuneration to output in rural op- erations, and introduced the practice in his workshops. With compensation linked to production, a worker’s wage was geared to The stock market has become a barometer the number of shirts he produced, without a of China’s macroeconomy ceiling or floor. But for every defective shirt Photo credit: Cnsphoto a worker made, he or she would be fined a By 1997, the CPC Central Commit- sum double the price of the shirt. The saying tee’s report delivered at the 15th National at that time was “smash the communal pot.” Congress of the Communist Party of China This factory was a trail-blazing enterprise, clarified its position: Establishing a modern and the “Bu Xinsheng miracle” aroused corporate system is the focus of enterprise a sensation nationwide. The gravel road reform. Forms of public ownership can, leading to his factory in Wuyuan Town, and should be, diversified. A shareholding Haiyan County, was always crowded with system is a form of organizing capital. It is curious visitors. good for the separation of ownership from For the short term the contracted man- the right of management, and it optimizes agement responsibility system proved a the operational efficiency of enterprises and strong stimulus to any enterprise putting the use of capital. Capitalism can use this it into practice, increasing both production system, so can socialism; the key lies in who and profits. But the arbitrary determina- is the dominant shareholder. tion of the contracted quotas and lack of For the first time in history, an official scientific basis of the practice provoked document of the CPC Central Committee expediencies and short-term behaviors of is committed to an important innovation in enterprises, causing market disorder and state ownership, at the same time making a inflation. In an attempt to correct for these great ideological breakthrough. effects, the central government decided to call a halt to the system in cities. As an Removing Barriers to the Securities alternative, it began to introduce income Market tax on state-owned enterprises to replace Securities markets had appeared in the old practice of requiring them to hand China by the early 1990s but it was 2001 in all their profits. Still, this adjustment did before they were hit by a plague of stock not go to the extent of obliging enterprises price manipulations. I am speaking of the to take full responsibility for their profits Fund Scandal and the crash of the Zhongke and losses, nor giving them management stocks. These shady stock market deals autonomy or promoting fair competition as aroused wide attention. After denouncing the government had hoped for. the immoral behaviors, I issued warnings At the time the government didn’t ac- on the abnormalities of China’s emerging cept my idea of establishing shareholding securities market: the gambling mindset of companies. Instead, the call for lifting market players, the egregious citizen par- price controls had gained the upper hand. ticipation, and the dangerously high price/ At a forum held in Peking University in earning ratio. late April of 1986, I pressed on, making a speech entitled “The Fundamentals of Li continues on Page 6 PAGE 6 > MARCH 2010 economy www.chinainsight.info

Li from Page 5 has experienced three stages. The first stage “spring of China’s private economy” in continue, especially in rural areas. A share- But four economists – Xiao Zhuoji, was launched with China’s opening up in Chinese and foreign economics circles. holding system is not only related to urban Dong Fureng, Wu Xiaoqiu and Han Zhi- 1978. The second opened with Deng Xiaop- I was the earliest advocate of the prin- economics, but also closely pertinent with guo – almost unanimously rose to counter ing’s inspection tour in South China and ciples set out in this document. Leading up rural economics. In the countryside of my opinions. They said that rational specu- publication of his comments in 1992. And to the drafting of the articles, I served as Zhejiang Province, particularly in rural lation was what we should encourage, not the third period started with the circulation the deputy director of the Subcommittee of Wenzhou and Taizhou, shareholding enter- stamp down. In their views the whole na- in 2005 of “36 Articles on Non-Public Sec- Economy of the CPPCC National Commit- prises established by farmers appeared as tion swarming into the stock exchange is a tors of the Economy.” tee and was entrusted to lead a committee early as the 1980s. They channeled private good thing, as it shows the orientation of On December 11, 1980 a 19-year-old investigation in Liaoning, Jiangsu, Zhejiang funds into production, solved unemploy- the economic reform, including develop- girl named Zhang Huamei in Wenzhou City, and Guangdong provinces. On the trip we ment problems for millions of people, and ment of a capital market, is in line with the Zhejiang Province, obtained from a local discovered that the private sector faced spurred annually two-digit GDP growth for requirements of social development and the authority a license for a small private busi- many obstacles in its development. For in- successive 20 years. They also contributed wishes of the general public. Finally, they ness, the first of its kind in China. Not long stance, it was greatly limited with regard to taxes valued in RMB hundreds of billions, maintained that considering the fledgling after that, the phenomenon of the home- access to certain types of fields or industry and drove the emergence of hundreds of new state of the Chinese stock market, the price/ based business surged nationwide. Common by the current system. It was also treated cities and towns. The rural communities in earning ratio was not high. In short, they felt ones were selling tea drinks in the street, unfairly by legislation governing financing, these areas have become well-off. All this it inadvisable to shelve the capital market transporting briquettes, repairing bicycles, taxation, land use and foreign trade. Public indicates that a shareholding system can also for the sake of controlling “irregularities.” and mounting paintings and calligraphic opinion remained unfavorable to the private play an important role in rural areas. This was the prelude to a nationwide debate works. The “seeds” of the modern Chinese sector as well. Our investigation concluded To us, reform and opening-up is an on the stock market. private economy were sown. with a detailed report in the fourth quarter unprecedented practice, and setbacks and The stock market needed to be regulated But economic reform has never been of 2003, which we then submitted to the shortcomings are unavoidable. The planned nevertheless, and I began to preside over the smooth sailing. In early 1982, a group of National Committee of CPPCC. Meanwhile, economy has two major pillars. One is the drafting of the Securities Law of the People’s businessmen were arrested on charges of we wrote a letter to Premier Wen Jiabao, as system of state-owned enterprises featuring Republic of China. I set two goals for the “speculation and profiteering.” In Liushi a companion commentary on our report. non-separation of enterprise and administra- statute: first, it should protect the interests Town, Wenzhou City called the birthplace Premier Wen paid close attention to this, tion, and indistinct property rights; the other of investors by strictly prohibiting irregular of small private enterprises, eight private and drafted a lengthy directive in early 2004, is the dual urban-rural structure featuring behaviors such as stock manipulation. Sec- business barons became major targets of a entrusting the State Council Research Office segregation between cities and the country- ond, it should promote the development of crackdown. Not long after that, amendments and the National Development and Reform side and the subsequent restricted flow of the national economy by restructuring the to the Constitution were adopted at the Fifth Commission to take responsibility for draft- production elements between them. These securities market. During this period I was Meeting of the Fifth National People’s Con- ing the “36 Articles on Non-Public Sectors two pillars help up the planned economy. a member of the Standing Committee of the gress, designed to establish the legal status of the Economy.” The contracted responsibility system in ag- National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s of individual enterprises. Quite a number In 2005 the 36 Articles were formulated riculture was set up on the precondition of top legislature. This was the period when the of households running private businesses and enacted. This was the first document recognizing the dual urban-rural structure, legislative body was shifting gradually from reported their incomes exceeded RMB encouraging, supporting and guiding the so basically this structure was not touched lawmaking driven by relevant departments 10,000, the benchmark for affluence at the development of private and other non-public by reforms during these years. The result is to lawmaking open to weighty participation time. Some members were invited by the sectors of the economy ever issued in the farmers’ incomes increase only incremen- by specialists. Some professors and scholars local government to showcase their success name of the central government. Under tally, and the urbanization process is also from Peking University were on the team and share their experience with the public. the new system capital put up by private slow. Inequality still exists between urban drafting the first Securities Law. Their chests were decorated with red flow- investors or enterprises was allowed to and rural inhabitants. A living example is Since the implementation of the Securi- ers, a token of honor previously preserved enter monopoly trades and fields, such as the migrant worker. Clearly, rural reform is ties Law on July 1, 1999, we can say that for heroes and model workers only! finance, public utilities, telecommunica- only in its initial stages, and there is still a the issuance and trade of securities has been The private sector grew briskly in its tions, public transportation, civil aviation, long way to go. effectively regulated and the legitimate second stage. During the years from 1992 to and the petroleum industry, as a measure Besides, there is another issue – the rights and interests of investors protected. 2005 China’s private enterprises expanded to stimulate market competition. It also social security system. Due to financial By extension, it has also maintained social in number from 140,000 to 2.435 million, stipulated that it was illegal for any unit or difficulties and other reasons, this system and economic order, safeguarded the public and registered capital increased from RMB individual to violate the legitimate property is proceeding very slowly, with many prob- interest, and promoted social and economic 22.1 billion to RMB 2.4756 trillion. The rights of non-public enterprises, or to il- lems needing resolution. development. Besides the Securities Law, I number of employees shot up from 2.32 legally alter the right to proprietorship of Matters concerning farmland, farmers also presided over the drafting of the Law million to 34.09 million, and the taxes multi- private enterprises. and farming, often referred to as the “Three of Securities Investment Fund. It regulates plied by a factor of 208. In the reform of the After the enactment of the 36 Articles, F” issues, are of primary importance. I the operations of funds, and brings more 1990s Zhucheng City in Shandong Province various regional and departmental support- have been consumed by making appeals sophistication to the securities market. towered over all others. Chen Guang was the ing measures found their way into policy regarding these problems. In early 2008, By the early 21st century, the share- secretary of the CPC Zhucheng municipal and regulations. The whole environment for I published a lengthy article in the Journal holding system had really taken root in committee, the top leader of the city. Within the non-public sector was greatly enhanced, of Peking University entitled “On Reform China. New problems arose of course. A two years of assuming leadership, he sold 95 ushering in a new era in the development of the Dual Urban-rural Structure.” In it I case in point is the restriction on the trade percent of the city’s state-owned and collec- of China’s private economy. By the end pointed out that to promote the development of shares. The early design of the system tively owned enterprises, and earned himself of 2008, private corporations made up 61 of the agricultural sector and increase farm- stipulated that only public, or circulating, the nickname “Sell Off Chen.” Zhucheng’s percent of the country’s total number of ing income, the key lies in changing this shares (making up, by law, only one third actions aroused censure. Many people enterprises. duality, so farmers can enjoy equal rights of the total), could be traded on the stock asked the question: “Is the city practicing with urban inhabitants, and equal oppor- market, while state-owned and corporate, privatization?” Higher-ranking government “Three F Li” tunities. In my opinion, without a reform In 2004 and 2005, I conducted a field which are non-circulating shares (making up officials investigated and fully affirmed the that eliminates this split there would be no study in 16 provinces while touring the two-thirds of the total), could not be traded. prudence of Chen’s decisions. By promot- significant improvement in farmers’ liveli- countryside, and was impressed with the Since non-circulating stocks were the bulk ing a shareholding system and Sino-foreign hoods, and the income gap between the city latest advancements in rural reform, such of any enterprises’ holdings any possibility joint ventures and mergers, and what’s more, and country dwellers cannot be narrowed as transference of land use rights, eco- for change was smothered: under those con- allowing defunct businesses to go bankrupt, in any real sense. In the past, people called oriented relocation of rural populations, and ditions, shareholders’ meetings cannot be Zhucheng intensified reforms on large and me “Shareholding Reformer Li” (Li Gufen) shareholding methods applied to farmland convened and two-thirds of the stock cannot medium-sized state-owned enterprises, and “Private Enterprise Li” (Li Minying), management. move. Boards of directors also share in the achieving remarkable results. but now, I prefer to be called “Three F Li” In my opinion, China’s reform will inertia, maintaining a unanimous voice, and In the wake of Zhucheng’s example, the (Li Sannong).  ultimately, the status quo. For a market to be central authorities issued explicit guidelines dynamic and healthy all kinds of shares must that “in general, it is permitted to sell small circulate on the stock market, so calls for state-owned enterprises to collectives or in- the second reform of China’s shareholding dividuals.” As a result, the ranks of China’s private enterprises swelled from 90,000 in system zeroed in on limiting non-tradable h i n a shares. By the end of 2006, this barrier had 1990 to 238,000 in early 1994. C Insight been removed and the Chinese securities At the dawn of 2005, the State Council SEEKS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE… market began to move forward, with the circulated the “36 Articles on Non-Public Must be passionate about our mission: in addition to being Sectors of the Economy” (full title: Several stock market becoming a valid barometer success-oriented, must be self-motivated, resourceful, cre- of China’s macro-economy. Opinions of the State Council on Encourag- ing, Supporting and Guiding the Develop- ative, disciplined and community-minded. I Became “Private Enterprise Li” ment of the Private and Other Non-Public e n e r o u s o m m i s s i o n c h e d u l e Due to the economic reforms of the past Sectors of the Economy). Now non-public G C S Contact: Greg Hugh 30 years, in tandem with the progress made sectors of the economy could enjoy equal (952) 472-4757 by state-owned enterprises, the private sec- status with their state-owned counterpart. Email: [email protected] tor is also growing. China’s private economy The spring of 2005 was known as the www.chinainsight.info census 2010 MARCH 2010 > PAGE 7 AAJC launches The truth about Census 2010 Web Asian Americans site & the Census: WASHINGTON — In leading the Islander and Native Hawaiian communities. effort to ensure that Asian Americans, Last year AAJC, the Asian American Fed- Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians are eration, the Asian American Institute, the Debunking the accurately counted in the upcoming census, Asian Pacific American Legal Center and the Asian American Justice Center and its the Asian Pacific Fund, created a national partners launched a Web site to serve as a network of community-based organizations clearinghouse for census materials aimed at focused on achieving an accurate census, Myths increased and has made them harder to AAPI communities. particularly in regards to counting AAPIs. MYTH: Asian Americans were over- reach through any one medium. The ethnic, Part of the Fill in Our Future campaign, Like many minorities, Asian Americans, counted in the 2000 Census. religious, language and generational make www.fillinourfuture.org provides informa- Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians, FACT: The Census Bureau itself did not up of the group has significantly changed tion translated into 25 languages, public including recent immigrants and people have confidence in its measures of census since 2000. service announcements, videos, brochures with limited English skills, are among the accuracy in 2000, especially for smaller • The Asian American group has grown and educational materials to help with most likely to be missed by the census. The population groups such as Asian Americans. 26% since 2000, with even higher growth community outreach. The site brings all campaign strives to decrease the chances The Census Bureau cited “troubling anoma- rates in regions of the country that do not the information to a central location so that of the communities being undercounted lies and unexplained results” in its decision have extensive community infrastructure to communities across the country can readily during the 2010 Census through effective not to use the results of its accuracy-check assist the Census Bureau.2 access, download and use the information community outreach and education. The survey to adjust the final census numbers. An • There are generally high levels of mo- for census outreach without duplicating campaign provides technical assistance and expert National Academy of Sciences panel bility among some segments of the Asian efforts, thereby reaching even more AAPIs training to local partners and nonprofits. It concluded that while undercounts among American population. Also recent natural before Census Day, April 1. also coordinates a network of more than 50 traditionally hard-to-count communities disasters and the economic crisis have dis- At www.fillinourfuture.org one can organizations dedicated to reaching AAPIs such as minority groups were likely lower in placed many people from their homes and find: questions asked on the census form, through materials dissemination, workshops the 2000 Census than in previous censuses, have created a more complex, often multi- frequently asked questions; the impact on and trainings. they still persisted. The seeming overcount family household for many people. your family and your community; confiden- AAJC is administering grants to 29 of Asian Americans could be attributed, in • Asian immigrants are increasingly tiality of responses, details about questions groups in 21 states to bolster these activities. part, to a relatively high rate of duplication reluctant to voluntarily provide personal regarding race, ethnicity and faith; where to For more information please visit wwwfill- of Asian Americans counted both at home information to the government in an age of get help; a census timeline; and organizing inourfuture.org. and at their college dorms, which could identity theft and in the wake of immigra- around census. Materials are available in: The Asian American Justice Center “offset” an undercount of Asian Americans tion raids and other dragnets that post-9/11 Bengali, Chamorro, Chinese Simplified, (www.advancingequality.org) is a national in communities that are more difficult to policies have created, including the use of Chinese Traditional, Chuukese, Gujarati, organization dedicated to defending and count due to lower income, language and housing enforcement to identify those who Hawaiian, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Khmer, advancing the civil and human rights of other barriers. are undocumented. Korean, Lao, Marshallese, Nepali, Punjabi, Asian Americans. It works closely with MYTH: Asian Americans have histori- • According to focus groups conducted Samoan, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Tongan, three affiliates – the Asian American Insti- cally been overcounted. by the Census Bureau, Asians have a gen- Urdu and Vietnamese. tute of Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the FACT: The Census Bureau has acknowl- eral mistrust towards the government, a The Fill in Our Future campaign is the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus. edged that Asian Americans have been lack of knowledge about the census, and a first from AAPI Action, www.appiaction. org) in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific undercounted in past censuses and are con- high concern about data sharing with other org, which is a resource center for up-to-date American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in sidered a “hard to count” population. Asian agencies. information about the needs, concerns and Los Angeles – and 102 community partners Americans were undercounted by more than MYTH: Asian Americans do not need successes of the Asian American, Pacific in 47 cities and 25 states in the country.  2.3% in 1990. In fact, in 1990, segments of this population were missed at even greater a robustly funded paid media campaign (and alarming) rates: more than 10% of to ensure an accurate count in the 2010 young adult Asian American men were es- Census. 10 Questions, 10 Minutes to timated as not counted, by far the highest of FACT: It is imperative that the Census any race/Hispanic origin subset in this age Bureau utilize some of its funding from help improve our community group. The Census Bureau also documents the stimulus package to ensure an accurate lower-than-average mail response rates count of Asian Americans. In late 2008, the United States Census 2010 in 1990 and 2000 for lower-income, pre- Census Bureau reported that the estimated The Census: A Snapshot English-language learning programs. dominantly Asian American communities, budget for Asian American media outreach and notes that “language isolation” is one in the Bureau’s budget was going to be 33% What: The census is a count of everyone * Aid local emergency services respond- factor associated with counting difficulties. LESS than it was during the 2000 Census. in the United States. ers in reacting efficiently in times of need, Any improvement in the 2000 Census is This decrease was instituted despite the Who: Everyone in the United States thanks to better maps and information. due to the increased investment in targeted fact that there is has been a 300% growth must be counted. This includes people of * Guide implementation and evaluation advertising and outreach to the various Asian in Asian American media outlets since all ages, races, ethnic groups, citizens and of programs like the Equal Employment ethnic groups. 1990, including more Asian blogs, more noncitizens. Opportunity Act, the Civil Rights Act and MYTH: Asian Americans will be easy new media vehicles, and dozens of new TV, When: More than 130 million house- the Fair Housing Act. to count in 2010. radio and print media outlets. This decrease holds across the nation will receive a census * Assist with planning for education, FACT: Even more challenges exist to also ignores the number of languages and form in March 2010. housing, health and other programs that an accurate count of Asian Americans in dialects spoken by Asian Americans and the Why: The U.S. Constitution requires a reflect diversity in the community. the 2010 Census than in previous census dispersion of Asian Americans from tradi- national census once every 10 years to count counts, increasing the risk of a significant tional urban enclaves to new regions. the population and determine the number of 2010 Census Form: Easy, Important and Safe undercount. seats each state will have in the U.S. House * 10 Questions/10 Minutes: One of the • With continued high immigration, the Source: Asian American Justice Center of Representatives. shortest census forms in \\history, the 2010 diversity of the Asian American group has www.advancingequality.org How: Households should complete and  Census form asks 10 questions and takes mail back their forms upon receipt. Census about 10 minutes to complete. workers will visit households that do not * By law, the Census Bureau cannot return forms to take a count in person. individuals who did not receive one by mail “We use the data to increase share respondents’ \\answers with anyone, or have a form delivered to their home. public understanding of the de- including other federal agencies and law A Complete Count: The Importance of April 1, 2010: CENSUS DAY-All cen- mographic characteristics of Asian Census Data to the Asian Community enforcement entities. sus forms should be mailed back by April Census data are used in many ways that Please send your 2010 Census form 1, 2010. Americans. We also use the data in can improve life for members of the Asian back today. May – July 2010: Census workers will our advocacy efforts, especially in community and their families: visit households that did not return a form dealing with poverty, elder needs * Help leaders determine where to build 2010 Census Key Dates by mail. February – March 2010: Census forms and education.” – Asian American new schools, roads, health care facilities, Dec. 31, 2010: By law, Census Bureau Federation child care and senior centers and more. are mailed or delivered to households. delivers population counts to the President. For more information about the 2010 * Help fund important community March – April 2010: The Be Counted March 2011: By law, Census Bureau Census, go to 2010census.gov. initiatives and programs important to the Program is implemented, whereby census completes delivery of redistricting data to  Asian population – including education and forms are available at select public sites for states. PAGE 8 > MARCH 2010 chinese new year www.chinainsight.info “Carnival China Style” –A Sizzling Chinese New Year Feast By Christina Deng Morrison n a chilly January night, a sizzling Chinese The American audience, especially the younger ones, by UNESCO as “ Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cul- New Year feast melted the Twin Cities. watched in awe and squealed when the hula hoop girl, tural Heritage of Humanity”. The melodious piano, gentle “Carnival China Style”- 2010 Chinese Linlin Jin, a world renowned Guinness Book of Records dancing and splashing of ink underlined the highlights ONew Year’s Gala, the well anticipated daz- breaker, jumped onto the stage. She gave an astounding of profound and enriched Chinese cultural inherence and zling Chinese stage performance by the China Broadcasting masterpiece performance by skillfully dancing with numer- history. Performing Arts Ensemble, sponsored by the All-China ous hula hoops, creating a mesmerizing illusion of flying “Somber Night’, adapted from a well known Peking Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, debuted at Hen- silver snakes. opera fiddle and dance performance, and played by Kemei nepin Theatre Trust’s Orpheum Theatre on Jan. 10. China’s Following her act, two young performers Jiayin Liu Jiang, the most popular Hu Qin master in modern China 60 top performing artists charmed the Twin Cities audience and Chunpu Bai calmly twisted and bended backward in who has won worldwide praise, is a highly claimed classi- with the latest achievements of Chinese art through a vibrant “Contemporary Contortion”. Their incredible and seemingly cal piece. Dressed in the traditional color red, Jiang, with blend of singing, dancing, opera, folk music and acrobat- precarious acts through the utilization their waists, legs, up- her usual elegant style and skilled confidence, creatively ics. Approximately 2,500 enthusiastic spectators, who per bodies not only defined the quintessence of traditional took this appealing traditional piece, with its hardness and represented a good mixture of the local Chinese speaking acrobatics, but also took the limits of extreme flexibility somberness, to a new height that was echoingly touching population and the mainstream English speaking public, and endurance to new heights. and soulful. filled the theatre and experienced an eye-popping first class Americans have long been fascinated by Tibet. “Snow The impeccable performance, ended by an amazing production. Among them were Consul Huang Ping of the Lotus”, a three sister group from Tibet, sang a heavenly finale with the entire cast in one last stunning act, brought Chinese Consulate General in Chicago and Mark Ritchie, vocal harmony of “Qinghai-Tibet Plateau”. Their singing the evening’ gala to a close- a truly delicious Chinese New Secretary of State of Minnesota. is highly characterized by traditional energy and modern Year feast enjoyed by everybody! “Carnival China Style” is a special spring festival gala style, painting a vivid picture that led the audience into a “I bought VIP tickets of this show for my big family evening jointly envisioned and created for overseas view- vast and boundless plateau and distant snow mountain top as my Christmas presents to them! I have to say that our ers by the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and in a remote yet mysterious land. whole family loved it! It is definitely the first class”, said China Broadcasting Performing Arts Ensemble. The 2010 Sarenhu, a well known Mongolian singer, with her Jasper Li, a Chinese IT professional from American Medi- “Carnival China Style” gala is intended to highlight the striking eye-catching decorative costumes, performed an cal System in the Twin Cities. He was wearing a traditional aspects of ethnicity, popularity and folkloristic nature of expressive solo soprano “Hymn”- a long toned Mongolian Chinese attire with ancient Chinese coin patterns. Li invited Chinese culture, capture its vitality, strength of characters melody with its distinctive features of nomadic lifestyles and a family of seven of three generations to watch the show. “I and showcase the magnificent Chinese civilization. regional culture. This type of melody has been recognized really like the String Instruments Ensemble myself. Even “Tonight’s performance will serve as a bridge of under- and awarded by UNESCO as “A Masterpiece of Oral and in China, you don’t’ get a chance to see a performance of standing and friendship between the people of China and the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity”. this kind very often”. He added. U.S.,” said Mr. Huang during his opening speech. Qiong Wu’, a popular Huangmei Opera singer in China, “I had a great time tonight. The performers were awe- The night showcased a diverse selection of Chinese conquered the audience by singing pieces with varying some. I especially love the hula hoop girl, the contortionists artists, and exhibited a variety of traditional and modern tones and characters from Peking Opera, Yue Opera, Henan and the musicians”. Said Travis Sagedahl, the Interacting Chinese performances which reflected the depth and grace (Yu) Opera and Huangmei Opera, the four of which are Marketing Manager at the Hennepin Theatre Trust.  of China culture in a festival Chinese New Year setting considered a best representation of the 300 types of Chinese that was both inviting and inspirational. The Twin Cities regional operas. Qiong Wu’s clear and crisp voice, along Post Script audience acquired a once-in-a lifetime opportunity to wit- with her classical pose left the audience with a long lasting “Carnival China Style”-2010 Chinese New Year’s Gala ness China’s finest performing arts, glitzy costumes and impression. was the largest event ever organized and hosted by the lo- contemporary Chinese stage techniques. In “String Instruments Ensemble”, eight highly profi- cal Chinese community. A group of avid Chinese commu- The show also portrayed the rich and diversified Chinese cient musicians brought with them a widely loved classical nity professionals volunteered and dedicated a substantial cultures by performers from the Han, Uighur, Mongolian, tune “Moonlit Night on Spring River”. Playing the tradi- amount of time preparing and launching this event. From Tibetan, Miao (Hmong) and Yi minorities. tional Chinese fiddle (erhu), pipa, yue qin (a four-stringed the selection of the theatre, to the accommodations, to the While there were more than a dozen meticulously se- plucked instrument with a full-moon shaped sound box), targeting of specific audiences from different walks of life, lected and breathtaking performances, several piqued the dulcimer and flutes, they presented a sensational perfor- to the back stage/backdrop technical preparation, coordina- strong interest of the audience and captured their hearts. mance that evoked animated applause from the audience. tion and translation, these volunteers worked tirelessly to The “Xianghe Ge” or “The Song of Harmony”, per- The Chinese speaking audience, in particular, listened with ensure the seamless operation. This event set an excellent formed by a group of young and graceful dancers from sheer jubilance and excitement. example of strong capabilities, responsibilities and the Beijing Dance Academy who sang and danced by stepping “The Yuefu’s Music and Art”, with a half dozen talented cohesion demonstrated by the local Chinese community on musical trays and drums, blended unique ancient music, painting artists and performing artists, blended live paint- that is little known to the mainstream public. Chinese or- verse and exquisite dance into a cultural tour of China’s ing and calligraphy, with music and dance into a one-of-a ganizations, large and small, as well as other individuals Han dynasty. kind brilliant performance which has also been awarded also sponsored or contributed to this event. All Carnival photos by Jack Yan www.chinainsight.info travel MARCH 2010 > PAGE 9 Shanghai World Expo 2010 to celebrate global diversity and cooperation Have a first-rate experience at the 2010 Expo with CIAC Travel By Gabriel Bazama, CIAC Travel Urban Best Practice Area Shanghai Tower will offer individual cities the chance to discuss their own ideas to improve the quality of life in urban en- vironments. We’re all waiting with great anticipation for the 2010 World Expo in Shang- hai. It will not only be a tre- mendous event for China, but the world community at large. Over 240 participat- ing nations and non-gov- ernmental organizations have registered for Expo Shanghai to accommodate the 70 million visitors who tional architecture but many will display very innovative and are expected to attend. Given these numbers, it is highly unique designs, like the United Arab Emirates “sea shell” recommended to reserve hotels and buy show tickets well in building or the cauldron shaped structure of Finland. Foreign advance. Booking reservations with China Insight’s travel national pavilions will be arranged by continent and some of partner, CIAC Travel of Bloomington, MN is always the Shanghai’s old industrial sites, like the Jiangnan shipyard, best choice for China travel. Not only will CIAC guarantee have been renovated and integrated into the expo. a first-rate experience at the 2010 Expo, but the friendly and ince it’s foundation in the year 1851, the At the heart of Expo Shanghai lies the worldwide diver- knowledgeable staff will ensure that you always have a great world’s fair, better known as the World Expo sity of urban living and the need for nations to cooperate local resource for all matters related to China travel. has evolved tremendously. The first Expo to build a better future. Sub-themes include urban growth, For more information on how CIAC can help you ex- was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, science and technology, reshaping urban communities and perience this once in a lifetime event visit the CIAC Travel S strengthening links between urban and rural areas. The Web site, www.ciactravel.com or call CIAC Travel at 888- London under the designation “The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations.” Since then it has 832-6028, or e-mail [email protected].  taken on the purpose of bringing people from all over the Shanghai International world together to experience global interaction and ground China Pavilion breaking developments in technology and a wide variety of industries. In the new century, the purpose of the expo has shifted focus to developing national branding and national recognition. What better place to showcase the congruence of global culture and societal evolution then the center of trade and industry within China than the incredible modern metropolis of Shanghai? The 2010 Expo is expected attract the largest number of official participants and visitors in the history of the World Exposition. After the incredible display and presentation of the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, people around the world have come to expect nothing short of spectacular from the people of China. From the previews of the expo, Pavilion from Page 1 they won’t be disappointed. The Expo will take place from May 1 through Oct. 31, in the expo have seen an improved image in the minds of the 2010.The site of the Shanghai World Expo is on both sides of Chinese people. The [United States], Japan and Germany are the Huangpu River, in the districts of Pudong, meaning east viewed as the most technologically advanced, while French, of the Huangpu and Puxi, meaning west of the Huangpu. Korea Pavilion Brazilians, Australians and Singaporeans are deemed the Upon its completion, the Expo will cover a massive total friendliest people. Egypt is highly regarded for its history area of 2.2 square miles. The 2010 China International and culture, while South Africa and Iceland promise nature Fair has chosen the motto, “Better city, Better life,” with and exoticism, according to the survey. an emblem and mascot derived from Chinese characters The polling also indicates that percentage of people with symbolizing harmony between nations. The emblem is a rich knowledge of the expo has increased from 14 percent green to show commitment to sustainable development and to 28 percent compared to 10 months ago. More than 60 the mascot is blue like the sea which has fostered the city’s percent of respondents expect to learn about better urban rejuvenated prosperity. living, sustainability and new innovations. The number of The vast multi-purpose Expo Boulevard is among the respondents confirming that they will attend the event has site’s largest structures and will also act as the main thor- increased from 8 percent to 11 percent, with more than oughfare for the entire event. Topped with a canopy, two 60 percent of the visitors expecting to spend more than floors underground and one above, the boulevard will be [US$146] there. retained after the exhibition as a dynamic city attraction. World Expo 2010 Shanghai has clearly evoked Chinese The Expo site is divided into five zones for ease of naviga- citizens’ interest in learning about the world beyond China, tion with pavilion groups and clusters, each one with its said Jason Spencer, managing director of Millward Brown own facilities, including restaurants and shops. ACSR Shanghai. The China pavilion itself is a modern building, incor- “The Shanghai Expo Bureau has done a great job of porating traditional elements such as the color red which raising awareness of the event and encouraging Chinese reflects Chinese culture. It will hold national and regional citizens’ curiosity in the world,” Spencer said. exhibitions and displays dedicated to Hong Kong, Macau “I think which pavilion to visit is a highly personal and Taiwan. The 385 yard-long World Expo Centre will choice, as it mainly depends on one’s affection for a spe- host ceremonies and meetings while the Expo Performance cific country,” said 26-year-old Guo Yuqi. “But I’ll try not Centre will feature an adjustable stage and seating for up to miss any country’s pavilion on this mini-globe upon my to 18,000 spectators. door step.”  Some country’s pavilions have opted to highlight tradi- Reprinted by permission of China Daily PAGE 10 > MARCH 2010 arts www.chinainsight.info BOOKS Freer and Sackler Galleries launch first web resource of “Song and Yuan Dynasty China A to Z: Everything You Need to Painting and Calligraphy” Know to Understand Chinese Customs and New site offers worldwide access and a remarkable com- Culture pilation of related bilingual scholarship By May-lee Chai, Winberg Chai nied by annotated English translations. The Synopsis Chinese society, as well as its venerable format will enable users to simultaneously A practical and history. Discover: examine images of each work and all docu- accessible guide • Why Chinese names are written in ments related to it, an advantage for study to an ancient but reverse order and scholarship. rapidly changing • What to bring when visiting a Chinese “This is a tremendous new resource for culture household the international scholarly community,” • What the current relationship is be- said Julian Raby, director of the Freer and Perfect for busi- The earliest Chinese paintings in one tween Japan and China Sackler galleries. “This is only the begin- ness and armchair of the most important collections in the • Why you should wrap gifts in red or ning. Our ultimate goal is to develop a travelers alike, Chi- West are now featured in a new public Web pink paper, and never send white flowers technologically advanced way of looking at na A to Z explains resource launched by the Smithsonian’s With the 2008 Summer Olympics being Chinese painting that will enliven the field the customs, cul- Freer and Sackler galleries. “Song and Yuan held in Beijing, thousands of Chinese adop- and generate new scholarship.” ture, and etiquette Dynasty Painting and Calligraphy” contains tions occurring each year, and China becom- The new site represents 100 years of essential for any trip or for anyone wanting hundreds of images and comprehensive ing the fourth most popular international collecting: Charles Lang Freer (1854-1919) to understand this complex country. In one documentation of the Freer’s exceptional destination, the need for information about acquired his first Song painting in 1902 and hundred brief, reader-friendly chapters, holdings of 85 works of Chinese brushwork this complex country is greater than ever. the latest addition was made by the Freer alphabetized by subject, China A to Z intro- from the 10th through the 14th centuries. duces a general audience to contemporary Gallery in 2002. “Song and Yuan Dynasty The culmination of years of research Painting and Calligraphy” is accessible at: and preparation, the Web site comprises an http://www.asia.si.edu/SongYuan/default. unprecedented assemblage of documentary asp. Lost on Planet China : One Man’s Attempt information presented in Chinese and Eng- The project, made possible by the sup- to Understand the World’s Most Mystifying lish about the Freer’s collection of Song and port of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpen- Yuan paintings. Art historians and the larger ter Foundation, was developed by museum scholarly community will benefit from the staff members Joseph Chang and Stephen Nation most comprehensive documentation ever By J. Maarten Troost Allee, with the help of project coordinator assembled or published on these renowned Ingrid Larsen. Gobi Desert and the hinterlands of Tibet. Synopsis works of Chinese art. The project aims to The Freer Gallery of Art, located at 12th Lost on Planet China finds Troost dodg- The bestselling create a virtual catalog of the collection that Street and Independence Avenue S.W., and ing deadly drivers in Shanghai; eating Yak in author of The Sex can readily incorporate new documentation, the adjacent Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Tibet; deciphering restaurant menus (offer- Lives of Canni- scholarship and photography. This adapt- located at 1050 Independence Avenue S.W., ing local favorites such as Cattle Penis with bals returns with a ability is intended to make the site a chang- are on the National Mall in Washington, Garlic); visiting with Chairman Mao (still sharply [observant], ing reflection of scholarly advances rather D.C. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every dead, very orange); and hiking (with 80,000 hilarious account of than a static record of current opinion. day, except Dec. 25, and admission is free. other people) up Tai Shan, China’s most his adventures in The Web resource represents a particu- The galleries are located near the Smith- revered mountain. But in addition to his China—a complex, larly rich period in Chinese art, showcasing sonian Metrorail station on the Blue and trademark gonzo adventures, the book also fascinating country foundational Song and Yuan styles, themes Orange lines. For more information about delivers a telling look at a vast and complex with enough dan- and artists. Among the highlights of the col- the Freer and Sackler galleries and their country on the brink of transformation that gers and delicacies lection are two 10th-century scroll paintings exhibitions, programs and other events, the will soon shape the way we all work, live, to keep him, and readers, endlessly enter- from the Buddhist caves at Dunhuang and public is welcome to visit www.asia.si.edu. and think. As Troost shows, while we may tained. the only surviving works by Chinese mas- For general Smithsonian information, the be familiar with Yao Ming or dim sum or the Maarten Troost has charmed legions ters Yan Ciyu (active 1160s-80s), Li Shan public may call (202) 633-1000 or TTY cheap, plastic products that line the shelves of readers with his laugh-out-loud tales of (active late 12th-early 13th century) and (202) 633-5285. of every store, the real China remains a wandering the remote islands of the South Zou Fulei (active mid-14th century). The Image Credit: Sheep and Goat, Zhao world—indeed, a planet--unto itself. Pacific. When the travel bug hit again, he collection also includes three independent Mengfu (1254-1322),China, Yuan dynasty, Maarten Troost brings China to life as decided to go big-time, taking on the world’s works of calligraphy and more than 90 other ca. 1300, Ink on paper, 25.2 x 48.7 cm, Freer you’ve never seen it before, and his insight- most populous and intriguing nation. In Lost examples of exquisite brushwriting from Gallery of Art, F1931.4  on Planet China, Troost escorts readers on a ful, rip-roaringly funny narrative proves that the period that are attached to paintings in once again he is one of the most entertaining rollicking journey through the new beating the form of frontispieces (texts that precede Source: Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art an insightful armchair travel companions heart of the modern world, from the mega- primary works of art), inscriptions or colo- and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery around. lopolises of Beijing and Shanghai to the phons (texts that were subsequently added http://www.asia.si.edu/ to primary works of art). AI presented material is copyright © Smith- Every work is fully documented with sonian 2010. Pearl of China transcriptions of Chinese texts accompa- By Anchee Min Synopsis Buck, but for now she is just a girl embar- through love and loss, heartbreak and joy, Pearl of China tells the story of one of the From the best- rassed by her blonde hair and enchanted by exile and imprisonment, the two women twentieth century’s greatest writers, from selling author of her new Chinese friend. The two embark on remain intimately entwined. the perspective of the people she loved and Red Azalea and Em- a friendship that will sustain both of them In this ambitious new novel, Anchee of the land she called home.  press Orchid comes through one of the most tumultuous periods Min brings to life a courageous and pas- the powerful story in Chinese history. sionate woman who is now hailed in China Source: All synopses from barnesandnoble. of the friendship of Moving out into the world together, the as a modern heroine. Like nothing before it, com a lifetime, based on two enter the intellectual fray of the times, the life of Pearl S. share love interests and survive early mar- Buck. riages gone bad. Their shared upbringing Advertisers In the small inspires Pearl’s novels, which celebrate the Your potential customers are reading Ch i n a Insight. Shouldn’t you be southern town of life of the Chinese peasant and will eventu- bringing them in the door with an ad? Our readers are: Chin-kiang, in the last days of the nine- ally earn her both a Pulitzer and a Nobel teenth century, two young girls bump heads Prize. But when a civil war erupts between - Well-traveled - Opportunity-seeking and become thick as thieves. Willow is the the Nationalists and Communists, Pearl - Entrepreneurial - Open-minded only child of a destitute family, Pearl the is forced to flee the country just ahead of - Excited about understanding China headstrong daughter of zealous Christian angry mobs. Willow, despite close ties to Rates are highly competitive. Contact Greg Hugh (952-472-4757, missionaries. She will ultimately become Mao’s inner circle, is punished for loyalty [email protected]) or visit www.chinainsight.info for more advertising the internationally renowned author Pearl S. to her “cultural imperialist” friend. And yet, information. www.chinainsight.info people MARCH 2010 > PAGE 11

Would clearer The center of attention falls American English pronunciation on ‘Baby Yao’ improve your career and/or personal By Tang Yue, China Daily development? Published: 1/7/2010 have a baby,” Fan said. “But, to be frank, I [6-foot-3-inch-tall] Ye, who tied the knot If the answer is yes, we can help. hope they can have boy-girl twins so both in August 2007, were children of profes- • On-site one-on-one The coming son or daughter* of Yao the men’s and women’s sides can have a sional athletes. Yao’s father, Yao Zuyuan, is Executive Coaching program, Ming and Ye Li is the most hotly-anticipated bright future.” [6 feet 10 inches] tall and a former Shanghai • Customized employer Chinese baby of sporting parentage in this “If it’s too hard for Ye Li, then they can basketball team player. Yao’s [6-foot-2- initiated programs, country. have one this year and another every few inch-tall] mother, Fang Fengdi, was a former • EPS organized small Six months away from his/her birth, the years. Then we will see Yao Ming’s children member of the national women’s basketball group programs baby of Yao, an NBA All-star, and his wife, playing for China for a long time.” team.

Ye, a former star national player, has already The couple, apparently, hasn’t decided While many basketball fans expect become a celebrity in some circles. where to deliver the baby, according to Yao’s “little Yao” to follow his or her father’s suc- The baby’s name, nationality, gender, China-based spokesman Zhang Chi. cess some day, others beg to differ. height and future profession have aroused Ye is still in their hometown of Shang- In a survey of “Do you think Yao Ming’s frantic discussions among fans and play- hai but if she flies to Houston — where baby will turn out to be a basketball star?”, Call 952-797-6908 ers. she spends most of the year with Yao — to on chinadaily.com.cn, less than a quarter of www.englishproficiencysystems.com Some netizens have named the unborn give birth, the baby will be an American the respondents said “yes” while more than baby “Yao Qianshu”, which means “cash citizen. 30 percent disagreed and the other chose cow”. Some hope the birth will provide While a question mark about nationality “hard to say”. boy-girl twins with the boy being named lingers, the couple reportedly wants a boy “It’s too early to talk about the career of “Yao Lan” and the girl “Yao Qiu”. That’s due to concerns about the baby’s height, the unborn baby. I believe Yao Ming will in the hope they will continue their parents’ said Ye’s former national teammate, Miao let the child follow his/her own interests. basketball legacies. The combination of the Lijie. All we can do is wish the baby health and given names, Lan and Qiu, means basketball “I’ve discussed it (the baby’s gender) happiness,” said a netizen. in mandarin. with Ye several times. Given their height, That echoes the wish of Fan Bin, a a girl may be too tall, so they would like to Reprinted by permission of China Daily former Chinese men’s national basketball have a boy,” Miao said. www.chinadaily.com.cn player. The estimated height of a son is [7 feet “I was very happy to hear the news. Yao 5 inches] while it is [6 feet 7 inches] for a * Yao Ming and Ye Li announced in Ming has everything. A successful career, daughter. February that they are expecting a girl.  a beautiful wife; it’s really time for him to Both [7-foot-6-inch-tall] Yao and

China shines on the ice at Vancouver At press time, the 2010 Winter Olym- Sang-Hwa of South Korea won dominance of pairs figure skat- only goal that had eluded them in their 18- pic Games in Vancouver, Canada were gold and Jenny Wolf of Germany ing. Russian teams had won pairs year partnership on the ice. They had mar- half over. The United States was top in the won silver. On Feb 17, Wang figure skating gold in the past 12 ried each other after retiring two years ago; medal count with 23 medals. Canada with Meng won gold for Ladies’ 500 Olympic Winter Games (includ- they came back to the ice in May of 2009. 8 medals was fifth behind Germany, Norway m Short Track Speed Skating. On ing a shared gold with Canada On Feb. 15, Shen (31) and Zhao (36), and Korea. Half of Canada’s medals were Feb. 20, Zhou Yang won gold for in 2002 amid a judging contro- who were in first place after the short gold-attesting to the success of its campaign Ladies’ 1500 m Short Track Speed versy). The top Russian pair program, stood in anticipation for their to “Own the Podium”-marking the first time Skating. The most impressive win Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander final score in the free skate. Even after the Canada has won gold at a home Olympics. has to be in Pairs Figure Skating. Smirnov placed fourth, just out score was announced and the crowd began China was tenth in the medal count with 5 Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo won of the medals. The German team to cheer, they stood, almost disbelieving, medals. Three of China’s medals were gold, gold, and Pang Qing and Tong Jian captured of Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy until the announcer proclaimed them in and all 5 were earned in skating events. silver. The third Chinese pair, Zhang Dan took home the bronze medal. first place. As the last competitors of the and Zhang Hao took Fifth Place. night, this meant one thing–Olympic gold China’s Medalists Capturing the Elusive Gold was finally theirs. On Feb. 16, Wang Beixing took bronze Ending Russian Dominance Shen and Zhao came out of retirement in the Ladies’ 500 m Speed Skating. Lee Shen and Zhao’s win ended Russia’s to take one last chance at Olympic gold-the

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis names new research director The Federal Re- Yi joined the Federal Reserve Bank of growth and development. He received a as director of research. “Art’s legacy here at serve Bank of Minne- Philadelphia in 2004, following seven years Ph.D. in economics from the University of the Bank is founded on his commitment to apolis has named Dr. of service at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. the highest caliber research, both from the Kei-Mu Yi its director New York, where he was a research officer “We are very lucky to have an economist department he led and from his own work. of research to replace in the Bank’s International Research unit. of Kei-Mu’s stature and experience to lead You don’t replace someone like Art; rather, Dr. Arthur J. Rolnick, Prior to joining the Federal Reserve Bank our research efforts,” said Narayana Kocher- you build on the foundation he has estab- who will retire July 31, of New York, he was an assistant professor lakota, president of the Federal Reserve lished over his years of dedicated service.” 2010. Yi, currently vice of economics at Rice University. Over the Bank of Minneapolis. “His academic cre- Upon retirement, Rolnick will become president and head of years, Yi has also taught at the Wharton dentials, coupled with his prior leadership co-director of the Human Capital Research Dr. Kei-Mu Yi Monetary and Macro- School of the University of Pennsylvania, at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Collaborative at the Humphrey Institute, economic Research at the Federal Reserve as well as at Columbia University, New make him an excellent candidate to direct University of Minnesota.  Bank of Philadelphia, will become senior York University, the University of Virginia the research efforts at our Bank.” vice president and director of research for and the University of Iowa. Yi is the author Kocherlakota also recognized Rolnick Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Minne- the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis of numerous journal articles on issues re- for his 40 years of service at the Federal apolis www.minneapolisfed.org on Aug. 16, 2010. lating to international trade, and economic Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, 25 of those PAGE 12 > MARCH 2010 economy www.chinainsight.info The U.S. and China: A relationship marred by misperceptions Continued from Page 1 Zhang then introduced Judson Sheridan, both the economy and the society and the President, China Center Advisory Council, Chinese, although limited in their criticism who then introduced the speaker for the of the government or ability to form political evening, Mr. Burton Levin. parties, have also experienced a dramatic Sheridan began his introductory remarks increase in personal freedom. by stating that these were interesting times As the Chinese people experience this to be serving as president of the China new found security and freedom, Levin Center Advisory Council while also serving expressed concerns about misperceptions as Norwegian Centennial Interdisciplinary promoted by the U.S. media, politicians and Co-Chair. As he continued with the intro- intellectuals. Based on recent economic duction, Sheridan noted that Burton Levin trends, U.S. exports are increasing while has served as U.S. ambassador to Burma China’s exports are decreasing so both the from 1987 to 1990 and as consul general United States and China need to focus on in Hong Kong from 1981 to 1986. During their economic development since Europe his 36-year career in the Foreign Service does not appear to be as concerned about he also served in Taiwan, Indonesia, and China’s emergence as a world economic Thailand, and as head of the U.S. Office of power. He further stated that if the United Taiwan Affairs. He retired from the Foreign States took a hostile position on China, it Service in 1990 to become head of the Hong would be alone and not supported by many Kong office of the Asia Society. In 1995 he other nations so the United States and China became visiting professor of Asian policy relationship should be built on tolerance and at Carleton College. Ambassador Levin, a understanding. native New Yorker, has an honorary doctor A question and answer session followed of law degree from Carleton and is mem- the talk and Levin fielded a number of ber of the Council for the Johns Hopkins questions from the audience that included University-Nanjing University Center for his views of the sale of arms to Taiwan, Chinese and American Studies. the practice of religion in China, China’s As Levin began his talk, he noted that dealings with Africa and its environmental what has transpired between China and the policies. United States during the past 60 years has been unfortunately influenced tremendously by law and emotions. He cited that there was concern as to what would happen to Hong Kong when it reverted back to the Peoples’ Republic of China in 1997. Under the principle of one country, two systems, Hong Kong has survived and runs on eco- nomic and political systems different from those of mainland China. Much of this is due to Chinese self-esteem and the desire Commerce to succeed. Secretary speaks about the National

Export Initiative Levin takes a question from a student Students attend the lecture On Feb. 4, Commerce Secretary Gary office of the United States Trade Represen- (Photos by Tim Rummelhoff) Locke spoke to the National Press Club tative and the Small Business Administra- Levin then moved on to the Taiwan situ- At the conclusion of his talk, Levin about the National Export Initiative (NEI). tion ation and stated that he foresees a peaceful was presented with a token of appreciation The Initiative was announced by President Here are some of the steps that Locke reunification and blames American perspec- by Bob Griffin, President of Griffin Inter- Obama in his State of the Union address. said will be taken to improve U.S. export tives and misunderstandings for promoting national Companies, and donor of the gift The goal of the National Export Initiative promotion performance: any other outcome; their economies are too that makes the Building U.S.-China Bridges is to double American exports over the * A more robust effort by this adminis- entwined. He cited Vietnam as an example Lecture possible. next five years and support two million tration to expand its trade advocacy in all of misguided concern to stop Chinese ex- For additional information about the American jobs. its forms. That means: pansion. There were also concerns during China Center visit the Web site at “At a time when traditional drivers of o Educating U.S. companies the George W. Bush administration that had www.chinacenter.umn.edu.  U.S. economic growth like consumer and about opportunities overseas, the United States focused on the dangers of business spending are strained, we simply o Directly connecting them with terrorism, nuclear power and China. China must elevate exports as a key part of our new customers, and became less of a concern after 9/11. ASIAN economic recovery efforts,” said Locke. o Advocating more forcefully for However, as posed by Levin, does that Locke outlined how the NEI will help their interests mean that there that aren’t concerns about BLOOD DONORS increase American exports. NEI will: * Improving access to credit in the China as a Communist country? In response Individuals of multi-ethnic wake of the financial crisis, especially for to his own question, Levin answered, no. * Provide more funding for export small- and medium-sized businesses that China had abandoned many Communist descent (Asian, Pacific Islander, promotion want to export. traits long before Russia and had set upon a Hispanic/Latino, African Ameri- * Provide more coordination between * Continuing the rigorous enforcement period of old-fashioned robber-baron capi- can, Mixed Race) are desperately government agencies of international trade laws to help remove talism that was infused with unique Chinese needed to register as potential * Ensure that commercial advocacy ob- barriers that prevent U.S. companies from characteristics much like the industrial revo- marrow/stem cell donors. jectives get government-wide support getting open and fair access to foreign lutions of England and the United States. Yo u c o u l d b e t h e o n e t o s a v e * Ensure increased advocating for U.S. markets. As Levin continued his talk, he noted products in interactions with foreign busi- Exports have been identified by the that the United States continues to monitor a l i f e b y nesses, farmers and foreign officials Obama administration as a key to rebuilding China’s handling of human rights matters r e g i s t e r i n g a s a * Create an Export Promotion Cabinet the economy because exports support nearly but he cautions that perhaps the United p o t e n t i a l d o n o r . reporting to the president that will consist 10 million jobs in America and almost 7 mil- States should leave this to other countries to of top leaders from the Commerce, Treasury lion jobs in manufacturing – and for every carry the ball so as not to strain its relation- Call 1-800-59-DONOR toll and State Departments, the Department of ship with China. Since Tiananmen Square free for more information. Agriculture, the Export-Import Bank, the Export continues on Page 15 the Communist Party has really opened up www.chinainsight.info culture MARCH 2010 > PAGE 13 China’s ethnic minorities We continue our series on China’s 55 ethnic minority groups. This month features the Ozbek, Pumi, Qiang, Russian and Salar minorities.

tea and liquor. Liquor, in fact, is used both overshoes with low-cut uppers. Women’s plucked and percussion instruments. One The Ozbek ethnic minority as a sacrificial offering and as a gift for the embroidered boots are very beautiful and string instrument with a triangular sound Population: 14,800 living. unique in design. The collars, front openings box is known for its sweet and appealing Major area of distribution: Xinjiang Pumi women in Ninglang and Yongsh- and sleeves of men’s shirts are trimmed with tone. Ozbek dances are famous for their Language: Ozbek eng often wrap their heads in large hand- colorful, patterned lace, which is typical of vivacity, grace and variety. Most dances Religion: Islam kerchiefs, winding their plaited hair, mixed the handicraft art of the ethnic group. are solos, with the dancer waving her arms with yak tail hairs and silk threads. They Like other ethnic groups in Xinjiang while turning round and round. The tradi- consider plait beautiful, the more so the big- who believe in Islam, the Ozbek people do tional tambourine dance is unique in style ger it is. Normally, they wear jackets with not drink alcohol and eat pork. They like and very entertaining. buttons down one side, long, plaited skirts, mutton, beef and horse meat and dairy prod- multi-colored wide belts and goatskins ucts. Crusty pancake and tea with milk are The Pumi ethnic minority draping over their backs. In the Lanping standard fare for all three meals of the day, Population: 29,700 and Weixi areas, women tend to wear green, and they enjoy stewed meat with potatoes, Major area of distribution: Yunnan blue or white long-sleeved jackets under honey and syrup. “Naren,” a mixture of Language: Pumi sleeveless jackets, trousers and embroidered minced cooked meat, onion and sour milk, Religion: Lamaism and Taoism belts. Often, they wear silver earrings and dressed with gravy and pepper, is a table bracelets. Pumi men wear similar clothes: delicacy reserved for guests. The Ozbeks The Ozbek ethnic minority, with a linen jackets, loose trousers and sleeveless eat it with their fingers. population of 14,800, is scattered over wide goatskin jackets. The more affluent wear The Ozbeks build their houses in dif- areas of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous woolen overcoats. Most carry swords. ferent designs. Some have round attics, and Region. Most of them being city dwellers, Before the founding of the People’s most are rectangular adobe houses with flat the Ozbeks live in compact communities in Republic of China in 1949, Pumi society roofs. These wood and mud structures have Yining, Tacheng, Kashi, Urumqi, Shache, was in many ways still organized according thick walls with beautifully patterned niches, and Yecheng. to the pre-feudal clan system. In Yongsheng in which odd things can be placed. Patterns County, for example, clan members lived are also carved on wooden pillars. History together, with different clans having differ- Most Ozbek families are nuclear fami- The name Ozbek first originated from ent names. Families belonging to the same lies with parents and children living sepa- the Ozbek Khan, one of the local rulers un- clan regularly ate together to commemorate rate, and brothers living apart from one der the Mongol Empire in the 14th century. their common ancestry. Marriage was pri- another. There are also families in which Himself a Moslem, the Ozbek Khan spread marily between clans. Internal disputes were three generations live together. Marriage Islam in his Khanate. In the 15th century, arbitrated by the patriarch or other respected between siblings or between people of dif- a number of Ozbeks moved to the Chuhe elders. Clan members shared a commitment ferent generations is strictly forbidden. The The 29,700 Pumis are concentrated in River valley, where they were called Ka- to help one another through difficult times. Ozbeks have traditional marital ties with the the Yunnan Province counties of Lanping, zaks. Those who remained in the area of the In Yongsheng, ashes of the dead of each clan Uygurs and Tatars. In the past, marriages Lijiang, Weixi and Yongsheng, as well as Khanate continued to be known as Ozbeks, were placed in the same forest cave. were completely arranged by parents. The in the Yi Autonomous County of Ning- who later formed the Ozbek alliance. Pumi communities in Yongsheng and boy’s family had to present betrothal gifts to lang. Some live in Sichuan Province, in The ancestors of the Ozbek group moved Ninglang counties were primarily made up the girl’s family and cover the cost of wed- the Tibetan Autonomous County of Muli to China’s Xinjiang from Central Asia in of big families, while in Lanping and Weixi ding feasts. The nuptial ceremony is as a rule and Yanyuan County. They are on rugged ancient times. In the Yuan Dynasty (1271- counties, small families prevailed. Only held at the bride’s home. The bride’s parents mountains as high as [8,580 feet] above sea 1368), Ozbek merchants often traveled sons were entitled to inherit property, and would treat guests to fried rice and sweets level, cut by deep ravines. along “the Silk Road” through Xinjiang to the ancestral house usually was left to the during the day, and the newlyweds will go According to Pumi legends and histori- do business in inland areas. In the 16th and youngest son. Monogamy was customary, to the groom’s home in the evening after cal records, ancient Pumis were a nomadic 17th centuries, Ozbek trading caravans from although some landlords were polygamous. the ceremony is held according to Islamic tribe, roaming the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Buhara and Samar Khan used Yarkant in Parents chose their children’s spouses, and rules. Sometimes, relatives and friends of Their descendents later moved south to Xinjiang as an entrepot for business deals marriage between cousins was preferred. the bride would “carry the bride off” after warmer, more verdant areas along valleys in silk, tea, chinaware, fur, rhubarb and Most women married at 15, while most the wedding ceremony, and the groom has within the Hengduan Mountain Range. By other such products. Some Ozbek merchants men at 18. After 1949 such objectionable to offer gifts to “redeem” her. When the the seventh century, the Pumis were living moved goods to inland areas via Aksu, practices as forced marriage, engagement “carried-away” bride is “redeemed,” she has in Sichuan’s Yuexi, Mianning, Hanyuan, Turfan and Suzhou (present-day Jiuquan of children not yet born and burdensome to make a circle round a fire in the courtyard Jiulong and Shimian areas, constituting one of Ganzu Province). During this period, marriage-related costs were gradually done before entering the house. This is perhaps of the major ethnic minorities in the Xichang Ozbeks from Central Asia began to settle away with. a legacy of ancient nuptial ceremonies. Fu- Prefecture. After the 13th century, the Pumis in certain cities in Xinjiang, and the num- Pumis celebrate the beginning of Spring nerals are conducted according to Islamic gradually settled down in Ninglang, Lijiang, ber grew with each passing year. Later on Festival (the Chinese Lunar New Year) rules. People who attend funerals tie a strip Weixi and Lanping. They farmed and bred Ozbeks also settled in Kashi, Aksu, Yarkant and the 15th of the first month of the lunar of white cloth around the waist, and women livestock. Later, agriculture gradually took and other cities in southern Xinjiang and a calendar. On the latter festival all Pumis, wear a piece of white cloth on their heads. a predominant place in their economy. number of places in northern Xinjiang. young and old, clad in their holiday best, go The dead person’s children stay in mourn- The Pumis speak a language belonging camping on mountain slopes and celebrate Customs ing for seven days. On the 40th, 70th and to the Tibetan-Myanmese language family of the Chinese-Tibetan system. Although around bonfires. The holidays are devoted The Ozbek people have frequent ex- 100th day of the person’s death, imams will Pumis in the Muli and Ninglang areas once to sacrifices to the “God of the Kitchen” and changes with various other ethnic groups in be invited to chant scriptures. wrote with Tibetan characters, this was to feasting, horse racing, shooting contests Xinjiang, and have particularly close rela- mainly for religious purposes. Gradually and wrestling. tions with the Uygurs and Kazaks. The Oz- the Tibetan characters fell into oblivion, and Pumis are good singers and dancers. bek, Uygur and Tatar languages all belong most Pumis now use Chinese. Singing contests in which partners alternate to the Tuskic branch of the Altaic language Pumi villages are scattered, usually verses are a feature of wedding ceremonies family and are very close to each other. The at least [550 yards] from one another, on and holidays. They dance to the flute, in- Ozbek script is an alphabetic writing based gentle mountain slopes. Pumis generally corporating in their movements gestures on the Arabic letters. The Ozbeks believe build their houses from wood and with two tied to their work as farmers, hunters and in Islam, and their customs, dressing and floors, the lower for animals and the upper weavers. eating habits are basically the same as those for people. Almost all family activities in- of the Uygurs. doors take place around the fireplace, which Pre-1949 Life Both men and women wear skull caps is in the middle of the living room on the The [Pumis] main work was farming with bright colored embroidery in unique upper level. crops. More than 90 percent of the Pumis, patterns, and some are made of corduroy In addition to maize, their staple food, in fact, farmed land scattered on hill slopes. or black velvet. Women sometimes wear Pumis also grow rice, wheat and highland The Pumis’ major crops were maize, wheat, scarves on top of their caps. Men wear barley. Their variety of vegetables and broad bean, barley, oats, Tibetan barley and buttonless robes reaching the knee, with fruits is limited to Chinese cabbage, car- buckwheat. However, their output, relying oblique collars and the right side of the front The Ozbek ethnic group is one of those rots, eggplant and melons. A favorite food largely on natural conditions, was generally on top of the other. The robe is tied with a in Xinjiang that are good at singing and of the Pumis’ is “pipa meat” -- salted pork very low. Their farm tools came mainly from triangular embroidered girdle. Women wear dancing and their folk music is melodious wrapped in pork skin in the shape of a pipa, Han areas. Their farming techniques were broad and pleated dresses without girdles. and appealing. They have a great variety a plucked string Chinese instrument with a similar to those of their neighboring Hans, Ozbek men usually wear leather boots and of musical instruments. Most of them are fretted fingerboard. They also like tobacco, Minorities continues on Page 14 PAGE 14 > MARCH 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info

Minorities from Page 13 precious Chinese caterpillar fungus, bulb of bridges over swift rivers. The bamboo under control. New delivery methods have fritillary, antlers, musk and bear’s gallblad- chain bridges they built, laid with boards, greatly raised the infant survival rate and the Naxis and Lisus, though the few Pumis who ders, which are used for medicine. Deep in stretch up to 100 meters with no nails and Qiang population has risen markedly. lived in isolated communities still farmed the forests are such rare animals as giant piers being used. Some of the Qiangs are The Qiang area is dotted with small hy- primitively. pandas, golden monkeys and flying foxes. excellent masons and are good at digging droelectric power stations. Electricity reaches Pumis also raised livestock, primar- The region is also rich in iron, coal, crystal, wells. During slack farming seasons they almost all households and is used in process- ily cattle and sheep. Non-farm activities mica and plaster stone deposits. go to neighboring places to do chiseling ing farm and sideline produce and in mining included manufacture of wool sweaters, and digging. Their skills are highly ac- and industry. People’s life has been enriched linen, bamboo articles, liquor, charcoal and History claimed. by village film projection teams and a broad- medicinal herbs. Hunting, bee-keeping, “Qiang” was a name given by ancient Marriages, mainly monogamous, were casting network. pig and poultry raising were also common. Hans to the nomadic people in west China. arranged by parents in the past. Usually, Some Pumis make fine crafts: lacquered The Qiangs were not a single distinctive the wives were several years older than wooden bowls made in Ninglang County ethnic group then. According to historical their husbands. It was common for cousins The Russian ethnic minority are known for their fine workmanship. Be- records, a clan group made their homes in to marry and for bridegrooms to live with Population: 13,500 fore liberation, Pumis had no blacksmiths. what is today’s Sichuan Province. The Han their wives’ families. And it still is not Major area of distribution: Xinjiang and Local tools were made of wood. All trade Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220) court in the unusual for brides to live in their parents’ Inner Mongolia was bartered. 2nd century had set up an administrative houses within a year or so after marriage. Language: Russian In the decades prior to 1949, landlords prefecture for the area. During A.D. 600 In Qiang society, younger brothers could Religion: Orthodox Eastern Church dominated the economy in Pumi areas in to 900 when the Tibetan Regime gradually make their widowed sister-in-laws their Lanping and Lijiang counties. Except for a expanded its rule over the region, some wives and elder brothers could marry the limited number of “public hills,” the land- Qiangs were assimilated by the Tibetans and widows of their younger brothers. Such lords owned the land, and they exploited others by the Hans, leaving a small number habits have been gradually discarded since peasants by extorting rent in kind, that unassimilated. These developed into the liberation. accounted for at least 50 per cent of the distinctive ethnic group of today. Most Qiangs were believers of Ani- harvest. Pumi landlords and Naxi chiefs The Qiangs do not have a written script mism, except for those who lived near Ti- owned domestic slaves whom they could of their own. They speak a language belong- betan communities and were followers of sell or give away. ing to the Tibetan-Myanmese language fam- Lamaism. The Qiangs worshipped white ily of the Chinese-Tibetan system. Owing stones placed on roofs as the “Heavenly Post-1949 Development to their close contact with the Han people, God.” Since China’s national liberation in many Qiang people speak Chinese, which is 1949, Pumis have become their own mas- also the written form for this ethnic group. The ethnic Russians in China living in Ili, ters. They have been amply represented in The Qiang and Han peoples have had Tacheng, Altay and Urumqi in the Xinjiang local people’s congresses and government time-honored close political, economic and Uygur Autonomous Region and in the In- agencies as well as in the National People’s cultural ties. Administratively, Han courts ner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Congress. Democratic reforms were com- from the Qin, Han, Sui and Tang dynasties They first began moving to China from pleted between 1952 and 1956. The reforms down to the Ming Dynasty all had political Tsarist Russia after the 18th century. More were accompanied by a large-scale con- units in the Qiang-occupied areas. In the entered various parts of Xinjiang after the 19th struction program, which included irrigation early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the system century, and even after the October Revolu- projects, factories, schools and hospitals. of appointing local hereditary headmen by tion in 1917. Their arid land was transformed into ter- the central authority to rule over the Qiangs raced fields. Even in the cold, high-altitude gave way to officials dispatched from the Maoniushan area of Ninglang County, the court. The central administrative system Pumis reaped good harvests from [2,766 helped enhance the ties between the Qiang acres] of new paddy fields. New industries and Han ethnic groups. With their horses, have been developed: ironwork and salt medicinal herbs and other native produce, and aluminum mining. Highways have the Qiangs used to barter farm implements The Qiang people have created a been built linking Pumi communities with and daily necessities from the Hans. Mutual unique culture and arts and crafts. The neighboring areas. support and help stimulated the social and clever and deft Qiang women can do The educational opportunities and health economic development of Qiang society. embroidery and drawnwork extempora- care facilities for Pumis are rapidly expand- For a long period before China’s na- neously without designs. The Qiangs are ing. Most children now attend primary tional liberation in 1949, the Qiangs lived good singers and dancers. “Wine song,” schools and many of them go on to middle in primitive conditions marked by slash and “plate song,” “mountain song” and “leath- schools. Medical workers at clinics and burn farming. A feudal landlord economy er drum” dances with accompaniment of health-care stations have replaced witches dominated production. Landlords and rich gongs, tambourines, sonas and bamboo as primary providers of care. peasants, who accounted for only 8 percent flutes are popular.

of the population, were in possession of 43 The Qiang ethnic minority percent of the cultivated land. Poor peasants New Life Population: 198,300 and hired farm hands, accounting for 43 per- The Qiang area was liberated in Janu- They speak Russian, their customs and Major area of distribution: Sichuan cent of the population, had only 16 percent ary 1950. In July, 1958 the Maowen Qiang clothing are almost identical to those of the Language: Qiang of the land. Many poor peasants lost their Autonomous County was established. Russians in Russia, and most of them believe Religion: Animism land due to heavy rent coupled with usury. By relying on collective efforts, they in the Orthodox Eastern Church. They became hired laborers, wandering carried out large-scale capital construc- Before the founding of the People’s Re- from place to place to make a living. tion projects in their rocky region, where public of China in 1949, the Russians living productivity used to be low because of in towns were mostly employed in various Life Style backward local conditions and the short- repairing businesses, transport, handicrafts, The Qiangs dress themselves simply age of men. Among the projects are tractor horticulture, animal husbandry and bee-keep- but beautifully. Men and women alike wear stations, reservoirs, hydroelectric stations ing. In rural areas, groups of about 10 Russian gowns made of gunny cloth, cotton and silk and pumping and drainage facilities. Now families lived together in small villages. They with sleeveless sheep’s wool jackets. They more farm machinery is used and scientific reclaimed and cultivated the wasteland on the like to bind their hair and legs. Women’s farming methods have been introduced. banks of the Ili and Tekes rivers. clothing is laced and the collars are deco- Grain output increases every year. They had achieved a fairly high level of rated with plum-shaped silver ornaments. In the Qiang area, which had no in- development in production and culture. But They wear sharp-pointed and embroidered dustry and highways before, enterprises under reactionary rule, they were exploited shoes, embroidered girdles and earrings, have sprung up and two concrete and 28 and oppressed. neck rings, hairpins and silver badges. steel-chain bridges have been built over The Russians living in urban areas now Millet, highland barley, potatoes, winter the Minjiang River. The area’s total high- work mainly in industry, transport, finance, The Qiang ethnic minority has a popula- wheat and buckwheat make up their main way mileage has reached [161.2 miles]. A trade and medicine. tion of 198,300 who mostly dwell in hilly staple foods. The Qiangs drink a great deal postal route network covers every corner Although the Russian ethnic group in areas, crisscrossed by rivers and streams, in of wine and smoke orchid leaves. of the area. China has a small population, it has deputies the Maowen Qiang Autonomous Prefecture They live in blockhouses made of piled The over 20 primary and nine middle to the National People’s Congress and the re- in Sichuan Province. A small number live up stones of different sizes. Unique in style, schools that have been built in post-1949 gional People’s Congress. They take an active with Tibetan, Han and Hui ethnic groups in solid and practical, these houses are two years enroll over more than 80 percent of part in running state and regional affairs. such localities as Wenchuan, Dali, Heishui or three stories high. The first floor is for school-age children. Thanks to the efforts and Songpan. livestock and poultry, the second retained of medical workers, mass screening and The Salar ethnic minority They occupy a fertile land of mild cli- as bedrooms and the third for grain storage. treatment has brought black fever and Population: 87,500 mate and adequate rain. The mountain slopes The Qiang people are skilled in opening up hook worm, two major epidemic diseases, are natural pastures. The area abounds in roads on rocky cliffs and erecting bamboo Minorities continues on Page 15 www.chinainsight.info culture MARCH 2010 > PAGE 15

Minorities from Page 14 of heavy unpaid labor services including the past suffered tremendously under reli- in recent decades, Salar women have broken building houses, felling trees and doing gious strictures and feudal ethics. Unmarried away from such practices and the traditional Major areas of distribution: Qinghai, transportation work for the landlords. As a girls were not allowed to appear in public, concept of men being superior to women is Gansu and Xinjiang result, at times there were large-scale exo- while married women had to hide their slowly disappearing. Salar women are now Language: Salar duses of Salars from their villages, leaving faces in front of strange men. They had to taking an active part in all local production Religion: Islam the farmlands lying waste and production turn their faces sideways when answering endeavors.  at a standstill. an inquiry and make a detour should they Source: People’s Daily Online Past Socio-economic Conditions meet a strange man coming their way. But, http://english.peopledaily.com.cn There have been different theories put Culture forward on the origin of the Salars. The The language of the Salars, which be- prevalent view held at the moment is that longs to the Tujue (Turkic) branch of the Al- the ancestors of the Salars came from the taic language family, is almost identical with Export from Page 12 Commerce Department experts. region of Samarkand in Central Asia during the languages of the Uygurs and Ozbeks, Last year, ITA helped nearly 5,600 com- US$1 billion in exports, 6,250 manufactur- the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). with whom they share the same religion. panies increase their exports and 85 percent ing jobs are created or supported. It contains quite a number of words taken of those were small- and medium-size “[W]hile the U.S. is a major exporter, from the Chinese and Tibetan languages as businesses. A new Commerce Department we are underperforming,” stated Locke. a result of long years of mutual contacts. initiative in 2010 will enable ITA to connect “U.S. exports as a percentage of GDP are Nowadays, most young and middle-aged with even more of these businesses. still well below nearly all major economic Salars know how to speak Chinese, which Locke said in the coming months competitors… less than one percent of is also accepted as the written language of the CommerceConnect Website will be America’s 30 million companies export – a the Salar ethnic group. launched. This will serve as a portal for busi- percentage that is also significantly lower nesses to access the full array of Commerce than all other developed countries. And of Department and other federal government U.S. companies that do export, 58 percent services available to them. export to only one country.” “For small business owners, many of Locke also said, “With our increasingly whom aren’t close to an International Trade Xunhua County, which the largest interconnected world – where 95 percent of office, or who previously didn’t think they group of the Salars live, is a mountainous consumers reside outside our borders – these had the time or resources to partner with the area situated along the banks of the Yellow are opportunities American companies can- federal government, this will be a particu- River in southeastern Qinghai Province. Al- not afford to miss.” larly valuable tool,” said Locke. though it has a mild climate and fertile land The National Export Initiative, said As part of NEI, the president has pro- crisscrossed by canals, it is handicapped by Locke, will help build American exports “by posed an additional US$54 million for the insufficient rainfall. Before China’s national giving senior American officials traveling Department of Agriculture to enhance its liberation in 1949, farmers here did not abroad a second job description: Advocate export promotion activities, which will have the capability of harnessing the Yellow and salesperson for U.S. companies and mean: River, and the county was often referred to products.” o More technical assistance to help farm- as “arid Xunhua.” The Salars are mainly The Commerce Department’s Interna- ers selling specialty crops; farmers, going in for such crops as wheat, tional Trade Administration (ITA) has a o More foreign country promotions Tibetan barley, buckwheat and potatoes. As global network of trade specialists posted extolling U.S. commodities; and sideline occupations, they engage in stock in 109 U.S. cities and at 128 U.S. embas- o More direct assistance to farmers to breeding, lumbering, salt-producing and sies and consulates in 77 countries. These develop new foreign markets and to increase wool-weaving. The Salar people have a rich and colorful specialists will be able to help American market share in existing markets. During the Yuan Dynasty, a Salar head- tradition of folklore. Many of the legends, companies identify promising new markets “As part of the National Export Ini- man bearing the surname of Han was made stories and fairy tales sing the praises of the and contacts in foreign countries. tiative, the president has called upon the hereditary chief of this ethnic minority. With courage and wisdom of the laboring people, As part of the NEI, the president’s 2011 Export-Import Bank – which provides the rise of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), and lament the hard lives of the Salar women budget is requesting a 20 percent increase­ critical financing to U.S. companies when he submitted to the new rulers and continued in the past, as well as their struggle against for ITA – totaling US$78 million–which ITA private banks are unwilling or unable – to to hold his position. He had under him a feudal oppression. The typical folk tune will use “to bring on as many as 328 trade increase its financing available for small- basic bureaucracy [that] looked after such genre is the “Hua’er (flower),” a kind of experts – mostly in foreign countries – to and medium-size businesses from US$4 things as military affairs, punishments, rev- folksong sung sonorously and unrestrained- advocate and find customers for U.S. com- billion to US$6 billion over the next year,” enue and provisions. Following the develop- ly in the Chinese language. However, in panies, allowing its Commercial Service to said Locke. ment of the economy and the expansion of most cases it is presented with a sweet, assist more than 23,000 clients to begin or Locke also spoke about the need for the population, the region inhabited by the trilling tone due to the influence of Tibetan grow their export sales in 2011, according equal treatment in trade agreements with Salars was divided into two administrative folk songs. The singers are all able to fill in to Locke. other countries and the importance of en- areas, i.e. the “inner eight gongs” of Xun- impromptu words according to whatever Secretary Locke said that ITA isn’t forcing U.S. trade laws; combating unfair hua and the “outer five gongs” of Hualong, happens to strike a chord in their hearts. waiting for extra funds in 2011. In the next tariff and non-tariff barriers; and cracking during the early period of the Qing Dynasty Significant reforms have been introduced month, they are set to launch a 12-month down on practices that blatantly harm U.S. (1644-1911). A “gong” included a number of to this form of art since 1949. The Salars program to help create jobs in America companies, like the theft of intellectual villages, equivalent to the later administra- now sing to express their rejoicing over by: property. tive unit of “xiang” (township). their new life. Amateur theatrical troupes, o Identifying new markets for existing “When I came to Commerce,” explained New organizational setups were intro- and song and dance groups are flourishing U.S. exporters; Locke, “my goal was to improve inter- o Increasing the number of foreign buy- duced during the following years of the among the Salar people. agency cooperation on export promotion. To ers to U.S. trade shows; Qian Dynasty to step up the control and that end, we revitalized the Trade Promotion exploitation of the Salars. During both the Customs o Working with private sector partners to Coordinating Committee, which in many Ming and Qing periods Salar men were Deeply influenced by Islam, the customs increase exporting through our market de- ways had been ignored in recent years. constantly subjected to conscription, which and habits as practiced among the Salars are velopment cooperator grant program; and “The coordinating committee brings was an extremely heavy burden on the Salar roughly the same as those of the Huis that o By getting more clean energy compa- together 20 federal agencies and depart- people. live nearby. Women like to wear kerchiefs nies involved in promising new markets. ments to work on export expansion efforts, As the Salars were devout Muslims, the on their heads and black sleeveless jackets American firms who want to sell their and it will now help operationalize at the villages were dominated by the mosques over clothes in striking red colors. They goods or services abroad, can call 1-800- staff level, the goals laid out in the National and the Muslim clergy. Along with the are good at embroidery and often stitch USA-TRADE to access assistance from Export Initiative.”  development of the feudal economy, land flowers in five different colors onto their became concentrated in the hands of the pillowcases, shoes and socks. Men wear ruling minority -- the headman, community flat-topped brimless hats of either black chiefs and imams. or white colors, and wear sheepskin coats Prior to the founding of the People’s without linings and woolen clothing in Republic of China in 1949, the landlord winter. Young men living along the banks economy was dominant. Relying on their of the Yellow River love to swim. Some of political power, and feudal and religious the customs and habits of the Salars have privileges, the Salar landlords maintained changed over the years as a result of social ownership over most of the land and farm and economic development. Polygamy, for animals, as well as water sources and oil instance, has been abolished, and cases of mills. Most of the Salar farmers, on the child marriage have been greatly reduced. other hand, were either landless or owned The extravagant practice of slaughtering only a very insignificant portion of barren cattle in large numbers for weddings, funer- land. They were subjected to crippling land als and festivals has been changed. rents and usury, in addition to all kinds Women of the Salar ethnic minority in PAGE 16 > MARCH 2010 culture www.chinainsight.info