Page 4 - THE SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL
P. 4
ITOR'S NOTE
Dr. Harley Seyedin Dear Members, sectors as well. Premier Li announced another
round of heavy spending on infrastructure
Winner of the 2017 Oslo Greetings, and on assistance to very poor households,
Business for Peace Award particularly in rural areas. Transfers from the
(together with Elon Musk, It has been a busy time for China and central government to provincial governments,
Durren Shahnaz and Murad AmCham South China over the past month. which mainly pay for social programs and
AI-Katib) We began the month of March with another infrastructure, will jump 18 percent this year.
Awarded by an Award Committee widely successful release of our 2022 White
of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Paper on the Business Environment in China 2022 is a critical year for further
Economics and 2022 Special Report on the State of implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan
Among few individuals on Business in South China. The release was and comprehensively promoting the rural
231 years to be awarded the attended by over 300 government officials, revitalization strategy. In the past decade,
Thomas Jefferson initiated business executives and members of media AmCham South China has raised over
Peace through Commerce including over 40 foreign consulates. China 5,172,000 RMB in cash that literally saved
Medal by the US Government stood out for its economic resilience in the lives of 224 orphaned children by paying
Visiting Scholar, Jinan University the face of unprecedented global changes for their immediate life-saving medical
President, Allelon Energy Partners and a once-in-a-century pandemic. Its GDP procedures. We have also raised 12,945,811
President, American Chamber of grew by 8.1% to 114 trillion yuan (US$ 18 RMB in in-kind donations which have raised
Commerce in South China trillion) in 2021. Our studies showed that four impoverished villages above the poverty
most companies are more optimistic for an line. I am deeply grateful to our over 2,300
improved US-China bilateral relation in 2022. members who have been actively involved in
the philanthropic endeavors.
Compared with a year earlier, strong
negative impacts brought by US and Yet many of our companies are still affected
Chinese tariffs on companies eased in 2021. by visa and travel restrictions caused by
Diplomatic relations between the US and the pandemic. The Chamber conducted
China have endured through almost half a extensive lobbying with public officials to
century. As COVID-19 enters its third year, correct this international problem. We recently
both sides need to stand firmly together were informed that PU letters for qualified
at this crucial juncture to address common expats and their family members can now be
difficulties facing humanity including climate obtained through application at local district
change, the pandemic, hunger and poverty. offices. We are proud of our part in achieving
I am hopeful that the nomination of highly this milestone.
credentialled and experienced Nicolas Burns
as US ambassador to China will contribute Of course, AmCham South China is never all
to the continuity, stability and sustainability work and no play. We joined Dongguan Harbor
of this critical relationship. You can still Plaza Golf Club in hosting the International
download the 2022 White Paper on the Golf Tournament and Texas BBQ Networking
Business Environment in China and 2022 Dinner on January 21. The tasty back-home
Special Report on the State of Business in vittles were a welcome reward for our 120
South China from our webpage if you haven’t players. You can read more about this fun
already done so. event on page 19 of this month’s SCBJ.
Chinese leaders were eager to bolster Finally, we would like to congratulate China
confidence in the country’s economy during on another successful and eventual Olympic
the 2022 Two Session beginning on March competition. This year's Games were the
4. The National People’s Congress pledged second to be held in China, as well as the
that China’s economy, a primary engine 24th Winter Games in history, embodying a
of global growth, will regain momentum special message of Unity. The United States
despite a punishing slump in housing, rising finished the Beijing Olympics with 25 medals,
commodity prices, scattered lockdowns ranking fifth overall by total. Our eight gold
to control coronavirus outbreaks and medals were tied for fourth-most in 2022,
widespread uncertainty on the world stage. the fewest for the country in a single Winter
Premier Li Keqiang announced that the Olympics since five in 1998, but this year the
government set a goal of “around 5.5 percent” competition was extraordinary.
economic growth for 2022. China’s economy
may have expanded 8.1 percent in 2021, but
noticeably slowed in the final months of last
year to 4 percent as government measures
to limit real estate speculation hurt other
1 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
Dr. Harley Seyedin Dear Members, sectors as well. Premier Li announced another
round of heavy spending on infrastructure
Winner of the 2017 Oslo Greetings, and on assistance to very poor households,
Business for Peace Award particularly in rural areas. Transfers from the
(together with Elon Musk, It has been a busy time for China and central government to provincial governments,
Durren Shahnaz and Murad AmCham South China over the past month. which mainly pay for social programs and
AI-Katib) We began the month of March with another infrastructure, will jump 18 percent this year.
Awarded by an Award Committee widely successful release of our 2022 White
of Nobel Laureates in Peace and Paper on the Business Environment in China 2022 is a critical year for further
Economics and 2022 Special Report on the State of implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan
Among few individuals on Business in South China. The release was and comprehensively promoting the rural
231 years to be awarded the attended by over 300 government officials, revitalization strategy. In the past decade,
Thomas Jefferson initiated business executives and members of media AmCham South China has raised over
Peace through Commerce including over 40 foreign consulates. China 5,172,000 RMB in cash that literally saved
Medal by the US Government stood out for its economic resilience in the lives of 224 orphaned children by paying
Visiting Scholar, Jinan University the face of unprecedented global changes for their immediate life-saving medical
President, Allelon Energy Partners and a once-in-a-century pandemic. Its GDP procedures. We have also raised 12,945,811
President, American Chamber of grew by 8.1% to 114 trillion yuan (US$ 18 RMB in in-kind donations which have raised
Commerce in South China trillion) in 2021. Our studies showed that four impoverished villages above the poverty
most companies are more optimistic for an line. I am deeply grateful to our over 2,300
improved US-China bilateral relation in 2022. members who have been actively involved in
the philanthropic endeavors.
Compared with a year earlier, strong
negative impacts brought by US and Yet many of our companies are still affected
Chinese tariffs on companies eased in 2021. by visa and travel restrictions caused by
Diplomatic relations between the US and the pandemic. The Chamber conducted
China have endured through almost half a extensive lobbying with public officials to
century. As COVID-19 enters its third year, correct this international problem. We recently
both sides need to stand firmly together were informed that PU letters for qualified
at this crucial juncture to address common expats and their family members can now be
difficulties facing humanity including climate obtained through application at local district
change, the pandemic, hunger and poverty. offices. We are proud of our part in achieving
I am hopeful that the nomination of highly this milestone.
credentialled and experienced Nicolas Burns
as US ambassador to China will contribute Of course, AmCham South China is never all
to the continuity, stability and sustainability work and no play. We joined Dongguan Harbor
of this critical relationship. You can still Plaza Golf Club in hosting the International
download the 2022 White Paper on the Golf Tournament and Texas BBQ Networking
Business Environment in China and 2022 Dinner on January 21. The tasty back-home
Special Report on the State of Business in vittles were a welcome reward for our 120
South China from our webpage if you haven’t players. You can read more about this fun
already done so. event on page 19 of this month’s SCBJ.
Chinese leaders were eager to bolster Finally, we would like to congratulate China
confidence in the country’s economy during on another successful and eventual Olympic
the 2022 Two Session beginning on March competition. This year's Games were the
4. The National People’s Congress pledged second to be held in China, as well as the
that China’s economy, a primary engine 24th Winter Games in history, embodying a
of global growth, will regain momentum special message of Unity. The United States
despite a punishing slump in housing, rising finished the Beijing Olympics with 25 medals,
commodity prices, scattered lockdowns ranking fifth overall by total. Our eight gold
to control coronavirus outbreaks and medals were tied for fourth-most in 2022,
widespread uncertainty on the world stage. the fewest for the country in a single Winter
Premier Li Keqiang announced that the Olympics since five in 1998, but this year the
government set a goal of “around 5.5 percent” competition was extraordinary.
economic growth for 2022. China’s economy
may have expanded 8.1 percent in 2021, but
noticeably slowed in the final months of last
year to 4 percent as government measures
to limit real estate speculation hurt other
1 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
