HELEN H WANG » China – general

My Interview on CNNMoney

Helen Wang — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:04:51 +0000

This week, CNNMoney is running a series of articles about China. I was interviewed on the topic of China’s growing middle class.

It’s mind-boggling for Americans to think that China’s middle class is already largest than the entire population of the United States. Yet, the Chinese middle class is only about 25 percent of China’s population. The explosion of the middle class is a result of China’s phenomenal growth in the past decades. As China’s economy slowing down, the Chinese middle class will face some challenges climbing up the economic ladder. My friend Shaun Rein, the author of The End of Cheap China, pointed out that foreign companies need to have a long term view in betting on Chinese consumers. I totally agree.

It is a good thing that mainstream media has started to pay more attention to China. I look forward to seeing more coverage about China on CNN.

Has China a viable middle class? – The debate (chinaherald.net)
CNNMoney launches international homepage to go after global audiences (thenextweb.com)

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China’s Consumption Dynamic to Surpass Any Consumer Market in the World

Helen Wang — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:07:04 +0000

In this three minute vedio, Stephen Roach, a professor at Yale University and former nonexecutive chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, summarized one of the key points of my book The Chinese Dream:

China is well on its way to “create a consumption dynamic that will outstrip the growth of any consumer market in the world,” how the U. S. should embrace the opportunity, and why improving the China–US bilateral relationship is so critical for the economic future of both countries.

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Becoming a Bridge between the US and China

Helen Wang — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:43:20 +0000

Recently, I participated in an International Speech Contest at a Toastmasters Club. Although I didn’t win the contest, it was a great experience. Below is a video of the speech:

Please post your comments and feedback in the comment area below. All are welcome!

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I Will Be Speaking at Bay Area Council on Mar. 22

Helen Wang — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:26:34 +0000

I will be speaking at Bay Area Council in San Francisco on March 22, at their luncheon series “How to Do Business in China.” See the details below:

The Bay Area Council is a business-sponsored, public policy advocacy organization for San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 1945, the Bay Area Council has more than 275 of the largest employers in the region and is widely respected by elected officials, policy makers and other civic leaders as the regional voice of business in the Bay Area.

Please join me:

When: 12:00pm – 1:00pm, March 22, 2012

Where: Nixon Peabody LLP, One Embarcadero, 18th Floor, San Francisco, CA

Survey Finds Growing Optimism About Bay Area Economy (sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com)

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China to Become the World’s Largest Importer by 2014

Helen Wang — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:43:39 +0000

According to The Economist, China will surpass the United States to become the largest importer in the world by 2014. There are plenty of opportunities for companies to take advantage of China’s growing middle class. Here are a few useful tips if you are interested in exporting to China:

Check out your local Chamber of Commerce or Export Assistance Center and familiarize yourselves with legal and regulatory issues in China. These facilities also have a lot of resources and services that can help you develop China market entry strategies and find the right business partners.
Consider rebranding or repositioning your products in China. Remember, what works in your native country may not work in China. You really need to learn about Chinese culture, understand Chinese consumers, and adapt your products and services to the China market.
For smaller brands, e-commerce is a great way to break into the China market without significant upfront cost. China’s ecommerce has been growing at 60 percent each year in recent years. More than 100 million Chinese shopped online last year. And China’s Internet users are expected to reach 750 million in 2015.

Read my full article on Forbes: China to Become the World’s Largest Importer by 2014.

China to Become the World’s Largest Importer by 2014 (rightways.wordpress.com)
What if smartphones were as popular in China as they are in the USA? (royal.pingdom.com)

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I Will Be Speaking at American Association of University Women

Helen Wang — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:55:48 +0000

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2012 bring you much happiness, success, and prosperity!

As an upbeat note of the new year, I will be speaking at the Authors’ Luncheon at Los Gatos – Saratoga branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) on January 25. See below a flyer for the event:

When: January 25 at 11:30 am – 2:30 pm

Where: La Rinconada Country Club, 14595 Clearview Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95032

For over 130 years, AAUW has advocated a fair chance for women and girls by breaking through their educational and economical barriers. What a honor to speak at such a wonderful organization! Click here to see the registration details.

AAUW offers anthology to support scholarship funds (tcpalm.com)
AAUW Seeks Women For College Governments (lezgetreal.com)

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My Interview on BBC World News

Helen Wang — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 21:30:10 +0000

On December 6th, I was on BBC World News to discuss eurozone debt crisis and how the Chinese middle class can help re-balance the West’s economy.

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The Biggest Story of Our Time: The Rise of China’s Middle Class

Helen Wang — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:52:00 +0000

I will be speaking at San Jose State University on November 8th, 2011. The topic of my presentation is “The Biggest Story of Our Time: The Rise of China’s Middle Class.” I will give an overview of the demographics of the emerging Chinese middle class and discuss what the rise of China’s middle class mean for entrepreneurs.

The event is hosted by International Business Association, a student-run organization. Please see the event details below:

When: Nov. 8, 2011, 6:00 pm

Where: Science Building 164 (SCI 164), San José State University, San José, CA 95192

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Jack Ma’s Real Intention: Yahoo! or Alibaba?

Helen Wang — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 23:12:44 +0000

Soon after Jack Ma gave his keynote at the China 2.0 conference at Stanford University, the U.S. media was flooded with news that “Jack Ma is interested in buying Yahoo.” At a time when Yahoo!, one of the world’s first Internet pioneers, is struggling, a Chinese suitor sounds particularly alarming.

I was at the conference. Ma started his speech by assuring the audience that his appearance in the States has nothing to do with “getting to Yahoo.” But no one seemed to believe him. Most questions directed to him were in the vein of: “Do you plan to buy Yahoo?” “Have you approached Yahoo for a deal?” “How are you going to buy Yahoo and when?”

Jack Ma’s answer to these questions was, not surprisingly, politically correct: “I am very interested.”

People who speculate that Jack Ma’s aim is to acquire Yahoo! may have missed the point. His real intention may very well be to expand his Alibaba Group to the U. S. market. “I want to learn one thing here,” he said, “how we can help U.S. SMEs (small and medium enterprises). What value we can create between us, Amazon and eBay.”

That has always been Jack Ma’s ambition. People who have followed his story may know his famous line: “eBay may be a shark in the ocean, but I am a crocodile in the Yangtze River.” Now, the crocodile is testing the water in the ocean. Will the crocodile turn into a shark?

Read the full story by me on Forbes: Beware of Crocodile Entering the Ocean.