Artisan Business Group Plans Trade Mission for U.S. Lawyers

Artisan Business Group is planning a China trade mission for U.S. lawyers who are interested in establish business contacts or presence in China. For details, please contact http://www.midwestUSAChina.com.

China needs $839 billion to establish nationwide social welfare system by 2020

A government think tank said China had to invest 5.74 trillion yuan (839.35 billion U.S. dollars) by 2020 in constructing an all-round social welfare system to enhance people's livelihood.

The figure is estimated in a report released Thursday by the China Development Research Foundation, an organization set up in 1997 by the Development Research Center of the State Council to support and promote policy consultation and academic research in China.

The report said the country should increase funds to expand the social welfare system to cover all aspects including pension, education, health care, housing, employment and others across the nation by 2020. It could benefit the whole population, especially rural residents and migrant workers.

The report said the amount needed by 2020 includes 1.37 trillion yuan for pension security, 1.03 trillion yuan for health care, 1.96 trillion yuan for education, 700 billion yuan for housing, 120 billion yuan for employment, 270 billion yuan for minimum living standard security, and 280 billion yuan for people in need of special aids.

The paper also set goals for these aspects over the three years to 2012, which need 2.6 trillion yuan in total.

For example, spending on pension, health care, education, housing and employment would be 830 billion yuan, 450 billion yuan,750 billion yuan, 260 billion yuan and 60 billion yuan, respectively.

The foundation's chairman Wang Mengkui said the social welfare system should keep pace with the country's economic development, which was essential to "solve the problem" of the imbalance between urban and rural areas and among regions and to benefit the whole population.

The paper said rapid economic development put China in a good position to establish an all-round social welfare system for its population.

The report recommends increasing the proportion of spending on social welfare in the fiscal revenue from the current 27 percent to 35 percent over the coming 12 years.

Fiscal revenue reached 6.13 trillion yuan last year, accounting for about 20 percent of 2008's gross domestic product, up from 11.7 percent in 1995.

Contact: http://www.midwestUSAChina.com

Official: no protectionism in China's economic stimulus plans

There were no protectionist measures in China's stimulus plans for 10 key industries, Liu Tienan, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission, told reporters here Friday.

"We are against trade protectionism and there are no protectionist measures in our economic stimulus plans," Liu said.

Liu cautioned against the rise of protectionism in various forms as the world strove to address the impact of the financial crisis and maintain economic growth.

"Protectionism may have some effects in the short term, but it is a short-sighted option," he said.

Contact: http://www.midwestUSAChina.com

"Challenges and Rewards: Doing Business in China" Seminar May 1, 2009 in Chicago

Artisan Business Group announced a new business seminar "Challenges and Rewards: Doing Business in China" scheduled May 1, 2009 in Chicago. Please log on http://www.ArtisanBusinessGroup.com for details and agenda.

China's copper imports, exports down upon declining demand

China's imports and exports of copper (including unwrought copper and copper products) went down 4.3 percent year-on-year to 3.257 million tonnes in 2008, as financial crisis had bitten into demand both at home and abroad, the General Administration of Customs said on Saturday.

The total included 2.637 million tonnes of imports, down 5.1 percent, and exports and 620,000 tonnes of exports, down 0.8 percent.

Of the total imports and exports, foreign-funded companies accounted for 54 percent, or 1.759 million tonnes, down 7.8 percent. Their imports were 1.398 million tonnes, down 9.5 percent, and their exports were 361,000 tonnes, down 0.6 percent.

The leading suppliers for the Chinese mainland were Chile, Taiwan province, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and top export destinations were Hong Kong, ROK, the United States, the European Union and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) members.

Trade Leads: Chinese Golf Course Developer Seeking Designers

A Chinese real estate development company for golf course and residential properties is actively seeking American design companies that specialize in golf course landscape design, luxury home designs (European, Spanish, American styles). If you are interested in the inquiry, please contact us at http://www.midwestUSAChina.com

Trade Leads: Chinese Electrical Lighting Company Seeking Partners in the U.S.

A Hong Kong based urban lighting design and engineering company with a 7000 sq.meters LED light manufacturing facility and a dozen branch offices in China is seeking an electrical installation firm in the US for partnership for the purpose of developing new markets in both U.S. and China. If interested in the offer, please contact us at http://www.midwestUSAChina.com

Happy Foreign Language School (China) Signs Agreement with Heartland Community College

Mr. Michael Peng, Principal and owner of Happy Foreign Language School has toured eight public and private universities in Illinois during his two weeks visit from China. Happy Foreign Language School is a privately held English language training institution based in Guiyang, Guizhou province, China, with over 1000 students at 4 training locations. With the assistance of Artisan Business Group, Mr. Peng has reached an educational partnership agreement with the Heartland Community College (Normal, Illinois) on March 13, 2009. For more information about ABG services, please contact Brian Su at http://www.midwestUSAChina.com