Travel Tips: how to combat air pollution in China

 

We were departing for meetings in Beijing March 27

In late March 2014, our EB-5 business delegation was traveling in 5 cities around China. Air pollution was the major concerns we had. To stay healthy and minimize risks, we were fully prepared with N95 Particulate Respirator masks made by 3M. Some of us also prepared with Halo Oral Spray (against airborne germs) and Nozin Nasal Sanitizer which can be purchased at Amazon.com.  These items are extremely helpful.  They are highly recommended for you to use during the travels in China. Air pollution is a serious problem in many Chinese cities, Beijing is the worst so far during our visit in late March. There are a couple helpful websites that you can check on prior to traveling to China, such as the Chinese Cities Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) at http://aqicn.org/city and US Embassy in Beijing. The air monitor's measurements are expressed in the form of PM 2.5 concentration (micrograms per cubic meter, µg/m³) and corresponding AQI. The following chart was from the US Embassy in Beijing official website. You can find more information about air quality in Beijing at the Embassy website http://beijing.usembassy-china.org.cn/aqirecent3.html

Air Quality Index  (AQI)	PM2.5   Health Effects Statement	PM 2.5 Cautionary Statement
Good (0-50)	PM2.5 air pollution poses little or no risk.	None
Moderate(51-100)	Unusually sensitive individuals may experience respiratory symptoms.	Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150)	Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly.	People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
Unhealthy  (151-200)	Increased aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; increased respiratory effects in general population.	People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion; everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
Very Unhealthy (201-300)	Significant aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; significant increase in respiratory effects in general population.	People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.
Hazardous (301-500)	Serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; serious risk of respiratory effects in general population.	Everyone should avoid all physical activity outdoors; people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors and keep activity levels low.

For more information about participating in the 2014 Business Exploratory Delegation to China, please contact us at artisanbusiness@gmail.com. Very limited space!

Report from China: anti-corruption campaign targets government officials

 

China’s President Xi Jinping has worked hard since taking power in 2012 to help stop the corruption amongst Chinese government officials. Recently, China’s military prosecutors charged Ex-General Mr. Gu Junshan with embezzlement, bribery and other allegations of corruption. This marks the first time a military figure has been charged with corruption charges since President Xi took office. Some of the newfound wealth and power in China can be traced directly to corrupted officials and their family members enjoying extra benefits by being in a government role. These officials and families are the ones President Xi plans to investigate and charge with corruption to help clean up the country’s government of all levels. The central government is conducting a nationwide audit by sending executive auditors and inspectors. Hundreds of high level government officials have been removed from their posts as a result of such audits. Chinese business owners and high net worth individuals are worried about the direction the Communist Party is heading in the next couple years. Many individuals have created their wealth in grey areas of the law in China and might be worried about what the future will bring. With uncertainty in the Communist Party's direction, this makes visa programs to other western countries including the EB-5 program very attractive. Many Chinese families are heavily investing in Hong Kong, Singapore, and European countries where long term resident visas are offered through real estate investment program.  To learn more about Chinese market conditions, join us in Florida on April 24.

ABG represents local aviation school at the Shanghai Trade Show

Artisan Business Group is to represent a locally owned and operated general aviation school at the Invest in America 2014 (Shanghai) Summit and Exhibition March 22-23, 2014.  General aviation industry is growing rapidly in last three years, Chinese general aviation service will grow $15.5 billion in next few years, it will become the largest aviation market after the U.S. Number of privately owned airplanes in China is also growing fast.  Demand for young pilots are huge and Chinese pilot training schools cannot keep up with the market needs.  For more information about doing business in China, call us at 217-899-6661 or email: artisanbusiness@gmail.com.

Visit our booth at the Shanghai Summit

 Artisan Business Group will be attending and exhibiting at the Invest in America 2014 (Shanghai) Summit and Exhibition on March 22-23, 2014. If you are an EB-5 project developer or EB-5 regional center representative, please stop by at our booth number B301.  We look forward to seeing you in Shanghai. We specialize in preparing US companies to enter competitive Chinese business and capital market.  For more information about our China business advisory services, please contact us at artisanbusiness@gmail.com or call 217-899-6661.

Notice from Artisan Business Group, Inc.

Effective immediately on March 1, 2014, Artisan Business Group, Inc., terminates its agreement with Hong Kong based Eastnet International Business Co., Ltd. for operating ABG field operations in China.  Artisan Business Group will continue to support US client activities in China. For more information about our China business advisory and consulting services, please log on http://www.ArtisanBusinessGroup.com.

重要公告：经过慎密考虑，美国雅商顾问集团(Artisan Business Group, Inc.) 决定将进行市场战略调整，自2014年3月1日起，美国雅商顾问集团将撤销雅商顾问集团亚太总部并停止以其名义进行的在华的一切业务活动。今后任何涉华咨 询业务，将由美国雅商顾问集团总部直接负责。 联系： http://www.ArtisanBusinessGroup.com

Weekend Tips: food safety for road warriors

(By Brian Su) For those of us on the road every week, good health is very important.  Every time when we dine with clients and friends, we truly enjoy our gatherings and love the food we eat. I don't think many of us are ever concerned about food safety issues as we always assume whatever we pick and choose is good for us. 
Early this week I was traveling in Utah and Arizona for project visits, the last meal we had in Phoenix caused major food poisoning, four out of five people including myself were in serious illness. Two were hospitalized.  Medical doctors advised that we had food poisoning.  I suffered great pain in my stomach and had high fever and diarrhea, however I managed to return home for medical care. It is very difficult to determine how safe the food we eat, however, taking extra caution is necessary for road warriors out there.  If you ever encounter such situations, make sure you drink a lot of bottled Vitamin water and do not eat solid food until your body clears its system. Food poisoning can happen anywhere, not just in China. Up to now none of us have figured out which dish caused us such illness and pain, that sweet dessert tasted really good!

Shanghai Summit Update: Final Call!

More U.S. companies are coming to exhibit projects and services at the Invest in America 2014 (Shanghai) Summit and Exhibition March 22-23, 2014. The two day convention is the largest US investment business conference and trade show in China, it is co-sponsored by global law firms Fragomen, Greenberg Traurig and Related EB-5: Hudson Yards.   During the event, thousands of investors and business owners as well as emigration agents from all over China come to explore business and investment opportunities with U.S. exhibitors. Contact us now at ArtisanBusiness@yahoo.com for exhibitor information. Many exhibitors have already taken double booths, reserve your booth today before they are all gone!
The confirmed exhibitors include:

• American Dream Fund
• Ameri-link Capital Regional Center
• Artisan Business Group, Inc.
• China Express Int'l Investment Ltd.
• City of Mount Vernon
• Clark County Regional Center
• Cleveland International Fund
• CMB Regional Centers
• Colorado Regional Center
• Cross Harbor Capital Partners
• ECD Company
• EB-5 Global
• EB-5 United
• Education Fund of America
• E-House Service
• Extell New York Regional Center
• Fragomen
• Greenberg Traurig
• Green Card Fund
• GW Bridge Fort Lee Regional Center
• Hollywood Int'l Regional Center
• InvestAmerica Capital Advisors
• Invest in Texas Initiative
• Klausner II
• LAM NYC EB-5 Regional Center
• Lightstone Group
• Lubert-Adler Regional Center
• Marcum LLP
• Midwest Center for Foreign Investment
• Mount Snow
• New York Proton Regional Center
• North Texas EB-5 Regional Center
• Pacifica Companies
• Pathyways EB-5
• Related EB-5: Hudson Yards
• Riviera Point Development Group
• RockBridge Senior Living Communities
• SkyRise Miami
• Sydell Group
• TBC Washington DC Area RC
• Texas Regional Fortune Center
• The Janus Property Company
• Trapp Family Lodge
• Tristate USA Regional Center
• Wolfsdorf Rosenthal LLP
  
  It is not too late to sign up as an exhibitor at the Shanghai Summit, please log on http://www.InvestinAmerica2014.org to download an exhibitor manual or call event coordinators Ms. Jenny Liang at 607-379-9466 or Mr. Tyler McKay at 217-899-6661. You can also email us at ArtisanBusiness@yahoo.com for exhibitor information. The exhibitor registration cut-off date is coming up, act now!

Final Call: China trade mission in March

This is a final call!  China Express Agency, a New York based China business consulting firm, is organizing an investment and business exploratory trade mission to China March 20-30, 2014. During the ten day trip, the members of delegation will be meeting with business investors, Chinese trade associations, Chinese immigration agents, the Commercial Department of U.S. Embassy in Beijing China, and local officials.  The trade mission supported by Artisan Business Group will travel to Beijing, Shanghai and fast growing cities such as Hangzhou and Nanchang. Starting with the “Invest in America 2014 (Shanghai) Summit & Exhibition”, the trip continues with five in-depth business seminars, guided city tours and actively engaged networking events in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Beijing and Nanchang, the capital city of Jiangxi Province.  

If you have any questions please feel free to contact zoezhang@chinaexpress.us or contact Mr. Carl Xing at carlxing@chinaexpress.us.