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Georgia Bets on Trade with China
If Georgia officials get their way, local executives will soon be able to obtain Chinese visas in Atlanta, fly from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport directly to several Chinese cities and pitch business ideas to a new trade development office in Beijing. Pacific Rim Nations Call for Free Trade World leaders responsible for more than half of the global economy ended an unusually contentious gathering on Sunday by committing to increase free trade, mitigate climate change and improve consumer safety. Pacific Rim Nations Set Goals for Global Warming Leaders of 21 Pacific Rim nations responsible for more than half of the emissions causing global warming set targets Saturday for improving energy efficiency and better managing their forests. In Australia, Bush Rallies Asians to War on Terror President Bush used a key speech at a gathering of Asian and Pacific leaders on Friday to shore up waning support for the U.S.-led operations in Iraq and against global terrorist organizations. Down Under, Bush Pushes for Climate Change Shift and Free Trade President Bush used meetings with China's president and a top Australian politician on Thursday to defend his positions on climate change, free trade and international security, the key topics on the table at a major international forum this weekend. How to Protect Yourself amid 'Made-In-China' Scare The scare began earlier this year when pet food killed dogs and cats. Then the U.S. government issued warnings about a poisonous chemical in toothpaste, lead paint on toys, car tires missing a key safety feature and fish contaminated with unapproved drugs. Financial Woes, Overcapacity Could Delay Kia Motors Georgia Factory When South Korean carmaker Kia Motors held a ceremonial groundbreaking in West Point, Ga., last October, Gov. Sonny Perdue called the planned $1.2 billion factory "the largest single economic development announcement in the history of our state." Home Depot Opens China Business The Home Depot launched its bid to sell to the world's most populous nation on Sunday. Nothing Fake about It, China Awash in Lies It started with a steamed bun stuffed with cardboard. Ahead of the Games, Beijing Steps Up Pressure on Dissidents Liu Qingzhen lives in constant fear of strangers. Fast and Efficient, Costly and Underused: Shanghai Debates Maglev's Future The doors slid closed and the world's only commercial magnetic levitation train began to move — not with the rattle of wheels or even the hum of a distant engine, but accelerating silently out of this city's airport and towards its futuristic downtown. A Year Before the Games: Beijing Builds, Problems Loom? In a country awash in political propaganda, one slogan posted around this city looks unusually convincing: "New Beijing, Great Olympics." As China's Megacities Grow, Calls Mount for Greener Buildings It is easy to overlook the small community of houses rising northwest of this sprawling capital. American Universities Flock to China In a classroom at Beijing's Tsinghua University recently, a dozen American students struggled to grasp a three-hour condensation of China's legal history, from the chaos of the Cultural Revolution to the free market reforms of the 1980s and 1990s. Chinese Fireworks Recalls Raise Safety Concerns Amid increasing concern over the safety of certain food and consumer products from China, the U.S. government has added — just in time for Independence Day — another potentially dangerous Chinese-made import to a growing list: fireworks. In China, a Dream to Bring King's Legacy to Stage In a Beijing rehearsal studio, five American singers belted out "Balm in Gilead," a traditional spiritual that expressed hope for freedom during American slavery. In Taiwan, Finding Chinese Culture without China's Hassles For most travelers looking for Chinese culture, Taiwan is literally off the map. Mistrust on Show as China and Taiwan Squabble over Olympic Torch When Beijing announced that the route the Olympic flame will travel from Greece to China ahead of the 2008 Summer Games, officials dubbed the 85,000-mile odyssey a "journey of harmony." Coke Pledges to Step Up Water Conservation Coca-Cola pledged on Tuesday to reduce the amount of water it uses to produce its wide range of beverages and to improve water recycling in bottling plants around the world. Darfur Groups Step Up Pressure on Beijing It's a nightmare scenario for China's leaders: In the run-up to the 2008 Summer Olympics, nations boycott the Games over China's close relationship with Sudan's government, which is blamed for fighting that has killed an estimated 200,000 people in the Darfur region and left nearly 2.5 million homeless. Taiwan to Ban Whale Shark Harvest Taiwan will ban the harvest and sale of whale sharks beginning next year, Taiwanese fisheries department officials said Monday, in a move hailed by environmentalists as an important step toward protecting the species. Tapping the China Market with Texas BBQ At first glance, China seems like a bad place to open a Texas-style barbecue joint: Beijing residents can go weeks without seeing a pickup truck, meat generally comes in chopstick-accessible pieces and most locals have never seen a football, let alone a football game. Jakarta Journal: Attack on Playboy Raises Spectre of Violence In the sprawling capital of Indonesia — itself a vast archipelago of 13,000 islands — I set off last month to buy a copy of Playboy magazine. Orangutans Face Bleak Struggle to Survive When staff rescued the infant ape from an oil palm plantation in 2004, her hand had been hacked off, probably by a machete blow that killed her mother, and workers had planned to sell her as an exotic pet. Modern China Seeks Moral Guidance In Its Ancient Past Zhang Xianliang is an unlikely advocate for remembering the past: Branded an enemy of the Chinese Communist Party in 1958, he was thrown into a labor camp and left there for 22 years, often surviving on little more than boiled grass. Pet Food Scare Sparks Fears Over Import Safety The U.S. pet food scare has raised the specter that surging imports from China and other nations with poor sanitary standards are outpacing U.S. inspectors and could threaten food safety for humans. Amid Fears Of Global Warming, China Weighs Profits and Pollution Perched among snow-capped mountains on the Tibetan Plateau, this saltwater lake has for millennia been a paradise for birds. Dell Unveils Computer For Chinese Market Michael Dell took the wraps off a compact personal computer system Wednesday in China, tailored specifically for the Chinese market. It's part of Dell Inc.'s efforts to craft products that will win customers in fast-growing emerging markets. Fears Of North Korean Famine Mount Before slipping across a frozen river from North Korea last year, Jin measured time in kernels of grain: The few pounds of donated U.N. rice he received each month, the small bag of ground corn he bought with earnings from factory work, and the two tiny servings of porridge he ate each day to make the food last. Groundswell Of Sarcastic Humor Begins To Undermine China's Censors It's a Chinese form of "truthiness" that might make Stephen Colbert proud. As Electronic Trash Piles Up, Pressure Grows To Reduce Damage After computers and other electronic gadgets around the world are discarded, many end up in this squalid town in southern China's Guangdong province. A Globe-Trotting Journey On China's Southern Edge Britain, Portugal, China, America. Year Of the Pig Sparks a Chinese Baby Boom Until recently, many expectant mothers in China's capital were working hard not to have their babies. Cancer Village Highlights China's Environmental Woes Villagers in this hamlet of squat houses in southern China's Guangdong province say red is the color of cancer. Experts: Tough Road Ahead For North Korean Nuclear Disarmament A landmark agreement Tuesday by North Korea to shut down its chief nuclear reactor and allow international inspections of the site is likely to be beset by a slew of difficulties, from convincing the nation's reclusive leaders to abide by their commitments to verifying compliance, experts said. A Rocky Meeting Of The Magic And Middle Kingdoms Before the Walt Disney Co. opened its first theme park here two years ago, planners carefully considered local customs. For China's Labor Rights, Increasingly The Game Is Blame Lei Huang could be a poster child for China's laboring classes. In China, 'Shenzhen Speed' Comes With Bumps Nowhere else is the country's breathtaking economic growth on display as vividly as in this south China metropolis. It even has a name: "Shenzhen speed," a remarkable rural-to-urban transformation. As Beijing Builds Its Future, The Poor Are Pushed Out Wang Chengming lives in one of Beijing's most prestigious districts. Ahead Of The Olympics, Beijing Cleans Up Its 'Chinglish' Visitors to China's capital can stroll through "Racist Park," enjoy a plate of "Crap in the Grass" and stop by a Starbuck's franchise for a cup for "Christmas Bland" coffee. North Korea's Growing Isolation Worries Experts North Korea's refusal on Friday to join talks about its nuclear and missile programs highlighted a trend worrying many Asia analysts: As Pyongyang becomes increasingly isolated from the international community, they said, the possibility of conflict is rising. Asian Meeting Highlights Geopolitical Shift The leaders of Iran, Russia, China and other Asian nations pledged Thursday to boost economic and military cooperation, raising fears among some experts that U.S. influence is waning in the region. Iranian President's Trip To China Spotlights Oil, Nukes When Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad travels here Wednesday to join a regional summit, China's appetite for oil and Iran's nuclear aspirations — and the connection between the two — will be in the spotlight. Richer, Stronger China Wins Friends In Region Dorn Taary has a good idea why China's influence is rising in Southeast Asia and the world. In China, Big Brother Goes Beyond The Phone Records Americans may be concerned about what the government will do with the millions of private telephone records it reportedly has collected. But Chinese citizens know what their government does with such information. And so do Americans and other foreigners living here. Khmer Rouge: A Timeline May 19, 1925 – Saloth Sar, later called Pol Pot, born in central Cambodia. Pol Pot: Brother Number One Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge movement for nearly four decades, went by many names. Three Decades After Genocide, Cambodia Moves Slowly Toward Trial Nhem Sal will never forget the faces of the Khmer Rouge soldiers who tortured him. As 2008 Olympics Approach, Beijing Tries To Teach Some Manners Smoke-filled taxis, unflappable line cutters, and spit-strewn sidewalks: When it comes to China, the list of things that perplex and infuriate both visitors and locals is long. French Villas? Bejeweled Watches? Fast Cars? Think China Wanted: Chinese tycoons to purchase 16,000-square-foot French-style manors in eastern Beijing. Cost: $2.5 million per property (includes in-home movie theater, indoor swimming pool and a bar seating 50). As Luxury Market Grows, So Do Counterfeits As China's economy grows and prosperity follows, consumers have developed a taste for the finer things in life. Hu Visit To Showcase Confident, Stronger China When Chinese President Hu Jintao visits the United States this week, he may be in for a rough ride. But experts say China's recent gains should help him avoid having to make economic or political concessions. Key U.S. Concerns About China When Chinese President Hu Jintao visits the United States this week, he's likely to discuss the following key concerns with American politicians and executives: Hyundai-Kia Scandal Highlights South Korean Economic Woes Investors and executives see different things in the glass-and-steel towers housing Kia Motors and its corporate parent Hyundai Motor Co. in a hilly suburb of this city. Sydney Builds On Olympic Legacy, And Aims For Profits How do you turn nearly $2 billion of leftover Olympic structures — including an archery range, whitewater rafting course and 110,000-seat stadium — into a profitable development after the Games end? Amid Trade Friction, Senators Push China On Currency Two U.S. senators on Thursday called on China's leaders to strengthen the country's currency against the dollar as a way of reducing the growing trade imbalance between the nations. Kia Makes U.S. Inroads And Builds For Future Growth A decade ago few Americans had heard of Korean carmaker Kia Motors despite its half-century history. When the company began exporting cars to the United States in 1994, it sold only 12,163 vehicles, many of which suffered mechanical problems. Ohio Farm Delegation Explores China Opportunities Put an artificial insemination specialist from Ohio, a cow, a dozen Chinese officials and several arm-length plastic gloves in a room for 20 minutes and what do you get? China Pledges Increased Spending On Rural Poor China will pour billions of dollars into its poor rural villages in the coming years, top officials said Monday, promising to balance the country's explosive economic growth with social welfare programs and environmental protections. Delphi's China Opearation Offers Tough Lessons For U.S. Manufacturing It is a tale of two countries, and one company. As Winter Games End, Beijing Gears Up For 2008 In a northwestern suburb of China's capital near a millennia-old tomb, men in heavy coats and hard hats welded together a metal frame last month — the skeleton of the site of the 2008 Summer Games speed cycling races. On China's Bird Flu Frontline, Ignorance And Inaction Zhao Wei is on the front line of the battle against bird flu, but he doesn't know it. Land Grab Stirs China's Poor To Anger Zhen Minxiu, a 46-year-old factory worker in China's central Chongqing municipality, keeps four photographs of the home she grew up in. China Feasts For Lunar New Year Sometime last week the Chinese Kitchen God traveled to heaven to report on the doings of man. Shanghai Journal: Hooters Makes China Inroads Zhou Shouya is a textbook example of how a simple idea can appeal across cultures. A Year Of Grief And Hope For Tsunami Survivors On Monday, the 249 residents of this village, a cluster of half-finished brick houses scattered along the Indian Ocean in Indonesia's Aceh province, will gather together to pray. Peace Brings Hope To Battered Land Even tsunamis can have silver linings. Jakarta Journal: Alcohol Crackdown Marks Conservative Shift Indonesians reading The Jakarta Post earlier this month may have found themselves wondering just how spirited the New Year would be. South Korea Bets On Cyber Schools Like most 13 year olds, Jun Ji-hye likes to send e-mail to her friends. But she also uses her school-provided laptop computer to make calculations in math class and to look up the latest U.S. dollar–to-Korean won exchange rate during social studies. Pusan Journal: 'Texas Street' Tracks U.S.-Korean Relations It's possible to trace time on Texas Street. Chinese Mine Accident, River Spill Highlight Poor Industrial Safety A series of industrial accidents in China, including an explosion in a coalmine that killed at least 134 people in the country's northeastern Heilongjiang province on Sunday night, has highlighted a growing crisis created by the country's pell-mell economic growth and poor safety standards. Bush Highlights Asia's Importance, China's Dominance When President Bush meets Sunday with Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, it could be the chilliest day of his weeklong Asia tour. APEC Leaders Poised To Fight Bird Flu President Bush and other world leaders open a summit here Friday, a world away from the life of Dai Chuanguan, a humble bird merchant in China's capital Beijing. Korea Showcases Technology At APEC Summit Ahra's not your average girl. Just 9 months old, she talks, walks, dances and never forgets a face. On Friday, she's scheduled to meet President Bush. China Chooses 'Five Friendlies' As Olympic Mascots A giant panda, of course. Delta, Other U.S. Carriers Eye Profits In China On China Southern Airlines' flight from the industrial city of Guangzhou to Los Angeles, the 24 business-class seats are usually full. |
Craig W. Simons Craig W. Simons is responsible for coverage of the region from Japan to India,with an emphasis on China. Since 2002, Simons has been a regular contributor to Newsweek and has written for The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune, among other publications. Previously, he was an editor and reporter in the Singapore bureau of Reuters. A native of Massachusetts,Simons holds a B.A.in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A.in East Asian studies from Harvard University. Fluent in Mandarin and Sichuan,he also taught journalism at Tsinghua University in Beijing. His professional experience in China began with a teaching stint in the Peace Corps from 1996 to 1998. Cox Newspapers Washington Bureau 400 North Capitol St., N.W., Suite 750 Washington, D.C. 20001-1536 Phone: 202-331-0900 |
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