FCC Shanghai

A Chill Wind? China-US Relations in 2010

Shen Dingli and Kenneth Jarrett

Mesa
Thursday March 4th, 7pm (talk starts at 7.30)

The Google affair and the war of words over hacking; China’s angry response to US arms sales to Taiwan; continued disputes over the value of the RMB… Are these just the usual bumps on the sometimes rocky road of Sino-US relations, or is there a new assertiveness on China’s part, combined with a US administration still feeling its way on China policy, which could lead the two nations into uncharted territory? Kenneth Jarrett, former US Consul-General in Shanghai, and now Vice Chairman for Greater China of APCO Worldwide, and Shen Dingli, Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University, will share their views on the current state of affairs.

New Year's Happy Hour

Mesa
Thursday, February 25th, 6.30 - 9.30 pm

Celebrate the New Year (or at least the end of the fireworks season) by joining colleagues and friends for drinks - and a chance to renew your membership for 2010. (Membership rates remain: Correspondent and media members 400 RMB, Associate members 600 - please bring cash.)
One free drink provided for all 2010 members and those who rejoin on the night -- and discounted prices on selected drinks all evening. Hope to see you!

Shaun Rein

Nova
Thursday, 14th January, 7pm (talk starts at 7.30pm)

Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul Geitner lead a growing chorus that says boosting domestic consumption is the key to rebalancing China's economy and reducing its reliance on exports. But even with 1.3 billion consumers, Chinese spending lags far behind other countries. Household consumption equaled 15 percent of US levels in 2008. Shaun Rein is the founder of China Market Research Group, which tracks and analyzes Chinese consumer behavior for leading multinationals. He will discuss the impact so far of government policies to stimulate consumer spending, the challenges such efforts face and trends to watch for in the year 2010.

FCC Christmas Happy Hour 2009

Cotton's
Wednesday, 16th December, 7pm-10pm

Join friends and colleagues at the Foreign Correspondent's Club for drinks and seasonal cheer. Cotton's will be serving two-for-one happy hour drinks until 8pm, and 35 kuai house drinks afterwards. In the spirit of the holidays, your first drink is on us! And you can renew your membership for 2010 too - with a free FCC T-shirt in the colour of your choice (as long as it's red, white or black) for the first five people to rejoin on the night. (Membership remains: correspondent and media members - 400 rmb; associate members - 600 rmb)

Chinese Stories Retold

Graham Earnshaw

1 Oz 3 (Australian Lifestyle)
Thursday, 10th December, 7pm (talk starts at 7.30pm)

Veteran China journalist and entrepreneur Graham Earnshaw’s latest venture Earnshaw Books is dedicated to reviving lost nuggets of the country’s past. Since it began publishing last year, it has released a string of books on old Shanghai, including Bridge House Survivor, Henry Pringle’s stark memoir of torture in a Japanese prison, a collection of the works of the legendary cartoonist Sapajou, and republished books including Carl Crow’s 400 Million Customers and the famously louche 1930s Shanghai guidebook Shanghai – High Lights, Low Lights, Tael Lights. Other books include Tales of Old Peking and the memoir I Sailed with Chinese Pirates. Graham Earnshaw will talk about his fascination with old Shanghai, the challenges of running a publishing business from China, and his future projects.