From the Chairman
The holidays are coming up. 2023 is almost over again. Another month and a half and then we wish each other a prosperous New Year, sadly overshadowed by war in many parts of the world. We have forgotten the days of curfews, mouth caps and lockdowns. Corona has faded into the background, yet is not completely gone. The RIVM reported that more covid particles were found in sewage. A new sub-variant has surfaced and calls for the new antivirus injection are already out the door. The Corona will not spoil New Year’s celebrations again. China always celebrates the New Year later than in the West; the year 4721, the Year of the Dragon, begins on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024. As in the previous 22 years, the VNC will coordinate the “National Chinese New Year”, which will be celebrated in The Hague, and together with the Chinese organizers will put on a spectacular international event. The exact date is still under discussion (probably February 10 or 24, 2024). What is certain is that it will be a very high-quality artist’s program!
The Chinese Dragon, is associated with leadership, achievement of goals and seen as a powerful symbol of prosperity. It is hoped that the latter will apply to China in 2024. Apart from economic tensions, tilting power relations and stagnation in the chip industry, there are major problems in project development and housing construction in China. These problems but also opportunities in the real estate sector will be the focus of the next China Café on Dec. 11. Although of a totally different nature and cause, we are also struggling with this problem in the Netherlands. Building 900,000 homes by 2030 seems an almost impossible task. However, the Dutch economy is holding strong despite deteriorating macroeconomic conditions. Interest rates have risen and house prices have fallen, but the CPB says there will be modest growth by 2024.
Anno November 2023, we are in the midst of election campaigns. Subsistence security, cost increases, fixed income are common words. Not only applicable to personal households, but also to organizations such as the VNC. Therefore, in 2024, the VNC will “go big” in organizing beautiful and meaningful activities, increasing income and reducing costs. Members, subscribers to China Now and all who care about the VNC will hopefully lend a hand!
The VNC is bursting with new energy and inspiration! Wednesday, October 18, a well-attended meeting took place at the Seapalace restaurant in Amsterdam. Aldo Spaanjaars gave a wonderful lecture, followed by an inspiring General Assembly at which three new board members joined and the Committee of Recommendation was expanded. On November 29 we are organizing the book launch “West meets East” together with the Leiden Asia Centre (LAC) and other organizations. And don’t forget to mark December 11 in your agenda! We would like to welcome you to the China Café in Utrecht then. You can read all about it in this newsletter. A wonderful opportunity to share knowledge about China in the broad sense, maintain dialogue and better understand each other. See you soon!
INVITATION TO THE OPENING
EXHIBITION DOES & WANG
Sunday, November 26 next 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.
WTC THE HAGUE ART GALLERY
Prinses Beatrixlaan 582, 2595 BM The Hague
WTC The Hague Art Gallery is the platform for contemporary art. Dutch and international artists participate in exhibitions that each time focus on a different theme. We bring our artists into contact with the (international) business world and international organizations. The gallery participates in various art fairs for contemporary art in the Netherlands and abroad (Lille Art Up). You are welcome during the opening, the exhibition is open every day.
Wang Lijun Chinese artist Wang Lijun was born in 1970 in Wendeng to an artistic milieu. After completing his education, he established himself as a professional illustrator, painter and fine artist. Partly because his paintings feature in the popular Chinese TV series “Imperfect Victim,” with a cast of famous Chinese actors and actresses, his works have great fame and interest from the art market. Wang Lijun’s work is on display in Europe for the first time.
Digital Does Joos van Barneveld (born 1982) is a Dutch graffiti artist working under the names DOES or Digital DOES. Van Barneveld is a person of two talents. He is a former professional soccer player in the Dutch professional league and youth international with the Dutch national team. The artist DOES, has been perfecting his style since he first discovered graffiti at the age of 15. Over the past 20 years, Does has used various works and techniques such as illustrative drawings, prints, works on canvast, sculptures and collages. DOES participates in numerous international projects. His art can be seen in collections around the world.
Please sign up: axel.lemmens@wtcthehague.com
WTC The Hague Art Gallery, www.nlcontemporary.art
NEW INTEREST IN
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN CHINA
The Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland RVO informs Dutch companies and knowledge institutions active in the Horticulture sector (program in Beijing and Shanghai) about the economic mission to China from November 26 to December 1, 2023. Entrepreneurs curious about their business opportunities in China are encouraged to participate in this economic mission to China. Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, plans to join part of this mission. The RVO is organizing this mission in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and the Dutch Economic Network in China and relevant industry organizations. Do you have any questions about this mission? Then contact the RVO project leaders for this mission: Margriet Veenstra (margriet.veenstra@rvo.nl) and Hanneke Bogaerts (hanneke.bogaerts@rvo.nl) See also: https://www.rvo.nl/evenementen/missie-china?utm
KLM, in an advertisement in Het Financieel Dagblad ( November 11, 2023), rightly points out that for doing business in China, knowledge of the language is crucial. The VNC agrees. It was one of the reasons 50 years ago that the VNC organized successful language courses with an accompanying excellent service-oriented own successful travel agency , VNC Asia Travel.
Marion Tjin-Tham-Sjin 金玛丽安, from Appingedam, assists Dutch companies with her company “Splendid China” in the Chinese market. In KLM’s article, she makes a variation on an old Chinese saying “if you cannot speak and read Chinese, in China you are blind and deaf at the same time.” In 2018, Marion Tjin-Tham-Sjin was elected world businesswoman of the year.
According to the report World Economic Outlook by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in October 2023, China’s economy is recovering more slowly than expected in 2023 due to the ongoing crisis in the real estate market, decreased demand from abroad and the uncertain geopolitical situation. The IMF expects China’s economy to grow by 5% over all of 2023, which is 0.2% lower than previously estimated. In 2022, Dutch exports to China were €20.1 billion and total imports from China were €61 billion. China with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants still offers many opportunities for large and small Dutch entrepreneurs.
BUSINESS SCHOOL NEDERLAND (BSN)
BSN has operated as an international business school since 1988 and continues the expansion of its Action Learning MBA degree offerings in a growing number of countries to create a global Action Learning community of executives, entrepreneurs and managers.
Every Tuesday morning (From 08:15 to 08:53 CEST), experienced leaders from the Netherlands, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Botswana, Keyna, Curaçao, China and other countries discuss pressing business challenges and new business insights, ideas and tools. This happens in the “Zoominars,” short sessions of less than 45 minutes, organized by the Impact Centre for Great Leaders. The Goodmorning BSN! sessions give participants a better understanding of themselves and offers practical tools to improve their capabilities. Here, the four pillars of leadership are critical to making a difference within organizations and the in today’s world.
In BSN’s “Weekly Zoom Event” on Nov. 7, newly appointed VNC board members Aldo Spaanjaars and Lianne Baaij addressed the oft-heard question of whether Chinese companies now pose a threat to the Western economy.
It became an engaging conversation moderated by Lere Baal, CEO of the BSN Nigeria.
For more information, go to :
PAN will be held in
the RAI from Nov. 19-26, 2023
20 TICKETS TO THE PAN FOR VNC MEMBERS
PAN offers visitors a varied program full of inspiring lectures and interactive presentations. The many diverse art disciplines, the art market and the pleasure of collecting are central to the program. This year’s programming will focus on a different theme each day, from museums to young collectors and from jewelry to old masters.
Floris and Nynke van de Ven are renowned art dealers specializing in ancient Chinese art and every year they are present at the most prominent art fairs. Moreover, Floris and Nynke are valued VNC members. They offer you a unique opportunity to come and visit PAN in Amsterdam. Floris and Nynke can be found at Stand 136. www.vanderven.com
The first 20 members to sign up will be sent an offered card First come – first serve! So sign up quickly: email office@vanderven.com with your name and email address then you will receive a (digital) entrance ticket.
“We are very happy to participate in PAN Amsterdam, the fall fair in the Netherlands for fine art and antiques. We are exhibiting our beautiful collection of Chinese and Japanese art, with a touch of inspiring styling by Roel Marius Brouwer. You can find us at booth 136. Kind regards, Floris & Nynke van der Ven”.
On November 20 next there will be during the fair and interesting theme day “ACROSS ASIA”. This day is co-organized in cooperation with the Royal Association of Friends of Asian Art (KVVAK) and offers an interesting range of lectures and panel discussions.
For more Information see www.pan.nl
Wednesday, November 29, 2023
INVITATION TO THE BOOK LAUNCH
FROM PETER GILL’S BOOK
“West meets East”
Understanding Chinese-speaking societies
The VNC and Leiden Asia Center (LAC) and Peter Gill, in cooperation with the Association for Chinese Investors and Entrepreneurs in the Netherlands (ACIEN), the Netherlands China Business Council (NCBC) and the Netherlands Hong Kong Business Association ( NHKBA), are pleased to invite you to the book launch of Peter Gill’s book ” West meets East: Understanding Chinese speaking societies.”
Gill takes the reader on an exciting exploration of Chinese-speaking societies. This engaging book is a “must-read” for curious minds who want to dive deeper into these societies. He uniquely explores the fascinating similarities and differences between China, Germany, Taiwan, the Netherlands, Singapore and Denmark in the chapters: – People and Culture- System, Leadership and Economi – Technological Progress and Innovation- Climate Action, Energy, Power and Food.
West meets East uniquely delivers information in the form of infographics. The fact- and experience-based book contains more than 300 links, accessible with a QR code. Peter Gill (b. 1969) was introduced to Chinese language and culture in the 1990s and lived and worked in mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. He believes that by understanding each other better, we can address the global challenges we face.
Program:
Date: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Location: Wijnhavenkamer 3.60, Turfmarkt 99, 2511 DP The Hague
16:45 Reception
17:00 Opening by Lianne Baaij, VNC board member
17:10 Book presentation by Peter Gill, moderated by Floris
Harm, director Leiden Asia Centre.
17.55 Receipt of first copy by Wouter Jurgens, Asia director
and Oceania, Department of Foreign Affairs
18:00 Free drink at Wijnhaven-café, Turfmarkt 99, The Hague
Application: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/booklaunch-west-meets-east-understanding-chinese-speaking-societies-tickets-753205737637?aff=oddtdtcreator&_gl=1%2Ayq6ksu% 2A_up %2AMQ..%2A_ga %2AMTY3NjE4MTgxOC4xNjk5MzU0NzIz%2A_ga_TQVES5V6SH%2AMTY5OTM1NDcyMi4xLjAuMTY5OTM1NDcyMi4wLjAuMA.
BRIEF REVIEW OF A
SUCCESSFUL MEETING ON
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2023 IN AMSTERDAM
At 5 p.m., about 50 participants and VNC members were welcomed at the Seapalace restaurant on the Oosterdokskade in Amsterdam. After the welcome address, Aldo Spaanjaars discussed his experiences in China and his views on Chinese management techniques and business insights. In his recently published book, “Dragon Tactics: How Chinese Entrepreneurs Thrive in Uncertainty,” he gives a clear picture of the turbulent Chinese entrepreneurial environment and the Chinese approach that fits well in an environment that is constantly changing and has a lot of uncertainty. Aldo has been successfully operating in China as a top entrepreneur since 1992. Having worked with China’s most successful entrepreneurs, he wrote a book on the subject. Aldo has held many top positions including EVP of Anta Sports, VP of Operations at Fosun Fashion Group, CEO of Lacoste Greater China, COO of Adidas Greater China. The interaction with the audience was excellent, there were so many comments and questions from members and entrepreneurs, that the service for the Chinese dinner even had to wait some time.
Seapalace restaurant once again lived up to its reputation and served an excellent Chinese dinner. After dinner, the General Membership Meeting was then held. The meeting proceeded smoothly and according to the agenda. The nomination of three new board members received ample attention after which the appointment was unanimously approved. After the meeting there was a long and pleasant discussion and networking. Without a doubt, another successful meeting!
THE TRADE JURY AWARD AND AUDIENCE AWARD 2023:
THE FOOD AND FRIENDS GOLDEN COOKBOOK
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the first Chinese eateries established themselves in Rotterdam. of seamen and dock workers from China. After the arrival of large groups of people from the former colonies after 1950, the advance of Chinese Indian restaurants really began. Dishes like Noodles, Foe yong hai, Chop Choi, spring rolls, Babi pangang, Nasi goreng and Saté are fully established in Dutch cuisine*.
Chinese-Indian restaurants have now been a familiar element in the city or village scene in the Netherlands for more than seventy years. In 2021, Chinese-Indian restaurant culture was even added to the Inventory of Intangible Heritage.
*It should be noted that many are not aware that Chinese-Indian dishes and cuisine are very different from the real traditional Chinese dishes such as Peking Duck/Beijing Duck 北京烤鸭, Fondue /Hot Pot, HongShaoRou 红肉 Dumplings 饺子, Biang Biang Mian 油泼扯面, etc.
Many generations of Chinese immigrants worked in the restaurant with their whole families. The2nd and3rd generations are generally highly educated and no longer want to work in the restaurant with their parents. Thus, unfortunately, every year a number of Chinese-Indian restaurants disappear from the Dutch street scene.
The Chinese-Indian but also the real traditional Chinese restaurant in the Netherlands, is dying out. Especially in the big cities, Chinese people are quitting. They can no longer find succession and cannot compete with the offer of other foreign cuisines. By 2025, the number will be under 1,400. The Dutch Chinese who do still work as entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry are doing their best to survive.
The highly educated second and third generation young Chinese often set up their own businesses or prefer to earn a good salary in paid employment. They are used to a different kind of life than their parents. The disappearance of Chinese restaurants is impoverishing the Dutch street scene and that is a great pity.
Fortunately, there are cities like The Hague where the city government is making effective efforts to preserve this heritage by facilitating the Chinese enterprises in the SME and Chinatown and promoting and maintaining the cultural activities such as the Chinese New Year.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, CHINA CAFE
Stadsbrasserie De Utrechter, Vredenburg 40, 3511 BD Utrecht, 18.00-20.00 hrs.
with guest speaker John van de Water of Next architects
The Chinese real estate market – what’s going on?
Reports on China’s distressed real estate market highlight how large property developers are no longer able to repay their debts, not only affecting households on a large scale, but also dragging down other sectors of the Chinese economy. According to Bloomberg, 70% of the population put money into real estate whose value has now fallen by 15-20%. A rough estimate, according to The New York Times, is that the number of vacant homes is now somewhere between 65-80 million.
In the wake of the failing billion-dollar companies Evergrand and Country Garden are numerous smaller developers, as well as thousands of sectors linked to this industry, such as architectural firms, contractors and fabricators, furniture and home appliance suppliers, plant and interior designers, real estate agents and financial services companies.
With John van de Water, architect and founder of NEXT architects and an entrepreneur in Beijing for 20 years, we discuss the causes and consequences.
What knobs have Chinese regulators turned in 2020 to slow the exponential growth of this market? What role is the Chinese consumer playing in this, and is the sluggish economy a culprit? These factors all interact, but how and why is it important to understand these developments? What are we noticing about these processes here in Europe, and in the Netherlands?
John will describe from various perspectives how the Chinese real estate market has evolved, what drivers dominate, and how local and international architects must now keep their heads above water while investors are more demanding than before and the pond of providers is fuller than ever.
Interviewer: Lilian Kranenburg
of the China Cafe
Language: English
Who is of interest?
The China Café is of interest to anyone who wants to get a better idea about the Chinese business environment and economic prospects. Meet Dutch and Chinese colleagues and entrepreneurs for a drink at the bar and broaden your professional network!
And, we bid farewell to Joke Bruynzeel! Joke has been involved in organizing the China Cafés for 11 years and has decided to retire in order to give more attention to her work as a teacher at the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RBS). In all those years she formed the backbone of the Cafés by arranging locations, managing volunteers and contributing to the overall good and engaging atmosphere of the China Cafés.
Please also use this opportunity to express your appreciation for her years of dedication, during which she managed to organize the China Cafés at a high quality level and to wish her success.
Access China Cafe
Cost: €12.50. For VNC members €7.50, and for students €5.
Address: Stadsbrasserie De Utrechter, Vredenburg 40, 3511 BD Utrecht
Time: December 11, 2023, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. (Please note different start time!)
Subscribe:
Watch or listen to the new episode
VNC member Mei Yang makes podcasts that, like the VNC, focus on the relationship with China. She is Chinese, but lives and works in the Netherlands. She creates the podcast “Our Cultures & Our World “, which we are happy to share with you. This podcast aims to provide you with a broad knowledge about China, the Chinese, Chinese culture, insights about different business fields and how to do business in China. May hopes that her guests’ cross-cultural travels, their personal stories and their business experiences will inspire many people to learn from and connect with each other.
At the end of each interview, her guest will share interesting tips on doing business in China and how to connect with Chinese people. All tips can be found at: https://iibboo.com/podcast/
Here is the link to her latest podcast on Happiness as a Business Strategy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjsFauZWqDU
You can view or listen to all podcast episodes on the following platforms:
