Hawai'i at Work
Seminars offer advice for doing business in China

Advertiser Staff

As China edges closer to membership in the World Trade Organization, business leaders in Hawai'i are looking for ways to edge into China's emerging markets.

To help local efforts, JAIMS, a nonprofit management institute based in Hawai'i Kai, will offer a series of four seminars starting in April to provide an overview for doing business in China.

As its title suggests, the Japan-America Institute of Management Science began by focusing on U.S.-Japan relations. But as business and trade issues with East Asia have expanded, so have the school's offerings.

Now comes the first JAIMS China Seminar Series, beginning April 12, aimed at sharing information about China with residents.

Organizer Yen Chun, the institute's program manager for business Mandarin instruction, said the school lined up so many top speakers that she decided to make their talks accessible to the public.

"I hope that through this seminar series, people can really understand a lot more about China," said Chun.

The series features one seminar a week on Thursday afternoons at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i at 2454 South Beretania St. Attendees can enroll in any combination of seminars. Cost is $60 to $65 per session.

Dates and topics are:

• April 12 — "The Chinese Political System in transition," with Kate Zhou, University of Hawai'i political science professor; and "Observation Then and Now," with Margery Bronster, the former state attorney general whose law practice has involved high-level business deals with Chinese organizations.

• April 19 — "Doing Business in China from a Chinese Entrepreneur's Point of View," with business owner Michael Zhang; and "Negotiating with China," with Victor Hao Li, an Asia-Pacific business consultant and former president of the East-West Center.

• April 26 — "Rule of Law in China," with Ronald C. Brown, UH law professor and director of the Center for Chinese Studies; and "Marketing to China in the Information Age," with Charlotte Vick, senior vice president for marketing for Starr Seigle Communications.

• May 4 — "Chinese Culture and Etiquette," with Cynthia Y. Ning, a UH professor and associate director of the Center for Chinese Studies; and "Doing Business in China from an Architect's Point of View," with Donald W.Y. Goo, chairman of Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo Inc.

Registration information is available from JAIMS at 396-7163.