EVENT BLOG

Participants enjoyed a full day at the World Expo held in Shanghai. 

 

World Trade Center Association Pavilion hosts San Diego

 

Making friend with World Expo attendees

China Pavilion car of the future that will create fuel by photosythesis

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JR's Blog

Lingyin Temple

Silk weaving workshop

JR's blog

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On our way to Hangzhou

West Lake Cruise in Hangzhou

JR's blog

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Breakfast was at the hotel this morning, again, with an earlier start than the previous day. But that was fine because the hope was to beat rush hour traffic to get to the great wall quicker than normal.

Today was Cesars Birthday! So Jodi and Mark came through in a big way, bringing the five amigos their favorite...CERVESA! (maybe Tequila...Its not clear to me which one they enjoy more. haha) Jodi was able to track down a cooler and fill it with ice to keep the beer cold for the bus ride out to the Great Wall. Great work! We have a great group of outgoing members who usually sit in the back of the bus where the party seems be none stop. Great mix of people who makes for some fun jokes, laughs and good times!

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Early start to today. We ate a great buffet style breakfast in the hotel. Then straight to the bus, no messing around and we were off to Tienanmen Square and the Forbidden City.

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Met at WTC 7pm, departed to LAX at 8pm slight trouble right from the get-go. Driver needed to back up in middle of traffic and then bottomed out on the first turn heading onto the 5 north.

Arrived at LAX around 1030pm. Made it through security with no problems. Waited around airport till boarded flight. Flight had no in flight entertainment but was able to sleep for most of the way. Matt met a past political prisoner on the flight who had served 10 years for protest in China. Many other young travelers on the flight traveling for school, all from the south, most first time ever out of the south.

Introducing China WTCSD China Correspondent, Whitney Skala Jr. (JR).  To read more....http://whitneyskalajr.wordpress.com/

 

China Discovery Tour participants practice Tai Chi in the garden outside the Temple of Heaven.  To view video please click below.
WTCSD China Discovery Tour 2010_Tai Chi.MOV
(this video may take upto a minute to load)

To the day's photos on our photostream at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdwtc/sets/72157623984723163/

 

A group of 15 Young European Leaders from Austria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Kosovo, and Turkey attended an informative meeting at WTCSD offices. The high-level professionals were selected by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and represented public and private sectors in politics, media and business. Traveling under the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) the current and aspiring foreign leaders were interested in hearing about WTC and IRO services and actively participated in a Q&A session to determine how the WTCSD and International Relations Office could help them to achieve their international goals.

By Franziska Poppe

       

Speaker Cathlyn Choi-Michelson, CEO of CNE Management Inc., genuinely represented the Korean culture with ‘hanin spirit,’ by catering an authentic Korean breakfast.  Her presentation addressed topics from the Korean economy to must know etiquettes and customs.  As the fourth largest trading partner of the US, South Korea is clearly a desired market for global business.   

Some Tips to Success in Business Deals Include:

• ·         Be Open-Minded and Innovative
• ·         Gain Trust and Respect
• ·         Be Generous and Spend
• ·         Be Patient, Humble and Persistent
• ·         Customer is King
• ·         Be Ready to Compromise

 American business professionals must be open to respectfully compromising business practices to accommodate a very different culture.  When building relationships, Choi-Michelson highlighted the importance of addressing Koreans with a title and only using last names.  Business cards are handled with respect, given out with both hands and acknowledge with a bow.  Food and drinking are a major part of Korean culture, so going out for dinner and drinks after an appointment can often be expected.

Choi-Michelson closed the presentation with some useful Korean phrases such as kamsa hamnida= Thank you and annoynghi kaseyo= Good bye.

 Comments from Attendees-
Most useful:
Most information about business customs were really realistic, useful.  Heo Hyejinm, Global Energy Network Institute
Business Negotiation, profile of culture/govt. Tom Hansen, Hanson Marketing
Manners/Customs. Bob Fraustein, Quantum Design, Inc.

     

Thank you to Our Sponsors:
Cross Cultural Business Communications Sponsor Quantum Design
Asia Desk Sponsor

For more pictures, visit our Flikr acount.

For more video, visit our Youtube channel.

Blog prepared by Margaret Ferries

Several Hong Kong based businesses, attended a presentation at the WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego with the intention of exploring green and sustainable energy businesses in the San Diego region.  The delegation was looking to connect San Diego companies with potential partners in the Hong Kong area.  Topics of interest included biotech technology, energy, clean tech and the group stressed the advantages of partnering with Hong Kong based companies as a gateway to China’s growing economy.  While in the region, the Hong Kong companies will visit several key San Diego sustainable energy businesses, California Center for Sustainable Energy, UCSD, CleanTECH, and travel to the Imperial Valley to meet with the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation and EW Corporation. 

 

The WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego welcomed:

 

•·         The Hong Kong Association of Energy Services Companies

•·         CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd

•·         China NTG Gas Group

•·         Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

•·         Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects & Engineers (HK) Limited

•·         The Hong Kong Productivity Council

 

The visit presents an opportunity for growth and development through partnership with like-minded companies striving to achieve green, sustainable energy.

By Allan Crane

       

Today Pirko Konsa, the Managing Director of Tehnopol, visited the WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego’s (WTCSD) new International Relations Office (IRO) to learn more about its services and find out how the IRO can help Estonia extend its business network in the region. The technology park Tehnopol is a leading business incubator that provides a business and science environment for 150 companies, Tallinn University of Technology and the IT College. Mr. Konsa intends to build and strengthen relations with San Diego biotech and technology companies and help Estonian businesses to start operating in the U.S.

By Franziska Poppe