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by Jason Dietrich
This Sunday, a group of Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce members and community leaders will wing their way to the Far East.
Their destination - Beijing, China.
Their mission - cultural exchange, and possibly, business.
Redondo's chamber was invited to bring a delegation of Redondo businessmen and businesswomen to China by representatives of the Xuan Wu area, one of several business districts that make up the city of Beijing, to explore business opportunities. Trade with China may soon become much easier if the nation is allowed to join the World Trade Organization, a clique of countries promoting free trade.
In Xuan Wu, the business delegates will tour shopping centers, schools, and temples and take in a Chinese opera, meeting with business people at every stop along the way. After three days of back to back meetings, the 18 Redondo business representatives will be joined by 17 other Redondo residents for a week-long tour, which will take them to see the Great Wall of China, legions of terra cotta soldier-statues and the city of Shanghai.
Mayor Greg Hill, City Councilmen Mike Gin and John Parsons have signed up for the 10-day excursion. City chief engineer Steve Huang, joining the delegation as a facilitator and interpreter, sees China as promising frontier for Redondo businesses.
"Today's China is like Taiwan was 20 or 30 years ago. The economy is just starting to take off, and investments American businesses make will may bear fruit in years to come. American companies that invested in Taiwan 30 years ago are doing very well now," said Huang, a native of Taiwan.
Riviera Village language school owner Jolle Petit Adkins says she doesn't plan on opening any franchises in Beijing. China wasn't even be on her list of places to visit in the next several years. But she saw a unique opportunity to understand another culture in the chamber's trip.
"This is a chance to meet real people. It's very difficult when you go somewhere for two weeks. You mostly meet taxi drivers, hotel concierges and shop owners. You don't get to learn much about the culture, or the way they do business or the way they handle social situations," she said.
Adkins is also looking into developing a language program for foreign businessmen and women interested in learning English.
According to Huang, business in China is usually done through someone you have personal contacts with.
"Before you engage in any serious business in an Asian culture you have to know the other person. We'll start with cultural exchange and friendship, and maybe we'll go one step further to business," he said. ER