China powers on!

I haven't been to China since my last business trip there for IBM in 1991, but still follow its progress with fascination. Shanghai's landscape has been vastly altered since then, and it seems that the same is now happening in Beijing due to preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

With regard to China's technological advancement, a couple of reports are worth reading:

• China’s 15 Year Science and Technology Plan - What Does It Mean To Spawn “Indigenous Innovation”? (by AeA - the American Electronics Association)
  
• The China market: Windows of opportunity (from INSEAD), with accompanying downloadable podcast and PDF report.

The Chinese and the Japanese have a markedly different approach to doing business. It's quite fascinating to compare the second report with another new one from INSEAD:

• Japanese business: Time to take the brake off? (with downloadable podcast)