In a tough spot Winston Churchill once was heard to say, "Bite off as much as you can chew, and chew, chew and chew". That may not be an exact quotation but looking at the explosion in the economy of PRC, and the global reaction to it, there is a certain resonance to those Churcillian words. All roads seem to lead to or from China. Witness the massive explosion in the Chinese economy, its voracious appetite for raw materials, foreign investment, port expansion, transportation, logistics and infrastructure both within China and in the raw materials producing countries. Changing strategies of Chinese steel producers and their investment in overseas markets, the knock-on affect that all this activity is having on Chinese ports, and the volatile and unprecedented freight market. These are all 'hot' topics. I will make a some comments on specific matters concerning the maritime industry which has been affected by the above, namely, shipbuilding, the rise of FFA's, and changing strategies to chartering. I will also touch on possible implications and the need for services. Surrounding all of these matters is of course the over arching requirement of investment in China and investment by China abroad. Time does not permit me to deal more than briefly with the huge topic of doing business successfully in China. However, my partner Mr Christopher Lockwood, who established our Shanghai office and then spent several years there, recently delivered a paper on this subject and I have obtained his permission to distribute copies of his paper today. In my case, therefore, it is two for the price of one". If any of you have any further questions on this topic then please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Mr Christopher Lockwood. Our contact details are.on the papers.
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