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Protecting Chinese businessmen abroad

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-06 14:12

Beijing (July 24): As globalization deepens and China's economy develops, more and more Chinese people will go abroad to do business with "Made-in-China" products. They have contributed much to the development of local economies in foreign countries and that of China's economy as well.

However, the interests and welfare of this huge group of people need further protection as they interact with local businessmen and local authorities on an unprecedented scale. In many cases, there has been friction.

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In Moscow, tens of thousands of Chinese businessmen were left jobless, debt-ridden and even homeless when the Moscow city government ordered the closure of Cherkizovsky Market on June 29. About 80,000 Chinese did business in the market. The incident followed others in Europe, South America and Africa, where Chinese businessmen were similarly affected.

On Wednesday a special Chinese delegation arrived in Moscow for negotiations and has made some progress in talks to protect the legal interests of the affected Chinese merchants. But Chinese consulates in Russia, chambers of commerce and other industry organizations should have been more active in coordinating with local authorities and the involved industries to protect the interests and welfare of these people before the market was suddenly shut down.

As most Chinese merchants abroad are doing business individually in the retail trade and catering industry, they are desperate for outside help to unite and regulate them.

Take the case in Russia for example. The "gray customs clearance" system has been an open secret for quite a long time, one that encouraged the so-called "smuggling" conducted by Chinese traders.

Years ago Russia set up a legal and official customs clearance system, but few Chinese used it, as it cost more time, energy and money.

Why don't we have any Chinese representatives or organizations that can coordinate with Russian authorities to make the official procedure more efficient and understandable? Why don't we conduct professional and legal training for Chinese businessmen to prevent them from breaking local regulations and laws?

Many Chinese experts have said the key to survival and prosperity for Chinese businessmen abroad is to avoid competing solely based on low prices, building their brands through innovation instead. This cannot be achieved overnight. In order to integrate better into local economies and communities, Chinese merchants in foreign countries need long-term support, regulations and incentives from official departments or non-governmental organizations on the Chinese side.

It is estimated that tens of millions of Chinese businessmen have gone to almost 170 countries and regions. They are courageous, hard working and respectable. It is important and urgent to take more efforts to fully protect these people's interests and rights as they not only represent China's image but also represent China's healthy and sustainable growth.