Driving industry transformationCover Story: new section
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Dog and cat 'hotels' give owners peace of mindSociety
Dog and cat 'hotels' give owners peace of mindSociety
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== Tibetans celebrate New Year's DaySociety ==
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YUSHU, Qinghai - Tibetans are celebrating the first day of their Year of the Water Dragon on Wednesday, and in many cases their lives are looking up in 2012, as government assistance contributes to their conditions becoming modernized.A Tibetan monk (L) and performers attend a religious ceremony Louis Vuitton Shoulder Bags, known as "Da Gui" or beating ghost, to celebrate the upcoming Tibetan New Year which starts on February 22 at Yonghegong Lama Temple February 21, 2012. The ceremony is held annually during the Tibetan New Year as it is believed to expel evil spirits from the monastery. [Photo/Agencies]Phurbu Doje, 70, got up before daybreak New Year's Day to fetch water from a river near his home in Yushu, a Tibetan county in northwest China's Qinghai province.For generations, Tibetans in Rakshi, a remote town perched 4,200 meters above sea level, have kept the custom of drinking predawn water to see in the new year. "The water will purify our souls and bring good luck throughout the new year michael kors wallet clutch," Phurbu Doje says.Celebrations for China's 5 million Tibetans will last until the 15th day of the first Tibetan month. For Phurbu Doje Michael Kors New Arrival, this year's holiday is particularly delightful."Last year Roger Vivier Flats, we didn't celebrate at all as we were fighting the biting cold and sorrow in our tents," he says, referring to the devastating quake of 2010 that leveled his decades-old house in the heart of Gyegu town, along with many other local people's homes.His family of six lived in tents for 18 months, until they moved into a new house built with government subsidies in Rakshi town in October. "I never even dreamed of living in such a nice building," he says.His new home is a Tibetan-style structure with white outer walls and a courtyard. A Chinese national flag hangs outside one of its windows."We are expecting crowds of visitors in the coming two weeks," he says, "mostly friends and relatives who wish to borrow some ideas for their own home rebuilding plans."About 198,000 people in Yushu county are still living in prefabricated houses, waiting to move into new homes, according to figures provided by the local government last year.But in October, the Qinghai provincial government earmarked 160 million yuan ($25.4 million) in subsidies to keep these people warm.Soinam Lhamze's family of 10 got a pay-out of 8,100 yuan, which was enough to cover fuel costs as well as the family's pre-holiday shopping for food, prayer flags and clothing."Next year, we'll celebrate the new year in our new home," she predicts.Her good wishes were repeated as sutra chanting began before daybreak on Wednesday at Gyegu Monastery, the largest in Yushu county. "May all human beings be free from disasters and diseases; may the world enjoy peace and our nation remain stable and prosperous," says Soinam, an abbot at the monastery."Dragon baby"Namtso spent New Year's Day at a clinic in her home county Guinan Roger Vivier Sandals, of the Hainan Tibetan Prefecture in Qinghai province. Her daughter was born three days before the holiday."This dragon baby is the best gift for our family," she says.Charges for her delivery were waived, under a new medicare program that provides free medication and child birth to all Tibetans, at an annual cost of 40 yuan per person.Namtso and her husband named the baby girl Drolma. "It's the name of a goddess in the Buddhist scripture and we hope it will bring the child some good luck," she says.The girl is Namtso's second child, giving the couple's son a baby sister to play with.The family raise five heads of cattle and 50 sheep, and make an additional 20,000 yuan a year digging worm fungus, an expensive herb native to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.Her whole family joined her and the baby at the hospital to mark New Year's Day. "Tibetan women used to give birth at home with no professional aid. Many died during childbirth," according to Namtso.Across the Tibet plateau, people got up early on Wednesday for religious observances, wishing each other "Losar Tashi Delek," the Tibetan equivalent of "Happy New Year."Devout Buddhists lined up in front of Potala Palace in the heart of Lhasa at 6 a.m., eager to be the new year's first worshippers. As of 11 a.m., Potala had received 6,000 pilgrims.Li Li, a new graduate from Beijing, checked in at a hostel in downtown Lhasa Wednesday morning. "It'd be fun to experience the Tibetan New Year on my first visit to Lhasa."An American traveler, who gave only his first name as Mark, said he was looking for homestay with a local family, hoping to learn more about Tibetan culture and lifestyle.Mark said he has a full-time job in Guangzhou and enjoys traveling around China to study folk customs.In Kangding county of Sichuan province's Garze Tibetan autonomous prefecture, celebrations also included a book fair and Tibetan singing and dancing performances staged on a local square.Many of the local Tibetans also included Jiaozi, or dumplings, the traditional Chinese New Year food, in their own New Year's Eve feast.Related articles：
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== Auto Special 'In China, BMW can be number one'Business ==
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The all-new BMW 1 Series Urban Line and Sport Line. [Photos Provided to China Daily]Latest 1 Series hatchback, 5 Series station wagon meet diversified demands BEIJING - Foreign carmakers are bringing new products to market in China faster than ever as the country is increasingly important in their global strategies. BMW is no exception. The second-generation BMW 1 Series was launched in China on Dec 15, just three months after its global debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The design of the new generation is a powerful expression of the latest technological advances. The model's fresh, youthful image has been stylishly updated, using the latest BMW design language. The BMW 1 Series is also the first model to be offered with the BMW Sport Line and BMW Urban Line, providing exclusive opportunities for personalization. "Each time we try to bring some more value to our customers Louis Vuitton Belts," Dr Christoph Stark, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China, said in an interview after the launch ceremony. The CEO also stated that he sees great potential in China for the all-new BMW 1 Series, which offers a unique driving performance as the only rear-wheel-drive car in the segment. As the smallest member of the BMW family, the 1 Series is generally seen as an entry-level model for people who want to own an "ultimate driving machine". Its main target consumers in China are young white-collar professionals that intend to buy their first BMW cars, he said. The original 1 Series has reached 1 million units sales since its global launch in 2004, and Dr Stark believes that the second generation will have a better performance in terms of sales both in China and globally. Three years ago, BMW was the first luxury carmaker to introduce the premium compact model in China despite doubts by some that the 1 Series would be the right product at the right time. The decision proved wise as the model was well received by consumers. BMW indicates at the time its 1 Series was actually creating a new market segment in the country with no real competitors. By 2010 its German counterparts were also bringing their compact models to China. Beginning with the Guangzhou auto show in November michael kors wallets, BMW also launched its 5 Series Touring, the carmaker's first station wagon sold in the country. "We believe the market is growing and maturing , and we will always want to be at the forefront of new development, like (the case of) the 1 Series three years ago," Dr Stark noted. Strong product mix BMW now sells the locally produced 3 Series and 5 Series in China along with a rich lineup of imported models ranging from SUVs to sports cars and limousines. The "strong mix" of products is crucial to BMW's sustainable growth, said Dr Stark. BMW Group has seen its sales more than double in the past two years from 90 ,000 vehicles in 2009. Deliveries this year between January and November totaled more than 215 Toms shoes,000 units, a surge of 40.7 percent over a year ago. It is now the second-largest luxury carmaker in China after Audi and ahead of Mercedes-Benz. But the situation is gradually changing, according to the CEO. In Guangdong and some other regional markets, BMW now has greater sales and market share than its competitors, he said. "It shows, in China, BMW can be number one in terms of numbers." Dr Stark said he believes that the company will continue to grow in the coming year due to the strength of the brand in China. "There is still a very visible desire of consumers to buy strong brands," he said. "The attractiveness of our brand is there, so more people will opt for BMW." And he suggested that the picture of the company's sales targets for 2012 will be clearer after the first quarter next year. Positive outlook The president said he believes the overall economy in China will register an increase in GDP of around 8 percent as the government finds ways to maintain stable growth in the most important industries, moves that could include enhanced State-funded investment projects. "In the medium and long term I am very positive about the Chinese market," he noted. "The market is so young that it will grow in all directions." Currently the carmaker is producing its 3 Series and long-wheelbase 5 Series sedans at a joint venture plant in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province in Northeast China. A second plant in the same city will be ready to produce BMW's new 3 Series and X1 SUVs early next year. An engine plant will also begin operation at the joint venture in 2012 - only BMW's fourth globally - producing a four-cylinder engine with BMW's TwinPower Turbo Technology. The locally produced X1 and other models will be equipped with the new engines. The manufacturing complex taking shape in Shenyang will be one of the automaker's biggest, most complete production sites worldwide and bring its yearly output in China to 300,000 vehicles a year or more if needed. China Daily Dr Christoph Stark, president and CEO of BMW Group Region China. [Photos provided to China Daily]Related articles：
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== Driving industry transformationCover Story ==
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China needs to attract more high-level international talent to spur innovation China has always had an enlightened policy on the promotion of design. Promotion of creative industries was an important part of the previous two five-year plans of the government. The nation most likely spends more a year on design promotion than the US government has over the past 100 years! Every month, it seems red toms shoes, there is a new conference, design award or industrial design park opening in China. There are more than 1 million students going through design schools at present and more than 1 Michael Kors Handbags,000 schools teaching design. The volume of activity is huge. All of these raise the question of why China has been unable to use its design prowess to reshape the economy. Design is an agent of change. It is a force to steer industrial output in a direction that is more desirable for users and the world. But, no matter how many resources you throw at the problem, if you think that design is limited to making a product look better or a package sell better, you will not understand the root cause of why design is not transformative. For design to transform, it needs to be able to rethink Prada Belts, redefine and reimagine all that is taken as fixed or untouchable. To achieve this requires a partnership between a company's CEO and chief of design. Design can reimagine michael kors sale, it can understand the end users' deepest needs and emotions, it can prototype and innovate, but it cannot redefine the organization and how the organization works in order to align all the efforts behind the single focus of creating excellent and compelling solutions for end users. To achieve that, design needs the support and strong reorganizing efforts of the CEO. How many Chinese corporations are ready to place design in that kind of relationship? Given the growth in the design profession from 2000-12, it is not too surprising that CEOs are not prepared to trust their designers with the future of their companies. In 2000, there were about 20 design schools in China. That means most in the Chinese industrial design profession today have less than 10 years of experience. This is very little experience for a top-level designer. US design consultancies have deep experience working with companies to transform how they work and to reorganize the company around design from Smart Design's work with OXO to Teague's work with Boeing, IDEO's work with P&G or fuseproject's work with Jawbone. If China really wants to accelerate the move from a production economy to a creative value-added economy, volume is not the answer. What is needed is the expertise that can help a corporation reorganize strategy, development, product planning, marketing and production to achieve the innovative leaps and leadership that US companies have achieved. Chinese design schools are doing a great job to improve the skills of industrial designers to be able to produce interesting finishing Louis Vuitton Belts, color and form choices, but are not doing as well with strategy and management. A two-pronged approach would be far more effective. This involves growing the design department using local homegrown talent and leading the transformation with experienced international design consultants. Many companies misunderstand the deep impact of industrial design by only focusing on it as a craft and its tactical contributions to make the product look better. International design firms which develop strategy and innovation methodologies work with business leaders, as do top-level management consultancies, to modify a corporation's culture, innovation capabilities and structure. These actions are required to take design from being a tactical to a strategic value creation tool. The author is the CEO of the Industrial Design Society of America. (China Daily 04/20/2012 page7)Related articles：
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