East Asia

As China has globalised, it’s artists and their works have also found new markets. International buyers account for about 90 per cent of the current interest in mainland-Chinese art which, according to the Cultural Ministry, is worth about $US36 billion a year.

The hope that China will be “decoupled” from America, and so will not feel its looming recession, seemed to take a hit when Premier Wen Jiabao said that 2008 would be “a most difficult year”.

Australian companies are often drilled in the “three tenders, cheapest wins” philosophy, where relationships are irrelevant.

When Roger Olds took over Coffey International 12 years ago, he set his sights on taking the consulting company international.

Few industries appear as well placed as the engineering services industry. According to consultants Booz Allen Hamilton, the world’s urban infrastructure will need an extra $US40 trillion of investment…

On February 5, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith assured his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, that Canberra had corrected the feng shui of a disturbing piece of the region’s diplomatic architecture.