Calendar of Upcoming Events

Shanghai's Plan to Become A Leading International Financial Center
A talk by Fang Xinghai, Director-General Shanghai Financial Services Office
7pm, Wednesday 27 February, Sasha's

About the event:

You won't come closer to the horse's mouth than this: Fang Xinghai will talk about how he plans to put Shanghai on the same level as London and New York. As Director-General of the Shanghai Metropolitan Government Financial Services Office he is in charge of coordinating Shanghai's effort to become a major international financial center. He also oversees the 20 major financial firms owned by the Shanghai government, such as Pudong Development bank and China Pacific Insurance Company. Mr Fang will explain why a downturn in the market can be a good thing, that it will speed up much needed financial reforms, such as allowing foreign companies to be included on the Shanghai A-list.

About the speaker:

Fang Xinghai is the Director-General of Shanghai Financial Services Office. Until the beginning of 2006 Fang Xinghai was Deputy Chief of the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Before that he was Secretary-General of China Galaxy Securities Company. He graduated with a doctorate from Stanford University in 1993..

Event details:
When: Wednesday 27 February, 7pm
Where: 3/F, Sasha's, 11 Dongping Lu, near Hengshan Lu (6474 6628)
Price: FCC Members free; Non-members RMB 50
RSVP: to Jessie by Tuesday February 26 at fcc.sfcc(at)gmail.com

Happy Hour/2008 Membership Drive
Old and new members welcome!
6-8.30pm, Thursday 24 January, Jean Georges

About the event:

Complimentary canapes and 2-for-1 drinks prices will be offered to FCC members. The deadline for SFCC Membership Renewal for 2008 is February 29, 2008. Membership Fees for 2008 are:
Correspondent & Media Members: 400 RMB
Associate Members: 600 RMB

Members who miss the deadline will need to pay an additional administration fee of 100 RMB. You can renew your membership at this event. (For new members, please bring proof of identity as required below to qualify for Correspondent/Media Members). You can also renew or join by contacting: Jessie Zhou at fcc.sfcc(at)gmail.com

Event details:
When: Thursday, January 24, 6-8.30pm
Where: Jean-Georges, 4/F, 3 on the Bund, No. 3 Zhong Shan Dong Yi Road; Tel: 6321 7733
Price: Free!
RSVP: by Mon, January 21 to Jessie at fcc.sfcc(at)gmail.com

Building the Future - China's New Cities
A panel discussion with:
Albert Speer, Managing Partner, AS&P;
James Brearley, BAU;
and an editor from Urban China magazine, Tongji University (tbc)
7pm, Monday 21 January, Mesa/Manifesto

About the event:

China is urbanizing at unprecedented pace - some estimates say the urban population will grow by 300 million people in the next fifteen - twenty years. But as cities around the country build vast new areas, and redesign existing neighbourhoods, what kind of urban environment is being created? Our panel of respected experts will look at the future of the Chinese city - and whether there is any alternative to the model of grandiose official buildings, vast squares, car-focused CBDs, giant shopping centres and enormous gated communities.

About the speakers:

Albert Speer, Jr heads one of Europe's leading architecture and urban planning practices. Based in Frankfurt, Albert Speer and Partners has designed urban areas around the world - the firm works widely in Africa, and is currently involved in the regeneration of Frankfurt's 'Europa district.' It also devised the masterplan for the 2000 Hannover World Expo. In recent years AS&P has become increasingly focused on China - it designed the original, environmentally friendly, plans for Shanghai's Anting new town, and is currently working on an 'auto city' project in Changchun. Professor Speer is also a respected academic, who has shaken off the legacy of his father's grandiose plans for the Third Reich to formulate his own vision of the need for human-focused, sustainable planning, as highlighted in his 1992 book The Intelligent City.

James Brearley is an Australian architect and planner whose company BAU - Brearley Architects and Urbanists - which he runs in partnership with his wife Fang Qun - has been working on urban design in China since 2001. BAU has designed masterplans for new areas in a number of large and medium-size Chinese cities, including a 12 square kilometre zone in Chengdu, and a new centre for the city of Jiangyin. James Brearley is also an Adjunct Professor of RMIT University of Melbourne, and co-author of the book Networks Cities, which outlines BAU's vision for functional and sustainable urban development. He also organises regular discussions on architecture at BAU's office.

Urban China magazine provides some of the most thoughtful analysis of China's breakneck urbanization, and has covered a wide range of social issues since it was launched by academics at Tongji University in 2005. It aims both to reflect the problems raised by rapid urban development - and to educate Chinese citizens to 'understand and care about urban planning,' and the cities in which they live. Speaker to be confirmed.

Event details:
When: Monday, January 21, 7pm
Where:Function room at Mesa/Manifesto, 748 Julu Lu, near Fumin Lu (6289 9108)
Price: FCC Members free; Non-members RMB 50
RSVP: by Fri, January 18 to Jessie at fcc.sfcc(at)gmail.com