In October 2007 Susan Pepperell travelled to China on an Asia New Zealand Foundation media grant. She writes about her various experiences in Shanghai, Beijing and Guilin in southern China.

Susan's visits included the Shanghai office of The Warehouse, a Hamilton-based engineering company's Shanghai factory and a university programme run in conjunction with Waikato University. There was also a visit to Rotorua Town - an example of how the Chinese emerging middle class finds global models to emulate in the housing industry.

Susan's Beijing stop included the Waikato Institute of Technology's Beijing-based programme teaching midwifery in one of Bejing's top hospitals where she got rare access as a Westerner. Hamilton scientist Leith Pemberton hosted the Waikato Times reporter at Fonterra's model dairy farm project in Tianjing. Further south in Guilin, Susan revisited New Zealand scientist Garth Smith and found he had made progress in his idea to grow Luo Han, a fruit which produces a natural sweetener.

 
Through the Asia New Zealand Foundation media grant, Susan was able meet a range of businesspeople and forge relationships that will continue to be useful, especially in the light of the recent FTA with China.

You can read Susan's full account of her visit here.