The way of doing business is changing in China

Want China Times, Chien Li-hsin & Staff Reporter 2014-12-06

An anti-corruption agency in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, Nov. 3. (File photo/CNS)

Beijing's introduction of rules of conduct for government officials two years ago has had positive impacts, according to Taiwan's former vice president Vincent Siew and several Taiwanese businessmen working in China.

The rules of conduct, which require government conferences and receptions to be streamlined, formalities to be simplified, and spending on officials' travel to be reduced, were passed by Chinese president Xi Jinping on Dec. 4, 2012.

During a recent meeting with media outlets in Taiwan, Siew said that these rules changed China dramatically, citing what he saw while attending the Boao Forum for Asia in April 2013.

Major conferences like the Boao Forum, Siew said, always had corporate sponsors in attendance in the past, but they were nowhere to be seen last year. This indicates the determination of Chinese authorities to implement the rules.

Chai Suo-ling, head of the Taiwan Businessmen Association in Dongguan, stated that the number of meetings with government officials has been greatly reduced in the last two years, along with flower arrangements and banners seen at public events.

"In the past, meetings were followed by meals, which could take several hours. Now, the meals are either served in the canteens of government offices and completed in an hour, or there are no meals at all," Chai said.

Among other improvements, is that government officials now travel only in economy class, stay in three-star or lower rated hotels, have fewer business meals, and are banned from receiving holiday gifts, according to the Dongguan association head.

"All government officials at every level support the policy. I didn't hear any opposition, which, I think, this is a sign of improvement," he added.

Huang Chun-cheng, a Taiwanese restaurant owner in Beijing, said that business had dropped by a third because of the policy, as government officials, and even policemen, no longer dine at restaurants in fear of disciplinary actions.

Policemen have to report to their superiors before dining at his restaurant, which serves a buffet for 289 Chinese yuan (US$47) per person, and also have to provide details about whom they dine with, what they eat, and whether alcohol was consumed, according to Huang.

There are also Taiwanese businessmen who, wishing to remain anonymous, complained about government officials not doing their work because they can no longer receive bribes. This has caused trouble for businesses that are used to paying bribes to officials can speed up their paperwork.