TCL亚运快乐星献唱

晚会现场，节奏明快的亚运歌曲让在场观众不由自主跟唱；具有浓郁地方特色的东北二人转联唱和朝鲜民族舞蹈引来观众阵阵掌声，快乐亚运在晚会热烈喜悦的氛围中走进北国春城。广州市委常委宣传部部长王晓玲、广州亚组委副秘书长古石阳、长春市相关领导和广州亚运会合作伙伴TCL集团驻长春员工一同出席晚会，与在场观众一同分享了广州亚运的快乐和激情。亚运冠军徐丹、香港艺人陈慧娴等明星也现身“亚运中国行”活动现场，为2010年广州亚运献上祝福。

陈慧娴演唱

曾多次代表中国征战的射击运动员徐丹是土生土长的长春人，谈及2002年釜山亚运会，他仍然记忆犹新。徐丹说：“我对2002年釜山亚运会印象极为深刻，那届亚运会给我的射击生涯带来了全新的改变，相信会有更多的优秀运动员在广州亚运会上脱颖而出”。作为体坛老将，徐丹对体育有着更深的理解，他对亚运合作伙伴TCL以快乐分享来解读、推广亚运的方式给以极大地认同，希望家乡人民都能够感受到快乐亚运。”

而刚刚荣膺“亚运歌手”称号的香港著名艺人陈慧娴，一身活力打扮登台亮相，激情演绎一首亚运歌曲《亚细亚》，将晚会气氛推向高潮。陈慧娴表示很荣幸参与TCL“亚运中国行”晚会，看到长春市民对广州亚运的热情支持，自己也深受感动。兼具番禺籍贯与亚运歌手双重身份的陈慧娴，还主动邀请大家亲临广州支持亚运，亲身体验亚运的激情和快乐。

相比广州，北国春城与亚运结缘更早，长春曾在2007年成功地举办了第六届亚洲冬季运动会。时隔三年，广州亚运的热潮再次袭来，不得不说这座城市与亚运缘分匪浅。TCL集团品牌管理中心总经理梁启春通过电话向记者介绍：“TCL集团与长春人民一样都对亚运事业充满热情。无论是体育竞技中的友谊与团结，还是关爱与尊重，都表达着快乐亚运的精神内涵。TCL希望能够通过快乐体验的方式与长春人民一起迎接广州亚运，诠释亚运精神”。他透露，借助最新的多媒体科技，TCL目前正与亚组委协作筹备3D亚运的拍摄，以求届时给亚运观众带来如临现场的亚运观看体验。

亚运老兵徐丹手持亚运火炬“潮流”登台

伴随着广州亚运会脚步的临近，TCL集团的亚运推广活动也日渐密集。作为广州2010年亚运会的合作伙伴，TCL希望继续以快乐体验的方式，传扬广州亚运的激情、个性和乐趣，同时也能使人们充分领略到TCL所倡导的时尚、健康的生活方式和积极进取、自我实现的生活态度。

截至目前， TCL“亚运中国行”文艺晚会、 “快乐亚运新视界”全国巡演等亚运推广活动已成功在全国多个城市举办。借助TCL的创新多媒体科技，长春市民全方位地感受到了广州亚运的激情与乐趣。同时，TCL还将在全国征选 “TCL亚运火炬手”，为更多人提供参与亚运火炬传递的机会。

据悉，下一站TCL“亚运中国行”文艺演出将于6月10日在冰城哈尔滨隆重上演。

As for multimedia business, the company sold 4,732,700 LCD TVs from January to April, up by 69.73% year-on-year, far higher than average industry growth. In April, LCDTV sales grew markedly. TCL Multimedia Holdings sold 739,100 LCD TVs in China and 672,000 overseas, up by 33%and 190% respectively,among whichLED-backlit LCD TVs accounted for 72% of the total sales. The company continued to optimize its product structure and performed well in the high-end TV marketin China,smart/network TV and 3DTV accounted for 45.91%and 19.63% of the gross sales, respectively.

As for mobile communication business, TCL Communication Holdings sold 2,915,600 mobile phones and other products in April, with a slight fall in overall sales. However, smartphone sales were booming, with 367,000 units sold, accounting for a growing percentage of the company’s overall sales, which reached up to 12.59%. During the month, the sales volume in oversea market was 2,510,000 units and 400,000 in China. Sales in the home market grew steadily. In addition, there was a breakthrough in April in solving the problem of delayed smartphone certification by overseas operators, which had affected the company’s mobile phone sales in Q1. As a result, the company started to ship several smartphone models overseas,and the overseas sales are expected to gradually increase. In the future, TCL Communication Holdings will successively introduce several new smartphone models and continue to step up its market expansion efforts in China and raise the share of smartphone in overall product sales. The corporate management said that the company will keep its annual sales revenue growth target unchanged.

As for home appliance business, TCL Home Appliances Group achieved growing sales against a sluggish white goods market in China and falling sales for most white goods companies. Its air conditioner, refrigerator andwashing machine sales were up by 37.92%, 35.51% and 4.87%, respectively.

China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co.Ltd. (CSOT) has stepped up its work as planned and boasted a steadily growing yield. In April 2012, CSOT’s LCD glass substrate input reached 28,168 pieces, with the overall yield rising up to 86.00%. As for technological upgrading, COST steadily improved its production quality in April after fully introducing HVA processthat could increase LCD panels’ optical penetration rate in March. CSOT plans to introduce 37-inch LCD panel production in May.

It is understood that the company launched its Whole Cloud Strategy in April to speed up its strategic industrial operations. Taking smart cloud technology as the engine, it has formed comprehensive whole cloud product lines that cover color TV, mobile phone, tablet, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner and other products. TCL Multimedia Holdings will fully push forward the Whole Cloud Strategy at product, price, channel and promotion levels in an effort to promote the comprehensive penetration of 3D smart cloud TV.On the basis of its smart cloud devices (including smart cloud mobile phone and tablet), TCL Communication Holdings is now building Tcloud, an one-stop smart cloud service platform for users.

This year, the 111th Canton Fair is being held April 15th-May 5th, in Guangzhou, China.Over the past 56 years, the Canton Fair welcomes top retailers and influential business and political leaders from all over the world. This event has become one of the most important events for small and medium sized businesses who want to enhance their business in both the Chinese and global market. Hosting customers from emerging markets all over the world, including Brazil, Russia and India, the Canton Fair is an extremely important aspect in increasing China’s fair trade with emerging markets.

During the 111th Canton Fair, TCL welcomed guests from all over the world, which highlights the company’s global significance. TCL had over 60 key appointments with customers from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South America, as well as guests from other emerging market countries that totaled to more than 200 customers daily. Due to the inflow of customers at the fair, TCL’s Q2 intended sales reached 1 billion RMB. Clients from the Middle East and Africa account for 35% of sales. Mr. ShenZhe, General Manager of Industry Business Center, TCL Multimedia, said that “This year’s Canton Fair has proved to be an overall success to TCL despite the intense price competition spurred by the economic downturn in U.Sand European markets., the amount of orders and intended sales is far beyond our expectation.”

Customers at the 111th Canton Fair expressed great interest in TCL’s products and technologies that support “cloud technology”.Among the products that were in particular interest to customers were 3D, the Smart TV, and the 110” LCD Screen. The newly launched “China Star”110’’ LCDScreen, which has a screen display area of 3.34 square meters, is the world’s largest high definition (HD) 3D liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, utilizes the most-advanced specifications in China today including4xHD resolution 4Kx2K (4,096x2,160 pixels) panels, active 3D technology, multi-touch technology, intelligent and dynamic backlight technology, ultra-high brightness of 800nits, and 92% NTSC color gamut. All these specifications represent the highest standards in the industry currently. Being the first Chinese company taking a lead in “cloud life”, TCL incorporated into its products the most sophisticated cloud computing and storage technologies with the TCL- cloud TV series’ hardware reaching the standard of a dual-core CPU. With this new technology, customers can experience multiple cloud functions, such as cloud control, cloud sharing, cloud socializing, and cloud recognition. Internet activities such as tweeting, chatting, or checking email can all be done via TV.

TCL’s position as emergent leader in innovation and technology in the electronic information industry was evident through its success at the 111th Canton Fair. Even with significant achievements in cloud-computing technology, TCL continues to strengthen its innovative ability. Looking forward, TCL plans to build a respected global leading enterprise, and will offer customers the most innovative and creative products.

As manufacturer of TV´s and sound systemsand Blu-Ray players TCL accompanies IKEA in its desire to offer furniture solutions with integrated technology.

A new innovative partnership for TCL

This new partnership with IKEA is a natural movefor TCL dedicated tooffer a new TV experience to consumers and make innovation affordable. Thus, this innovative concept reflects the aspiration of TCL - THE CREATIVE LIFE - to bring innovative and creative design enhancing its technology advances and blending seamlessly in consumer interiors. As a result, TCL has been constantly been awarded by worldwide reputed organizations such as IF, Red Dot or CES.

According toMr. E Hao, Chief Sales Officer of TCL Multimedia, "This partnership reflects our commitment to fully enable everyone to discover a new world of entertainment and services in an innovative design for seamless integration into your home".

“TCL is a large and competent supplier that immediately understood our ambition to create unique and complete TV solutions from a home furnishing point of view and supported in making the right choices and by developing and manufacturing these products.” said Marcel Godfroy – Project Leader at IKEA of Sweden

TCL: a brand dedicated to offering affordable innovations to consumers

As an example of TCL’s innovative spirit, the company offers a Smart TV , based on state of the art cloud computing technology, intuitive graphic user interface, built-in WiFi connectivity that enables consumers in a simple and seamless way to access via internet a newworld of entertainment and interactive services.

“The successful launch of the world’s largest 110-inch screen once again proved TCL’s research and development capabilities,” Li Dongsheng, Chairman and CEO of TCL Corporation said at the launching ceremony, “Not only will TCL benefit from the development of this breakthrough technology, all TV manufacturers in China and overseas, will be able to capitalize on this revolutionary product design.

This revolutionary technology is named “China Star” and has made China the third country to have successfully developed high-end display technology, behind Japan and South Korea.

China Star technology utilizes the most-advanced specifications in China today including4xHD resolution 4Kx2K (4,096x2,160 pixels) panels, active 3D technology, multi-touch technology, intelligent and dynamic backlight technology, ultra-high brightness of 800nits, and 92% NTSC color gamut.

These specifications represent the highest standards in the industry currently.

The screen display area measures 3.34 square meters, the largest in the world and the product is equipped with the company’s self-developed Fine Stereo Performance (FSP) technology application.

“The launch of the China Stardisplay screen solidifies TCL’s internationally competitive edge, and allows TCL to have a greater impact on the flat panel display market,” said Gu Zhihua, director of the flat panel display center at Fudan University.

Major breakthroughs in technology have been achieved including the use ofhigh-end lithography, oversized partial affixed technology and advanced backlight techniques. As a result, the high-end lithography process is stable and the high-chroma display technology is truly innovative, according toMr. He Chengming, CEO of China Star Optoelectronics Technology.

Concurrently, the China Star technology is in line with industry trends and consumer demands. With the unprecedented size of the display screen, touch technology and 4Kx2K resolution, consumers will be able to truly immerse themselves in the viewing experience, enjoying realistic life-size images, which is totally unique from traditional TV displays.

China Star is another good example of TCL’s innovative spirit, which has been highlighted by Li Dongsheng, chairman of TCL Corporation, stating that TCL has demonstrated its ability to put new ideas into action and has shown the global giants in the field that they are more than capable of having a competitive edge now and in the future.

The implications for TCL’s newest large screen technology, for not only its customers but for the entire field of 3D HD displays are numerous. Continued advancements in quality equate to continued customer satisfaction and will ensure TCL’s position as a true global player in this industry.

“China will replace Japan and South Korea as the world leader in TV display screens in terms of manufacturing and R&D in three to five years, and will provide a higher level of quality and more cost-effective products to the global community.” Gu concluded.

TCL：An Emerging Power in China’s Wave of Globalization

TCL stands for “The Creative Life,” a slogan that represents TCL’s aspirations for building one of China’s most innovative and resourceful enterprises.

Founded in 1981, TCL is one of the largest consumer electronics enterprises in China with a global presence. TCL Corporation has three listed companies: TCL Corporation (SZ.000100), TCL Multimedia (HK.1070) and TCL Communication (HK.2618). Currently, TCL Corporation has set up four business units – TCL Multimedia Holdings, TCL Communication Holdings, China Star Optoelectronics Technology and TCL Home Appliances Group, as well as six business groups – System Technology Unit, Techne Group, Emerging Business Group, Investment Group, Logistic & Service Group and Real Estate Group.

Over 30 years of consistently diligent efforts along with China’s reform and opening-up policy, motivated by the company’s focus on dedication and innovation, TCL has grown into a leading enterprise in China's electronics information industry. In 1999, TCL began forging its path into the globalized market. After years of promoting its brands in the emerging markets and partnering with well-established brands in the European and American markets, TCL is now the pioneer in the drive for Chinese enterprises seeking both domestic and international recognition.

Thanks to TCL’s philosophy of independent innovation, the company has many outstanding achievements and many “firsts” in China: the first wireless land-line telephone, the first 28 inch color TV, the first diamond-inlaid mobile phone, the first Chinese-made dual-core processor laptop computer and other innovative products.

TCL employs more than 60,000 people and has more than 40 sales offices around the world, selling products under TCL umbrella including TCL's own television sets and mobile phones as well as Thomson televisions and Alcatel mobile phones. In 2011, TCL Corporation achieved global sales of RMB 60.834 billion, with a sales volume of 10.86 million LCD TV sets and 43.61million handsets globally.

TCL Corporation has established R&D centers and more than ten R&D branches in China, U.S.A., France and Singapore and owns 20 manufacturing bases globally, in China, Poland, Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam.

In 2011, the brand value of TCL had exceeded RMB 50.118 billion, continuing to hold the No. 1 TV brand position in China today.

TCL’s vision is to build the most creative Chinese brand name in ten years. TCL aims to implement the “Three Capacities, One System” concept, which represents a combination of three capacities, featuring design, quality and marketing and a consumer insight system.

Looking forward to the future，TCL has drawn up two strategic development targets: first, to build a respected global leading enterprise and second, to offer customers only the most innovative and creative products.

TCL Corporation ascribed the distinct improvement in its overall corporate competitiveness to its heightened efforts in enhancing its industrial, technical and globalized operation capacities. In 2011, the Corporation attempted to improve its integrated competitiveness for the future, which included the establishment of a new 3D strategy model, and optimization of its existing industrial structure by building a new “4+6” industrial structure. These efforts further defined its business structure and significantly improved synergistic effect.

In order to strengthen performance in individual sectors in 2011, TCL Multimedia adhered to an operation and marketing strategy spearheaded by “speed and efficiency”, focused on improving product competitiveness, and noticeably increased the sales of its TV sets. 10.86 million LCD TV sets were sold, up by 45.5% year-on-year. This made TCL the first Chinese company to sell more than 10 million TV sets. Display Search’s latest data shows that TCL accounted for 4.9% of the global LCD TV set market in 2011. Its market ranking was up to 7th place from 10th in the previous year. In 2011, TCL achieved sales revenues of RMB 27.252 billion in the multimedia electronic industry, which was up by 16.19% over 2010. With a net profit of RMB 387 million, the company reversed its losses and became profitable. In particular, TCL not only made a remarkable sales performance, but also did well in new technology R&D and brand improvement: TCL won the Smart Cloud TV of the Year Award at 45th CES on January 10, 2012. For consecutive years, TCL was among the China's Top 50 Consumer Electronics Brands and ranked 6th in the world’s top TV brands. For the 4th consecutive year, TCL was selected among China’s TOP 10 Consumer Electronics Brands.

TCL Communication adopted a product strategy of “maintaining advantages in low-end products, consolidating the lead in medium-end products, improving the ability to develop 3G and Android products, enhancing the sales position in advantageous markets and actively making market breakthroughs for China and the Asia/Pacific market”. This ensured the sustainable, stable growth of sales for the company. In 2011, the company sold a total of 43.60 million mobile phones and other products, up by 20% over 2010. For the reported period, TCL Communication achieved RMB 8.813 billion in sales revenues, up by 16.35% over 2010. Net profit reached RMB 661 million, up by 8.29% year-over-year.

TCL Home Appliances Group has pushed product development and expanded sales channels, achieving substantial increases on main products such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines. For the reported period, sales revenues reached RMB 6.503 billion, up by 59.99% year-on-year.

The 8.5-generation LCD Panel Project of China Star Optoelectronics Technology, progressed well, over-achieving all set targets. China Star Optoelectronics Technology has set the record of achieving the shortest construction period and fastest mass production among similar projects. By the end of the reported period, it reached a production capacity of 18,000 glass panels per month. In January 2012, it brought overall yield rate to 82.37%. On February 21, China Star Optoelectronics Technology announced the successful development of “China Star”, which is the world’s largest 110-inch 4x HD 3D LCD screen, marking a historical step in the development of displays in China. This is also an epoch-making display technology breakthrough in China, making China the third nation to grasp high-end display technologies after Japan and South Korea.

In addition, TCL has also strengthened management, product optimization and sales expansion in six business groups, including Real Estate Group and Highly Information Industry, which has prompted stable business growth.

In 2012, according to TCL Corporation, TCL Multimedia will continue to fully develop its vertical integration for R&D matching, cost control and supply assurance in the LCD industry, as well as integrating all leading technologies, analyze and grasp consumer demand and technological trends, design and plan creative products in advance, and meet the needs of industrial revolutions and consumption upgrading. Its target is to sell 13.8 million LCD TV sets in 2012, up by 27.1% over 2011. In the coming year, TCL Communication will continue to sustain growth with Chinese business and smart phone sales becoming the main driving force. China Star Optoelectronics Technology plans to reach the full production capacity of 100,000 glass panels per month by the end of 2012 and achieve a yield rate of 92%. The company expects continued periodic adjustment in the panel industry in 2012. However, lack of new production capacity in the industry means that supply and demand will gradually reach a balance.

During the reported period, the income of the company's main business rose dramatically year-to-year, and the net profit from sales maintained a stable growth. Of the company's four core industries, TCL Multimedia business was the main contributor to the Corporation's achievement in rapid overall growth reflected by the net profit. From Internet TV to 3D display technology and including its current Smart TV, TCL Multimedia has gained an advantage through its technological edge, and has improved the global competitive position of the company through gradually increasing the added value of its products. According to the latest data from Displaysearch, TCL shipments of both LCD TVs and mobile phones have risen to the seventh place in the world. In addition, TCL Multimedia business has realized a rapid growth in sales through improved operational efficiency, market development, sales channels and product mix optimization. As of Mid-December in 2011, TCL’s annual global sales of flat-panel TVs had officially broken the mark of 10 million units, making TCL the first-ever Chinese color TV enterprise with an annual flat-panel TV sales of over 10 million units, making it the first member of the "World's 10-million-Color-TV Sellers Club."

TCL’s Mobile Communication business has launched a range of smart phones to meet consumer demand while keeping its existing models and maintaining the stable growth of better-performing markets. In 2011, TCL Communication had launched several series of smart mobile terminal products into the global market. While maintaining and consolidating its shares in the low-end mobile phone markets, TCL Communication has further developed middle-to-high-end markets which have a relatively stronger profitability like the 3G Android Mobile. In addition, the company has also enhanced its efforts in developing the weaker markets, ensuring stable growth and sustainable profitability. In 2011, the mobile phone sales total of TCL Communication was more than 40 million units, making TCL the most important manufacturer in the global mobile phone market.

In terms of its home appliances business, the company has seized the favorable opportunity of the “Home Appliances Going to the Countryside” program in order to carry out effective market development, and strengthen its marketing channel management. On the other hand, the company has enhanced its efforts in product development by introducing several new products, which has achieved historic growth in both sales and performance.

China Star Optoelectronics Technology’s (CSOT) 8.5-generation LCD panel production line began mass production on October 12, 2011, and had started shipment at the end of the year. Currently, CSOT is in a ramping-up period, with every aspect of its business going smoothly including the improvement of the yield rate. Public information shows that 50% of the future production capacity of CSOT will be consumed by TCL itself, and the other 50% will be sold externally to other companies.

In 2011, TCL Corporation had achieved an outstanding performance with its internationalization process, showcasing its preliminary results. By continuously improving its global strategic planning capacity and its abilities in cross-border business operations, TCL has realized profitability in both the American and European markets, and has seen rapid growth in emerging markets, not to mention the strength of its international brands and competitiveness of its products have been greatly enhanced, leading to a steady growth of its overall business. According to statistics, the domestic sales of TCL Corporation's LCD TVs in 2011 exceeded 10 million units, and the company's overseas sales of color TVs had accounted for more than half of the total sales. Among TCL’s overseas color TV markets, sales in the emerging markets have become a highlight, with sales in the first 11 months reaching 2,166,100 units, up 144.8% year-to-year.

- In 2012, TCL Corporation plans to continue carrying out its market-oriented product layout, while continuing to focus on strengthening its global market development and network building. Meanwhile, the company will actively enhance the ability of its international operations and continue promoting research and development geared towards globalization, procurement, production and sales, so as to achieve a steady growth in the overall business through continuous optimization of its sales structure and active enhancement of technological innovation.

Yes, all these are real. This is the “Cloud Life” that TCL Corporation, a global leader in the consumer electronics industry from China, is trying to bring to families all over the world: with cloud computing technology, turn TV into the control hub of all home appliances through various wireless connections and enable people to acquire and exchange information anytime and anywhere.

TCL showcases smart TV at CES 2012

"The era of cloud-computing has come,” said Li Dongsheng, Chairman and CEO of TCL Corporation, “Once we put all the hardware, operating system and software in the Cloud, equipment on the user’s end can be as simple as a TV set. We can empower a TV with a computer’s capabilities.”

As the first Chinese company taking a lead in “cloud life”, TCL presented its most innovative TCL-cloud TV series based on cloud computing at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). TCL also showcased its first mobile phone offering cloud computing technology and a full range of smart phones to give customers a simple, different and smart experience.

TCL-cloud TV series, first launched in China in 2011, finally greeted their global customers at this year’s CES. Embedded with the most sophisticated cloud computing and storage technologies and TV-adapted Android system, the TCL-cloud TV series’ hardware is up to the standard of dual-core CPU. TCL-cloud TV series bring unprecedentedly multiple cloud functions to users, cloud recognition, cloud control, cloud sharing, cloud socializing, cloud office, to name a few. Internet interactivity such as chatting, tweeting, as well as checking emails and searching online information now can be easily done via TV.

TCL introduces cloud life at CES 2012

Due to the innovativeness, TCL-Cloud TV series won the only individual award on cloud TV. The brand TCL was also awarded one of China's Top 50 Consumer Electronics Brands hosted by the International Data Group (IDG).

As a pioneer of innovation at the global market, TCL has put in great efforts to strengthen its innovative ability. In early 2011, TCL built a R&D center in the Silicon Valley and United States. It also has a talent training program with Boston-based Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In November 2011, TCL signed a cooperation memo with SRI (Stanford Research Institute) International, an independent research institute bounded with more than 2,100 scientists in the United States. With the cooperation, TCL will conduct joint research with SRI on smart TV user experience and communication technologies to bring all the families a renewable and valuable "cloud life”.

“Cloud computing marks a new IT revolution in human history,” Li Dongsheng said, “TCL is determined to fully utilize this technology to bring the most advanced smart digital home solutions to families in China and all over the world.”

According to the report, in the first three quarters, TCL’soperating revenue has reached 43.884 billion Yuan, an increase of 21.16%over the previous year., in which, sales revenue accounted for 42.854 billion Yuan, an increase of 21.23%; net profit was1.359 billion Yuan, an increase of 4791.51%; and the net profitattributable to shareholders was 826 million Yuan, an increase of 322.53%. in Q 3, the operating revenue grew to 16.529 billion Yuan,in which, sales revenue accounted for 16.215 billion Yuan, an increase of 28.00%; net profit was506 million Yuan (RMB134 million profit in 2010);and the net profitattributable to shareholders was 287 million Yuan, an increase of 658.98%. Sales revenue in the domestic market reached26.91 billion Yuan, up 27.56%; overseas sales revenue was 15.944 billion Yuan, an increase of 11.86%.

Thanks to the LCD industry layout covering the world's major markets, TCL Multimedia has enhanced its competitiveness in marketing, products and operations.With the introduction of innovative products and effective marketinginitiatives, thesales of theTCL Multimedia business has seen a steady increase from January to September, generating a sales revenue of 18.738 billion Yuan (HKD 22.517 billion), an increase of12.15% over last year (17.9% inHong Kong dollar), and a net profit of 339 million Yuan (HKD 391 million), compared to the 868 million Yuan loss of last year (HKD 991 million). The sales performance of LED-backlight LCD televisions is quite distinguishedin the Chinese market, exceeding 50% of the total in September, sales volume wasup to 623,000 units; the sales volume of LED-backlight LCD televisionsin thefirst three quarters is 2.709 million units, up 699.1%. Regarding the product R&D, TCL Multimediaput more efforts in the development of theAndroid + "cloud concept" smart television and 3D TV to enrich the product line and enhance the company's comprehensive strengths. Currently, the market penetration of the TCL 3D TV has achieved rapid growth and its domestic market share in September hadrisen to 10.7%. According to theexecutivesof TCL Multimedia, with the approaching of the fourth quarter, the traditional shopping season, the global LCD TV sales target of 2011has been raised to 10.2 million units from 9.6 million units following the up regulation in the mid-year report.

Through extended marketing, product technologyupgradingand brand building, TCL Communication maintains healthy development. From January to September 2011, the sales revenue of TCL Communication had reached 6.208 billion Yuan (HKD 7.462 billion), an increase of 26.48% (up 33% in HKD); and the net profit was504 million Yuan (HKD 606 million), an increase of 27.40% (up 34% in HKD). From January to September, the global sales of mobile phones and other productshave reached 30.458 million units, increased by 28%. The sales volume in theChinese market and overseas markets increased to71% and 25% respectively, while the product structure has also been constantly optimized, especially withthe sales of smart phones in China which is occupying a larger share.A collection of 22 new mobile phones were rolled out during Q3, including the3G Android ONE TOUCH 910, ONE TOUCH 908, which has received positive industry recognition, and is listed as cooperative mobile phones by worldwide major telecommunications operators like Orange, Vodafone, Telefonica and America Movil. In addition, the smart phone TCL A990has won the “China Smartphones Outstanding Award 2011.”TCL Communications has paid more attention to the development of theglobal market with high potentials, continued to strengthen the product R&D and design, while continuing to enrich the product line, promote product sales and the steady growth of operating results. All this has contributed to the significant improvement in brand influence. According to TCL Communications, to promote the smart phone business, and maintain the strong sales growth and product structure optimization, the annual sales target in 2011 has been set to 4,500 million units, up 24% compared with last year.

To adhere to the "market-oriented" strategy and speed up the up-gradating of theproducts and technology, TCLHomeAppliance has created a sales revenue of 5.349 billion Yuan in the first three quarters, an increase of 70.82%over the previous year, during this period, air-conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines had recorded sales volumes of 2.479 million units, 624000 units and 486000 million units respectively, increases of68.9%, 13.5% and 37.7%. With the construction of the Wuhanwhite household appliance production bases, it will drive the home appliance business to keep steady development.

TCLCorporation said that the3D Strategy Model Based on the “Three Capabilities”is clear and specific. AndTCL willintegrate the global resources to improve its industrial capacity and technological innovations; under the guidance of the new "4 +6"business structure, its various business developments should be balanced and shouldfocuseon key sectors. TCL will maintain and strengthen its sustainable development ability and core strengths in the internationalcompetition.

TCL has been actively engaged in technological innovation in the past several years. TCL established an innovation center in Silicon Valley in early 2011, which will capitalize the excellent local talent pool under the direct management of TCL to support its primary strategic development, such as a smart TV operating system, cloud computing, the new end-user experience, and promoting achievement and transformation in the varied businesses of the corporation, to serve the end products with technological innovations directly. In addition, TCL has also established a talent cultivation program with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston.

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Li Dongsheng said: "To build up the global competitive Chinese enterprises in the future, the key is to develop and accumulate the ability of innovation. This cooperation between TCL and SRI aims to synergize our strengths around the globe, and take the lead in the global consumer electronics industry for the next ten years, as well as to improve the enterprise's core competitiveness and achieve a win-win situation."

As a leading corporation in China's consumer electronics industry, TCL enjoys the advantages of direct contact with millions of user and their needs, but the question is how to use these advantages to create a user experience that best suits the users’ demands. This question has always been a challenge. TCL hopes to further strengthen its understanding of the users’ habits, through the cooperation with SRI and speed up the development of personalized smart products.

Dr. Yan Xiaolin, Vice President of TCL Corporation, and the Principal of TCL Industrial Technology Research Institute, said that this strategic cooperation with SRI International is expected to promote TCL's scientific and technological innovations to a new level. Now, TCL operates four R & D headquarters and seven R & D centers across the world, with thousands of foreign and local R & D personnel. In the past five years, TCL’s average R & D investment is up to $1.9 billion, generating a cumulative sum of 1,812 in patent filings, and 494 invention patents, bringing product and technology breakthroughs in color TV technology, telecommunications and 3C fusion. During the past recent years, TCL has shifting from 'applied R & D ' to 'core technology-based R & D' in terms of technological innovation. On the one hand it put great emphasis on the R & D capacity building, on the other hand the corporation has co-ordination its patent management through the establishment of the Intellectual Property Center at the group level, thus bringing about both innovation and protection through strengthened intellectual property protection efforts.

As we all know, starving people are annoyed. So is a starving Bluetooth headset. The headset doesn’t complain, even though it simply cuts off the ongoing call. However, why some end users still find it so joyful?

Adopting The ALCATEL ONE TOUCH BH35, you are free from that hassle

Coupled with ALCATEL ONE TOUCH smart phones, the headset keeps reminding the battery power level with status bar on the phone’s display.

This is thanks to the TCL Communication’s proprietary patent pending technology Smart Power Management!

While the power level is low, its Boost Charging feature helps quickly to recharge the BH35 within 5 minutes for a talk time of one hour

Of course, the users still enjoy crystal clear voice free from glitches arise from harsh RF environment. The BH35’s Smart Audio® feature renders the best phone call experience through its Packet Loss and Bit Error Concealment technology.

As a perfect mate for ALCATEL ONE TOUCH smart phones, the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH BH35 was well received by clients and end users. Earlier this month, Broadway, a top 3C products retailer in Hong Kong, placed it in most of its outlets.

Elegant and trendy, the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 908 really hits the spot, making the hugely popular Android 2.2 operating system more accessible to a wider range of consumers.

Combining new technologies with a classy design, there is no doubt that this mobile phone will be appealing to students looking for their first ANDROID experience. With all applications already loaded, this phone is ready to live experience!

With its stylish curves, the ONE TOUCH 908 combines elegance with easy handling. Instead of a keyboard, this phone has a capacitive touch screen. Its 2.8” 320 x 240 pixel screen makes navigation fast, easy and intuitive. Available in mystery pink, bluish black and spicy red, it will suit everyone’s tastes!

The Android 2.2 OS makes the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 908 a fun phone offering plenty of experiences! Moreover, to allow users to make the most of this technology right from the start, 20 applications have already been pre-selected on the ONE TOUCH 908. So it’s completely stress-free! From now on, you won’t want to go anywhere without this mobile phone. Find the best restaurant in the area with the Layar augmented reality app, identify all your favourite music with Shazam, don’t forget a thing with OI Shopping List and enjoy even more with Mytracks, Podcast and SweetDreams. With the ONE TOUCH 908, it’s all so easy and fun! A simple click also gives the user access to a full range of services such as those available from the Google universe - Gmail, Google Talk and even YouTube. Android is also fully scalable and can be enriched with applications available from Android Market, where more than 3,000 apps are added every month.

The ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 908 is the dream phone for those who can’t go anywhere without the Internet. With central access to mailboxes, instant messengers, Facebook and Twitter, as well as all the mobile applications available on the web, it is now the must-have accessory for every time you go out.

The strengths of the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 908 also lie in its other functions, such as compatibility with 2G / 3G+ mobile networks for truly fast navigation and download, and Wi-Fi access for a high-speed connection everywhere you go. It also features a 2 MP digital camera with sensor, GPS navigation so that you always know where you are, up to 16GB extensible internal memory, a micro USB port and long-life battery with 6h talk time!

The ONE TOUCH 908 will be available from XXX for less than XXX euros.

SPECIFICATIONS:

City, Country—
Chic. Social. Expressive. ALCATEL ONE TOUCH introduces the ONE TOUCH GLAM 810, the new mobile phone created with women in mind. The perfect tech accessory, the phone adds glamour to today’s feminine mobile lifestyle. Designed by ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Design Director, Paola Pinnavaia, and her team, this unique phone brings variety and choice to the mobile technology landscape. The ONE TOUCH GLAM 810 is the perfect combination of fun, easy-to-use technology and stylish design.

“The ONE TOUCH GLAM 810 is the perfect example of our design platform, Smiling Design,” shares Paola Pinnavaia, “wherein we seek to create fun, friendly and innovative products with emotional, sensual or intellectual connections to their users.”

Eye shadow, pocket mirror… the powder compact shape of the ONE TOUCH GLAM 810 resembles these mainstays of a woman’s handbag. Choose the color scheme that suits you best - Mystery Pink or Light Chrome. As an added touch, the phone sparkles with customizable tiny luminescent diodes when you receive a message, text or call.

The ONE TOUCH GLAM 810 opens like a music box, revealing a QWERTY keyboard and a 2.4” screen. It is a treasure trove for your most intimate secrets. Photos, videos, messages are all just a click away thanks to shortcuts you can personalize yourself. And to make sure you capture all those special memories, the ONE TOUCH GLAM 810 has a 2 MP camera that also records videos.

All day long, the phone can be discreetly tucked away in your handbag or proudly brought out into the limelight. Your own secret garden containing your Twitter and Facebook communities is just a simple click away. Today’s modern young woman never misses an opportunity to share her status, a tweet or a photo. And if you want to find the address of that fashionable restaurant everyone is talking about, the Opera Mini web browser is there to help.

The ONE TOUCH 810 will be available from XXX at the recommended price of XX Euros.

SPECIFICATIONS:

With its modern look and flashy colours, this phone won’t go unnoticed this summer. The touch screen, the full keyboard and the user interface make it the ideal phone for friends addicts.

The push mail function means you won't miss a thing! This phone will tell you as soon as you receive a message from your friends.

The ONE TOUCH 803 – perfect for the summer holidays

With its stylish curves, the latest addition to the ALCATEL ONE TOUCH range is trendy and easy to use. Soft to the touch and with a coloured surround, this phone has its own unique style.

The wide range of available colours - Fuchsia, Black, Spicy Red, Cyber Blue, Steel Grey – make it a great looking phone to suit every taste this summer. The ONE TOUCH 803 is light and convenient enough to fit easily in any pocket, so that friends can reach you on the beach or wherever you go.

Stay extra close to your community – even from a distance!

There’s no longer any need to choose between a touch screen and the ease of using a full keyboard. The ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 803 comes with a 2.4” touch screen and a QWERTY keyboard making it fast and easy to send SMS, tweet or update your status on Facebook. You can also customize the screen as you wish to get direct access to your favourite widgets.

The push mail function ensures that you won’t miss any email. You will receive instant notification of any incoming message from your friends so that you can reply quickly to invitations. With the ONE TOUCH 803, you’ll never miss a night out!

The ONE TOUCH 803 has many other useful functions to make life easier. With the 2MP digital camera with sensor, a touch is all it takes to record your memories of a drink amongst friends or a trip to the beach. You can use a 16Gb micro SD card with the ONE TOUCH 803 to store a huge amount of photos, messages and music. The battery provides 10 hours of talk time and up to 26 hours of music. Keep in touch with your friends with the ONE TOUCH 803!

The ONE TOUCH 803 will be available from XXX for less than XXX euros

SPECIFICATIONS:

With its simple yet elegant design, the ONE TOUCH 306 is available in three colours - black, pure white and cherry red. The soft, velvety finish on the back offers easy handling. Weighing less than 80 grams, this phone is compact and robust enough to fit easily in any pocket.

The simplest music phone ever

The ONE TOUCH 306 will delight music lovers. Create your own playlists easily and listen to your favourite tracks. If you’re looking for something different, 40 radio stations can be pre-set manually and 2,000 tracks can be stored in memory. The battery lasts 8 hours in music mode, allowing you to listen to music whenever you want!

The easy camera experience

The VGA camera with colour display makes it easy to share those special moments of your day. As soon as you take a picture, the intuitive menu combined with the ALCATEL "ONE TOUCH SHARE" technology asks if you want to share it via MMS with a simple click, use it as a background or add it to one of your contacts. What could be simpler and more fun?!

The ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 306 also stands out with more functions - two games are included for plenty of fun, as well as a torch to help you find things or light your way.

SPECIFICATIONS:

China's largest TV maker, TCL, is a hybrid of competing influences. It treated 1,000-plus distributors from more than 50 countries, meeting annually in October, to a monotonous hourlong slide show, projecting their names piecemeal onto a giant screen, as an honor. But soon after, an apologetic Chairman Li Dongsheng emerged, cut short his speech to ten minutes and sent hungry and napping guests to dinner.

TCL's different pulls--vintage Chinese and modern global--have been felt since its origins three decades ago as a joint venture between a well-connected group from Huizhou in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong investors. As an early maker of Chinese TVs, it boomed. Giveaways of substantial ownership to employees as incentives followed, and the company enjoyed uninterrupted annual growth of more than 50%, halted only in 2005.

Emboldened, Chairman Li led a move in 2004 to turn TCL into a forerunner of Chinese globalization, buying from the French Thomson's TV business, then the world's largest, and Alcatel's handset unit. The company then endured unexpected losses before regaining its footing. In the first half of 2011 year-on-year net profit rose 242% to $85 million on sales of $4.2 billion.

Li, whose family is the second-largest shareholder after the Huizhou government, spoke to FORBES ASIA of the shifting landscapes in the global consumer electronics industry and why TCL and Chinese makers are a force to be reckoned with, at the expense of a retreating Japan. First came some history.

WE HAVE NEVER HAD A NAME in Chinese. Today we still are the only company known to Chinese consumers for our English name. TCL stands for Telephone Communications Ltd., a name we adopted in the mid-1980s to reflect our business at that point.

Our English identity appealed to the popular fascination with foreign cultures. The past ten years saw Chinese consumers embrace English for a different reason--they became highly educated. The government banned domestic companies from using English names in China after 1989. We were grandfathered.

Our acquisition of Thomson's TV remains inconclusive. We are the world's number six by volume, higher than our preacquisition ranking, way off the top ten. We break even on overseas sales this year, with a chance to succeed in future, but incurred big losses due to the wrong call I made about the transition from the old cathode-ray tube (CRT) TVs, which Thomson dominated, to flat screens, which we did not produce. The trend was clear, but I did not expect it to happen so quickly.

The industry held different views over how fast flat TVs would replace CRTs, but no one saw it coming so swiftly. I haven't seen any authoritative, convincing explanation. I haven't figured out why. One reason could be the lack of reliable forecasts about the aggressive production being ramped up by South Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers of flat panels, the most expensive item in making TVs.

The four biggest: Samsung, LG, ChimeiInnolux, and Chunghwa Picture Tubes [formerly Tatung], aggressively expanded production to a scale previously unimaginable and cut costs rapidly to a level of mass affordability.

The phone’s additional functions include a radio and torch, making it accessible and practical. It all comes at the attractive price of €XX without contract from XXX!

The ONE TOUCH 213 makes it difficult to dial a wrong number! It stands out because of the large buttons on its keypad and the big size of the characters. Without a doubt, this is the easiest way of making phone calls. With its stylish curves, the ONE TOUCH 213 weighs in at just 66g. Light as a feather in your pocket or handbag.

Because making calls should never be complicated

The ONE TOUCH 213 is compact and robust enough for users who want to dial a number or send a text in the blink of an eye. The simplicity of its interface allows the user to move rapidly through the menus and entering text is particularly straightforward as well. You can save up to 100 contacts and 50 pre-set messages. The phone also has a torch which lights up simply by holding down the central button, helping you find things in the dark or light your way. The radio function allows you to listen to the news or your favourite music wherever you want.

The ALCATEL ONE TOUCH 213 is perfect for users who want to use their telephone to… make phone calls!

SPECIFICATIONS:

It is the second time for TCL to win this China Top 10 Electronics Brands Award. In January this year, TCL was also listed in the China’s Top Ten Brands at the 44th Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in the United States, with the qualification of green initiatives.

“Innovation is a lasting war for competitiveness,” Li Dongsheng, Chairman of the Board and CEO of TCL Corporation, made the speech at the Sustainable Development and Global Competitiveness Forum held by the IDG, or International Data Group, the world's leading technology media, research and event company. “To innovate, Chinese companies should coordinate their advantages from different parts in global, foster their original innovation ability in form of enterprises, and combine it with social and environmental responsibilities for green technology,” Li noted. Meanwhile, the success of innovation depends on a sound ecological system and social environment, Li added.

Hosted by IDG, this award is committed to select China's most globally competitive brands, in a bid to increase their global influence, enhance their global competitiveness for sustainable development and help them to expand overseas markets.

It has taken nearly six month for IDG, together with well-known global brands, insiders, and third-party professionals to make the process from 37 candidates. Online voting was also a help.

TCL has sharpened their competitiveness via innovation in the past 30 years, and more than ten years’ internationalization has helped TCL to a high level of innovation.

At present, TCL Group has four R&D headquarters, 7 R&D centers in the global with thousands of staff. TCL has poured 1.9 billion yuan on R&D in the past five years, and applied 1,812 patents in total.

Recently, TCL has set up an innovation center in the Silicon Valley in the United States to follow up global trends in new technologies, and also further studies.

TCL won German Red Dot Design Award and "Star of Design 2007"in France. This year, TCL received the award for Global Annual Quality Flat TV and Global Annual 3D TV at the CES in the United States. Looking forward, the company is determined to pick up more international awards for Chinese enterprise in the global competitive market.

Since 1990s when TCL made its first attempt in the overseas market, the company has been growing together with its partners, both in China’s domestic market and outside China. Partners attending the Conference today are from different business sectors that TCL is involved in, including multimedia, telecommunication, home appliance and home lighting and different regions where TCL has reached out to, including the Americas, Middle East, Southeast Asia and Oceania countries. By witnessing the mass production launching ceremony of TCL’s China Star Optoelectronics Technology (CTSO), China’s latest LCD panel manufacturer invested by TCL, the company’s partners truly feel the company’s strong capabilities and aspirations for the future. TCL also awarded 38 of its most outstanding partners at the Conference.

“In the past eight years, we have been working with TCL side by side. We are really impressed by the company’s professionalism and its enterprising spirit. With our joined efforts, TCL’s market share in Latin America has been increasing continuously. We look forward to better achievements with TCL in the future”, said Mr. Enrique Jurkowski, the Vice President of Radio Victoria Fueguina S.A., TCL’s biggest distribution partner in South America region, for both multimedia and home appliance products. Partners from other regions, especially the Middle East, also expressed their confidence in their continuous cooperation with TCL and the wish of deepening the partnership from product distribution to the possibility of further involvement in product design and production.

In the past year, TCL especially emphasized on adjusting its product strategy in different markets and further improved its industrial capabilities and innovation capabilities. In the overseas market, TCL contributes to the local economy and tries to involve itself in local cultural and social causes. Local governments have all recognized TCL’s contribution in boosting the local employment rate, increasing tax revenue, and fulfilling its social responsibilities such as product recycling and energy-saving.

“We form a win-win close-knit relationship with our partners. Without our partners, we cannot promote our brands in the local markets; without us, our partners cannot have a reliable supply of quality products and services. It’s the commitment of bringing consumers worldwide the most innovative products and services that brought us together. “

Resulting from a win-win strategy with its local partners, TCL has made significant achievements in the course of going global. The company’s first half year reports from its different business groups all showed flying colors. During the first half of 2011, TCL Communication sold nearly 18 millions of phones, increased by 37.67% on a year-on-year basis. TCL Multimedia sold over 1.5 million TV sets, an increase of 25.6% year-on-year. Especially the sales of LCD TV in emerging markets such as Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand, have achieved a roaring increased of 124.3%. TCL Communication rose to the 7th globally in terms of sales volume in 2010 and TCL Multimedia’s market share in the global LCD TV market rose by 0.4% in the second quarter of 2011, ranking the 7th globally and the 1st in China. Brand value of TCL has reached RMB 50.1 billion.

At the Conference, Li Dongsheng, the Chairman of TCL Corporation attributed TCL’s strong performance to the company’s strategy in emphasizing product innovation, the vertical integration of a complete industry chain and collaborative work with its partners all over the world. Li also looked forward on the future of TCL and set the global collaboration as the strategic goal with its partners.

“In terms of Chinese companies going global, TCL is the most valuable Chinese company because it understands the complex laws behind globalization”, Jiang Ruxiang, a senior analyst from Jiang Ruxiang, President of Beijing Xien Consulting Firm, commented on TCL’s efforts, “the company doesn’t seek short term sales growth but tries to understand the laws of integrating global resources and moving up in the industry value chain to achieve sustainable growth. It has the courage to embrace the global market. We should respect this enterprising company, because respecting a company like TCL, means respect our own future.”

While Chinese fans of Apple Inc's trendy devices eagerly await the mainland arrival of the 3G iPad 2, Li Dongsheng, CEO and chairman of electronics company TCL Corp, has quietly been prepping for a retail battle against the Silicon Valley giant.

In the coming months, TCL will release two 3G Android-based tablet PCs, the TCL Pad16 and the Open Pad. With its highly flexible customization features, the tablets provide a wide range of functions. For Li, 54, the launch of the two tablets is just one of several recent steps forward for TCL as it attempts to gain more consumer exposure in the international market. Li was also responsible for lobbying Paramount Pictures to put TCL's flatscreen TV into a scene for the Hollywood blockbuster Transformers: The Dark Side of the Moon.

"Successful companies in the past few years are those which have stayed ahead of the curve," Li says. "As a global company, the Western market is a must. Without it our business system would be incomplete."

As the technological gap closes between South Korean, Japanese, European and American electronics companies, Li has worked to fashion a strategy that incorporates both marketing and research and development (R&D) for one of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers in China.

"Your product must fit the market development and demand, stay ahead of the curve of the trend of product," he says. "A two-year-old mobile phone has no market value at all. If you can push products at the rate on par with the international market, you will have a breakthrough in sales."

Its new products are a result of the company's own R&D center with 2,000 engineers working on communication electronic devices and another 1,000 working on developing flatscreen TVs. Li says the research arm of the company is vital for TCL's long-term future.

"(Success) requires more fundamental work, such as improvement in R&D. You have to raise your bar on par with your international competitors. You also need to continue to strive for quality, being able to bear up to the finest scrutiny even to the smallest details," he says.

Li has spent the majority of his career working at TCL. He joined TTK Electric Appliance Co Ltd, which eventually became TCL, in 1981 as an engineer. He was promoted to general manager of TCL in 1993 and took the helm as CEO in 1996. In 2004, he was named one of the Top 25 Global Business Leaders by Time magazine and CNN.

Based in Huizhou, Guangdong province, the company, which turns 30 this year, began as a telephone landline producer in China and expanded into producing television sets and other consumer appliances in the 1990s.

TCL expanded internationally in 2003 and 2004 when it acquired two French hardware manufacturers: Thomson (to produce televisions and DVD players worldwide) and Alcatel (in a mobile phone manufacturing joint venture). TCL and Li's plan was to build upon existing well-known brands in Europe. But critics at that time said TCL was expanding too rapidly in Europe and was putting itself in financial risk by acquiring two sinking companies. In 2007, TCL announced that its mobile phone division would cease using the Alcatel brand.

Li says he learned valuable lessons in his unsuccessful bets. It was at this time, he says, that he switched to a new branding strategy. He and his company marketers came up with new, consumer-friendly slogan: "The Creative Life".

Li says the new slogan emphasizes the company's core values of technological and marketing innovation.

According to TCL's 2011 first-half report released on Aug 8, the company gained a total operating revenue of 27.36 billion yuan ($4.28 billion) with a year-on-year increase of 18.1 percent during the first half of this year. Sales grew about 17 percent to 26.64 billion yuan while net profit increased by 241.6 percent to 539 million yuan.

Its communication devices division sold about 17 million units in overseas markets with a year-on-year growth of 37.7 percent and about 1.7 million units in the Chinese market, with an increase of 27.4 percent.

TCL's multimedia division made headway in overseas markets, with 4 million units of LCD TVs sold, a 25.6 percent increase.

Li believes that South Korean and Japanese manufactures have set examples for Chinese counterparts to follow. He says there are fundamental challenges ahead for Chinese companies as they try to push toward a business with higher profit margins.

"Producing products that are low in price but good in quality is a part of the gradual process (for manufacturers)," Li says. "Moving up the value chain has to be done step by step. If you look at Japanese or South Korean companies, you will find that they share a very similar path toward internationalization.

"In a way brand image can be simply defined as a brand's customer reputation - you have to earn your reputation, not just showing off with advertisements," Li says. "This goal cannot be reached in a year or two, but a long-term goal that takes time to accumulate. Chinese companies might take another 10 or 20 years of hard work to set up their own brand image, trust and added value."