Company Spotlight: Understanding TikTok & ByteDance, China’s Attention Factory

Today, ByteDance is a sprawling corporate leviathan. Much like other large internet conglomerates, it has expanded into a myriad of online services consisting of gaming, education, enterprise productivity, payments, and much more. This is made possible by three flagship businesses: Toutiao, Douyin, and TikTok.

Industry Spotlight: E-Commerce in China

Alibaba Group is the parent company of the Alibaba universe of businesses. Alibaba.com is a global B2B wholesale trade platform, whereas Tmall is a B2C retail platform and Taobao is a C2C trade platform. Taobao includes a wide range of sellers, including individuals with side businesses, as well as secondhand retailers.

Policy Spotlight: What is ‘dual circulation’ and what does it mean for China’s economic development?

‘Dual circulation’ is the coexistence of ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ circulation. ‘Inner’ circulation refers to China’s goals to realize greater domestic economic potential by boosting consumption, improving innovation, and developing urban clusters. ‘Outer’ circulation refers to China’s trade and investment relationships with foreign countries.  

Industry Spotlight: Free Trade Zones in China

Free trade zones (FTZs) are a type of special economic zone used by the Chinese government to pilot preferential trade and investment policies. As of 2017, there are 11 FTZs in China. Each FTZ has its own strategic positioning within the larger economic plan of the Chinese government.

Expert Spotlight: Michael Michelini, Founder, Global From Asia

Michael Michelini is the founder and host of a weekly podcast, Globalfromasia.com which has turned into a full-on blog, service platform, and builder of global (cross-border) e-commerce businesses.