Charlie Aitken, Southern Cross Equities executive director, on China’s investment in Fortescue to undermine the BHP-Rio duopoly on iron ore:
“The BHP-Rio joint venture is China Inc.’s worst nightmare. China Inc. has attempted to make Rio appear a ‘dishonorable company’ ever since Rio left Chinalco at the altar and ran into BHP’s arms.”
Dong Tao, an economist with Credit Suisse on whether or not the recent drop in foreign investment can be attribute to the arrest and detention of Australian-national Stern Hu:
"Multinational executives closely follow the news, but it would take a long time for them to make decisions [based on that]."
Han Zheng, mayor of Shanghai, on the role of bankers in making Shanghai an international financial hub:
"Financiers have the least conscience in the world when it comes to making money… By saying that, I would have offended many bankers and financiers, but this is my personal experience."
Provincial government spokesman Zhu Qing on cross-strait Hokkien cultural and linguistic exchange:
"Everyone knows Fujian and Taiwan are separated only by a narrow strip of water, and blood is thicker than water."