英国《每日电讯报》25/07/2007 & ]; |5 o- p1 B1 X+ r: W0 E$ s3 b$ C% k7 s- U c: _; _ / k7 q% S( u: R y# K( B. n. w 8 Z' }6 `% J* N) y) h0 | 8 I7 c( s; ^% jWhy doing business with the dragon is a Chinese puzzle' x& A8 I% H- t' C- {4 E9 q
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Barclays' chief executive, John Varley, is not the sort to bang back a few lagers at lunchtime. But who could blame him for sinking a Tsingtao beer with his chow mein and chips, after the deal he has just done with the Chinese?( E) R3 k) J2 C3 R- [
6 K& Y# J2 E# D+ A$ w" a+ vBy securing an investment of up to £6.6bn from the state-owned China Development Bank (CDB), Varley has boosted Barclays' chances in its battle with Royal Bank of Scotland to buy the Dutch bank, ABN Amro.2 R. T* b1 Y/ t: A# w
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Far more significant, however, is the long-term "guanxi" (relationship) that Barclays has established with the world's powerhouse of growth. - Q5 U) y y7 `. D9 {. { j% r. r6 z( Q3 \$ J- Q2 n1 x
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