BEIJING, Oct. 18 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- An investor relations seminar
aimed at helping Chinese listed companies, and those companies preparing to go
public, to learn more about investor relations and corporate communications
best practices, was held in Beijing on October 13, and in Shanghai on October
15.  The seminar was hosted by Xinhua PR Newswire, Burson-Marsteller,
Citigroup Depositary Receipt Services, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, and
Thomson Financial.
    The seminar entitled "Maximizing the Impact of Investor Relations"
addressed a range of key topics affecting investor relations strategies for
Chinese companies in international investment markets including an examination
of the investor relations cycle, stock surveillance and investor targeting,
methods in attracting foreign institutional investors, establishing a
structured crisis communications program, and the challenges facing Chinese
companies planning an overseas IPO.  Each speaker addressed the challenges and
opportunities for Chinese companies in using investor relations in a time of
increasingly intense international media and investor focus on domestic
companies and China's business environment.
    "Investors are focusing heavily on the corporate governance of Chinese
companies -- and especially on how they communicate," said Mark Hynes,
Managing Director of Investor Relations at Xinhua PR Newswire, "Companies that
communicate broadly, massively improve their reach into institutional and
retail investors, and win the benefits of increased recognition.  The seminar
examines in detail how this works."
    "Chinese companies today face complex challenges in managing perceptions
of the media, analysts and investors in international markets.  These events
will be a platform to discuss the challenges, and unique opportunities, for
Chinese companies planning IPOs, and the increasingly important role of
investor relations in managing the reputation of aspiring public companies,"
said Belina Tan, Director of Burson-Marsteller's Corporate Finance Practice.
    "As Chinese companies increasingly seek access to international capital
markets, it is important that they effectively communicate with the media,
analysts and investors.  An effective investor relations program emphasizes
accountability, good corporate governance and open communication, all of which
can help build credibility with these key audiences," said Philip Lisio,
Director of Investor Relations at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.
    "Chinese companies with leading IR efforts stand to benefit
disproportionately from the inflow of foreign investment capital.  With new
investment will emerge a need by companies to identify these investors,
understand their reasons for investment, and to safeguard that commitment of
capital by forging strong relationships built on IR Best Practices," said
Robert Gardner, Director of Capital Markets Intelligence at Thomson Financial
Corporate Group.
    The seminar was well-attended by representatives from Chinese companies
across a spectrum of industries, as well as the legal profession and
investment banking community.

    About Xinhua PR Newswire
    Xinhua PR Newswire is a marketing alliance created by Xinhua Finance and
PR Newswire.  Xinhua PR Newswire assists companies and organizations in Asia
with cost effective means to send news and information to the media, general
public and investment community in China, Asia and the rest of the world.
Xinhua PR Newswire distributes press releases to 135 countries and regions in
30 languages by leveraging PR Newswire's global news distribution networks and
the latest in communications technology.  Xinhua PR Newswire also provides
targeting and measurement services in Asia.  Visit http://www.xprn.com for
further information.

    CONTACT:
     Yujie Chen of Xinhua PR Newswire
     Tel:   +86-10-6515-0195
     Email: yujie.chen@xprn.com

    About Burson-Marsteller:
    Founded in 1953, Burson-Marsteller is the one of the largest public
relations and communications consulting firms in the world.  Burson-Marsteller
entered China in 1986, and currently has three offices in Mainland China --
Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.  Burson-Marsteller operates in multiple
functional and industry practice specialties in 55 countries.  For more
information about Burson-Marsteller, please visit our global corporate website
http://www.bm.com .

    CONTACT:
     Charlie Butcher of Burson-Marsteller
     Mobile: +86-1370-1031-357
     Email:  Charlie_Butcher@bj.bm.com

    About Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
    Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide is dedicated to helping companies in
China and across Asia Pacific build their brands and enhance their overall
competitiveness.  Ogilvy PR, working with leading companies in the region, has
been a pioneer in helping management teams go global through such activities
as strategic marketing, international listings, employee communications and
internal branding.  The Ogilvy Network is also known for protecting brands in
times of difficultly through its innovative approaches to issues management
and crisis resolution.
    Ogilvy PR has an extensive track record of working with global CEOs and
senior government officials across the region to develop meaningful
partnerships.  2004 marks the fourth year Ogilvy PR has supported BusinessWeek
Executive Programs as a Strategic Partner for high-level dialogues about the
issues facing the region.
    Ogilvy PR has won local and global recognition for its strength,
consistency and quality of work, including:

     -- Best PR Firm in China, 2004 - Successful Marketing Magazine
     -- International Agency of the Year, 2003 - The Holmes Report
     -- Network of the Year, Asia, 2002 - PR Week
     -- Agency of the Year, 2001 - PR Week
     -- Agency of the Year, 2000 - The Holmes Report

    Ogilvy PR:  Insights, Ideas and Influence.

    CONTACT:
     Philip Lisio of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
     Tel:   +86-10-8520-6505
     Email: Philip.Lisio@ogilvy.com

    About Thomson Financial Corporate Group
    Thomson Financial Corporate Group focuses on creating financial solutions
for corporate customers including CEOs, investor relations (IR) professionals
and CFOs.  This group provides capital markets information and advisory
services relating to equity ownership and market activity to more than 4,500
publicly traded companies and financial professionals in 45 countries. Its
comprehensive suite of services includes capital markets intelligence,
investor targeting, analytical services, Outbound services such as webcasting
and IR homepage hosting along with First Call all seamlessly integrated into
IRChannel.
    Thomson Financial Corporate Group is an indispensable source for solutions
that maximize shareholder valuation.  World-class data and technology-
leveraged by the skill, creativity and intelligence of professionals-have
helped many public companies to achieve appropriate valuations, dampen
volatility, predict the effects of major structural changes on the shareholder
base, and generally promote stability to increase investor confidence.

    About Thomson Financial
    Thomson Financial is a US$1.5 billion provider of information and
technology solutions to the worldwide financial community.  Through the widest
range of products and services in the industry, Thomson Financial helps
clients in more than 70 countries make better decisions, be more productive
and achieve superior results.  Thomson Financial is part of The Thomson
Corporation (http://www.thomson.com), a leading provider of value-added information,
software applications and tools to more than 20 million users in the fields of
law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference
information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and
healthcare.  The Corporation reported 2003 revenues of US$7.6 billion and its
common shares are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges (TSX:
TOC; NYSE: TOC).

    CONTACT:
     Spencer Seto of Thomson Financial Corporate Group
     Tel:   +852-2905-3185
     Email: Spencer.seto@thomson.com

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