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Sample Personal Statement for Commercial Diplomacy
What is the meaning of life? This is a question that I had long
been obsessed with before I got the answer from my aunt, who, after
finishing her study in Japan, has come back to China and devoted
herself to the career of helping her country to catch up with the
developed countries. I realized that the meaning of life lied in
dedicating oneself to the progress of society. As a student majoring
in international trade and economics, I decided to devote all my
life to the career of commercial diplomacy when, two years ago,
Prof. Liu Mingwei introduced us to this concept in a course she
delivered.
As a student of good study habits, I have always been among the top
ones in a group, however competitive it might be. I make study plans
so that I can use my time scientifically and efficiently. After a
plan is fixed, I will stick to it. An example of this is that I
never stopped morning reading after I began to do it a few years
ago. I am also able to grasp the most important points of a lecture
or a book. Therefore, I study more efficiently than other students.
After my entrance into college, these good study habits helped me to
absorb knowledge of international trade and economy as much as I
could. Among the specialized courses, the one that caught my
interest most was the System of International Trade, which was about
the WTO system and its agreements, globalization and many hot issues
of international trade disputes. Having obtained her Master's degree
in Commercial Diplomacy herself from Monterey Institute of
International Studies of the US, Ms. Cheng, the teacher of this
course, adopted the American teaching method, putting a lot of
emphasis on case studies, mock negotiations, group study and
presentation. Attracted by courses like this, I was completed
immersed in my study and came to the realization that, without more
trained professionals in trade related fields, including commercial
diplomacy, China cannot take advantage of the economic opportunities
provided by trade liberalization. It was this teacher who initiated
me into the wonderful world of commercial diplomacy. Besides this,
almost all of our specialized courses were taught in English and
used English textbooks. And we keep in close contact with students
of business in Hong Kong University and Columbia University. Once I
even spent two weeks living and studying with a Japanese student.
All these experiences enhanced my ability of communicating with
people from other cultures.
Because of my outstanding performance in study and excellence in
English, I was selected by the above-mentioned Prof. Liu to be her
research assistant. Prof. Cheng studied in Monterey Institute of
International Studies and Stanford University sponsored by Fulbright
foundation. His advisor was Professor Geza Feketekuty, one of the
founders of Commercial Diplomacy, a new academic subject. Commercial
diplomacy was established in 1996 as a pioneering program designed
to link traditional policy studies and international business skills
in the rapidly evolving field of international trade and commerce.
When Prof. Chen returned from the United States, she went on with
her research in China, which was a part of Dr. Feketekuty's
International Commercial Diplomacy Program. She hoped I could help
him develop this program in China. Now we have our own website -
www.commercialdiplomacy.com.cn, and have collected and translated a
large number of foreign materials into Chinese. Now, our research
platform is taking shape. Today the development of Commercial
diplomacy is only at its infant stage in China. We have a lot of
work to do in calling people's attention to its significance for our
country's development. When doing this, I find my understanding of
this subject is deepened, too.
Commercial diplomacy, as the term suggests, is the diplomacy related
with commerce. It affects the decisions of a government and in turn
influences global trade and investment. In the past, commercial
diplomacy concerned mainly the negotiation of import taxation and
quota, but as a result of globalization, it now covers a much bigger
area. The first step of commercial diplomacy is a deep analysis of
the factors that may affect the government's decision. These factors
include commercial profits, the effect of the macroeconomics on
government policy, the benefits and political influence of the
investors, relevant trade regulations and the role that the media
plays in affecting public opinions. Commercial diplomacy has a lot
to do with political tactics. Debating skills and strategy of
alliance are most important in commercial diplomacy. Commercial
diplomats have to make use of debating skills to get the investments
that they want or the political support in taxation, export credit
and control from the government. Apart from this, commercial
diplomats have to be good at the strategy of alliance. Alliance with
the government, industrial groups, different interest groups and
politically influential money holders will help to achieve the
expected result. Besides this, commercial diplomacy also covers
negotiation, dispute settlement and arbitration.
I realized the backwardness of research in this area in China and the
pressing need for development in this field after my study in
university and participation in the ICDP CHINA project. In
anti-dumping cases, for example, China answered only one third of
the accusations against it. This brought heavy economic losses to
our country. After China's entrance into WTO, whether it can keep
its promises, trade with other countries according to the WTO
regulations and thus bring benefits to both sides will depend upon
talents. Encouraged by Prof. Cheng, who is using what he has learned
in the US to help China to achieve its goal, I strengthened my
resolve to study abroad to be a specialized talent in commercial
diplomacy.
After all these years of inquiring, I found at last that commercial
diplomacy was the life for me. I am proud of the choice I have made
because it helps to promote world prosperity and I believe that I
can do something for the stable development of world economy.
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