Chen, general manager of the Shanghai Pepsi-Cola Beverage Co., Ltd., has entered the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as a new member of the committee.

"I become a member of China's top advisory body, which shows the caring and kind attention the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese government had shown to entrepreneurs and technicians in foreign-funded firms," said Chen, who is now in Beijing for the first session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee, which is due to begin on Monday afternoon.

According to the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee, there would be 33 business leaders from major state-owned enterprises and 65 representatives from China's fledgling private sector and other nonpublic-owned firms in the 10th CPPCC National Committee.

Most of the Chinese entrepreneurs working in foreign-funded firms, young, well-educated and knowledgeable, have study or work experiences overseas. Whereas Chen had no such backgrounds though she was born and raised in Shanghai and had received higher education in China. Her capability, however, is beyond the reach of any one else and has won everyone's hearty respect and admiration.

After taking charge of the Shanghai Pepsi-Cola in 1989, has performed miracles for her company, whose sales volume had since grown at an annual rate of nearly 30 percent, with the profits up 41.1 percent every year. She took the lead in Shanghai with her own direct sales mode and created a new marketing mechanism, under which Pepsi-Cola is delivered to the doorsteps, and has been drawing more and more customers.

Noting that foreign-funded firms are playing a critical role in China's economy, said Chen. With the in-depth growth of its opening-up process and entry to the World Trade Organization, it is imperative for China to continue to do a good job in drawing and using foreign funds, and this represents a long-term objective for the country.

Meanwhile, she noted, effective and substantial measures should be taken to tackle some knotty problems relating to the routine operation of foreign-funded enterprises in China.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2003)