Warren Buffett to perform for China over Chinese New Year

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Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett shouts the slogan ''Never give up, Iwaki'' in Japanese, in response to a request from a local television reporter that he do so, at the end of his news conference after the opening ceremony of Tungaloy Corp's new plant in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture November 21, 2011. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon

Berkshire Hathaway Chairman Warren Buffett shouts the slogan ''Never give up, Iwaki'' in Japanese, in response to a request from a local television reporter that he do so, at the end of his news conference after the opening ceremony of Tungaloy Corp's new plant in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture November 21, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Kim Kyung-Hoon

BEIJING | Thu Jan 5, 2012 4:25am EST

BEIJING (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett will reach out to millions of Chinese in the most curious of ways: singing for the online version of China's annual Spring Festival gala.

The Berkshire Hathaway chief executive, best known in China for his investment in automaker BYD Co Ltd, has recorded a video specially for the gala in which he sings and plays the guitar, state news agency Xinhua said, citing Wang Pingjiu, a production executive for the broadcast.

"We all know that Buffett is good at investment, but few knew he also did well in singing," Xinhua quoted Wang as telling a news conference.

Xinhua said Wang gave no details of the song. Berkshire Hathway was not available for comment on Thursday.

The gala will be broadcast on the website of China's Network Television on CNTV.cn on the first day of Chinese New Year, which falls on January 23, Xinhua said, adding that a condensed version will be shown on China Central Television.

The broadcast on the eve of Chinese New Year is the most watched program of the year. Millions tune in for the heavily scripted and censored five-hour extravaganza filled with rehearsed comedy skits and armies of dancers.

(Reporting by Sabrina Mao and Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Ron Popeski)
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Comments (5)
Neurochuck wrote:
“the most curious of ways”
Curiosity had me checking out a few English language China websites.
This may be of interest to Reuters readers, and is context for Buffett’s performance:
http://china.org.cn/business/2012-01/05/content_24325893.htm
Of note:
“during the first 11 months of 2011, capital inflow to China from 10 Asian nations and regions including Japan, Thailand and Singapore soared 17.98 percent to US$89.58 billion”
“FDI from the US plunged by 23.05 percent year-on-year to US$2.74 billion”
“ODI, rather than FDI, will be dominant in the future as more mainland firms are taking excess cash outside the country to invest in various economic projects overseas”

Jan 05, 2012 6:57am EST  --  Report as abuse
truth4achange wrote:
“scripted and censored”,”rehearsed”? Sounds exactly like the US media. I guess this is why the old guard like Reuters, CNN, FOX, etc. is dying and being replaced by alternative media. It is a New Years Program watched by children who stay home instead of going out to get drunk…of course it is carefully choreographed. Besides, where is your evidence? We are just supposed to take everything reuters says as fact as if they are the Oracle of Delphi? What an insult to the readers.

Jan 05, 2012 8:10am EST  --  Report as abuse
stainpouch wrote:
If Mao were alive, this would kill him.

Jan 05, 2012 12:12pm EST  --  Report as abuse
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