Media Advisory

Source:

Chinese Government Statistics
Strategic Forecasting, January 11, 2006, “Dissecting the Chinese Miracle”
China Daily, 3-2004

Dutton Associates Analyst characterizes the market for luxury goods

HONG KONG, CHINA, AND LOS ANGELES, CA – The Chinese economy grew 9.9% in 2005 as gross domestic product increased to $2.26 trillion as reported by the Chinese statistics bureau on January 25, 2006. This marks the 15th consecutive year of significant GDP growth and confirms China’s position as the fastest growing country in the world. China is now the world's fourth largest economy. With increasing affluence among the highly populous coastal cities, a growing middle-class now appears hungry for the trappings of success: the luxury-goods market appears set for tremendous growth.

KEY STATISTICS:

  More than $1 trillion USD in foreign direct investment has flowed into China in the last decade.

  Western investment into China has remained startlingly constant at about $7 billion annually.

  China’s Population: 1,306,313,812 (July 2005 est.)

  About 49% of households in the urban areas are classified as middle class.

  The Chinese middle class is expected to reach 40% of the population by 2020 under current economic growth
     conditions.

LJ International, Inc. (LJI) (Nasdaq/NM: JADE), based in Hong Kong and the U.S., is engaged in the designing and distribution of luxury jewelry throughout Asia and the world.

Package Description:

Soundbites include:

  Sally H. Wallick, CFA, Dutton Associates.

  LJI’s Chairman and CEO, Yu Chuan Yih.

B-Roll includes:

  Chinese shoppers at new jewelry retail outlet in Macau.

  Chinese luxury-goods consumers

  Urban China B-roll