Over the course of a three-week trek through the cultural and business environment of China one begins to pick up common themes and learn that there are some truths that echo across firms and the country. The importance of planning to success, the need for good people, and the we can do it will power of the Chinese people and entrepreneurs. When we first landed in Guangzhou I am sure that all of us were awed by the size of our first stop. I know personally, I grew up in a town of 10,000 people and to be in a city of 10 million is a bit of a shock, no matter what you have read. Beyond the initial shock of the scale of many of the fantastic cities we visited I was more than awed by the devotion to hard work and hopeful nature of the Chinese people that you see instantly.
However, as driven as China and its people are they are not without their challenges. One of the most important impressions of this trip upon me is the realization that China has many faces, I’d heard this but not seen, and seeing is believing. The country is a very delicate juxtaposition that seems to balance upon idealism. To me this represented one of the largest challenges that China faces in coming years. Not only must the central government deal with the unique natures of the many different people living in the many regions of China’s vast landscape but they most also ensure that the rampant wealth that seems to benefiting such a small proportion of the population can somehow trickle down to the larger masses, and further support the ideals of the Communist party.
I was also very impressed by the lengths the Chinese government has gone to in order to welcome foreign investment. My best example is the Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP). It seems very much like Deng Xiaoping saw a tremendous opportunity for economic growth and foreign investment then seized it with both hands. Through a strategic partnership with Hong Kong, China built one of the most successful special economic regions in the world, and seemingly moved mountains to make the deal happen. Anything it took, if business needs it, the Park will provide it. From logistics to security, and from tax benefits, to supports of company employees, SIP has created an area that embraces China’s ideals while allowing business to thrive. It seems that with the pro-business philosophies of places like SIP and the various other municipalities in China taking foreign investment very seriously
I also noticed that much of the media seems to place China in a light that seems contrary to the reality. From this trip and what I have read, both for this trip and recreationally, China is making leaps and bounds in regulation and is beginning to take many things more seriously; resource management, food safety (though that seems a bit forced, especially lately), and pollution control. It seemed that every major company we went to was attempting in some way to respect their resources and minimize their impact on the environment. It is as of yet unclear though if these sentiments will be sustained over a long period or if this is just the latest craze, either way it seems the implications are positive for the nation as a whole.
I was very surprised also to see the investment being made in private education. It seems that the nation that built the Great Wall is looking to regain it’s place a top the heap and they very much understand the necessity of quality education to the nation after the cheap labor jobs have moved on.
Personally I found China to be a very exciting place, the new Wild West. It was interesting to meet ex pats who left prosperous jobs just to be a part of the environment and it was interesting to see the hope that China’s performance has seemed to instill in it’s people. Overall this trip was an amazing experience for me. China is obviously going to be a very vital part of the world in the future; the questions unanswered though are large and lingering. How will a vast central government with limited regional authority regulate land rights, how will the government and industry react to the cries for increased IP protection and food safety regulation from many of the nation’s trade partners, and how will China deal with it’s natural resources and climate change. Each of these will be vital to the country’s success on the global stage and each will be a very interesting business opportunity for the courageous and willing.
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