I find China such a fascinating and interesting country. Each time I come back something has changed and it's moved on in leaps and bounds.
Instead of being focused on teaching what we already know, we now have to be focused on creating new knowledge that is China-based, because it's absolutely clear that China is going to shift from a production economy to a knowledge economy.
The message I would say to China is, 'Carry on with the reform; carry on with the change you are making.'
If you stop and think about it, the form of propulsion used today hasn't changed in over a thousand years... since the invention of fireworks by the Chinese.
A lot of Americans desperately want to believe that China is full of poor people who can't innovate, and the only goods they make are cheap, toxic rip-offs our Western brands. They want to believe the only reason the Chinese economy is surging is because the West wants cheap goods and China knows how to make them that way.
Historically, there had been many periods of Chinese Renaissance.
The Chinese had gunpowder, but it didn't occur to them to put it in a gun. They possessed the compass but didn't go anywhere. They invented paper, printing, and a written form of their language, but hardly anyone in China was taught to read.
Tom Friedman says China is so awesome they make kosher pigs.
Chinese companies - telecommunications and technology companies - are some of the best internationally. Taobao, WeChat, Huawei - not only are they large companies, but they're also very technologically advanced.
The copycats are interesting because some of them branded themselves as 'WeWork of China,' which helped establish us before we were there.
China is an indomitable force, and they have a commitment for excellence.
