China has 5,000 years of history in its civilization. Yet, is it going backward at barely 30 years old? This is the thinking of Y. P. Chan, a speaker at the Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) last Friday at the SCCC’s office.
An entrepreneur and business consultant on U.S.–China trade, Chan explained that the late Chinese leader Deng Xiao Peng formed the initiative to open up China 30 years ago. The modernization of China has driven the nation to reform all levels of the society. Poverty has lessened and growth has skyrocketed. Chan cited statistics that state China’s economy could surpass that of the U.S. and Europe in less than two decades.
Y.P. Chan
China’s rise could be attributed to its effective leadership, Chan said, by putting the best people and resources to get the job done. When other countries were stuck in discussions for decades, China was speedy and efficient. The Shanghai bullet train (called the Shanghai Maglev Train) is a living example of that — completed in 12 months.
“Democracy is not good in a crisis,” Chan said. He cited the the Alaskan viaduct, which has been tarnished by factions and disagreement.
Born in China and raised in Hong Kong, Chan chooses to live in Seattle with his family and travels between America and China.
Seattle is a great place to raise kids, he said. The air quality of America can beat China anytime.