 Think Tech Hawaii, civil engagement lives here. Welcome to Think Tech Hawaii with Jay Fidel, Understanding China. My name is Xiaofeng Zhou, I'm your host for today, China through American Chinese Eye. And our guest today is Marina Pong. She is a successful businesswoman, a community leader. And she is the president of Hong Kong Business Association of Hawaii. Our, for the last past years, Marina Pong has been leading business group from Hawaii to China and she has seen a different China, a growing China, and a changing China. So welcome to Think Tech Hawaii. Thank you for having me, Xiaofeng. On our past episode, we talked about China Dream and One Road, One Belt. China through government, China Dream is focused on its infrastructure through government and private funding. Also known as the public private partner, PPP projects for new bridges and new roads and so on, even new cities like Xiongn. So the road and belt is continuing of a silk road to reconnecting China to the world. And such as connecting China through the world, railway station and the new ports. So in your view, how this growing China will impact America and to the world? It's a good question. First of all, I think this One Belt, One Road is a very good idea for Chinese to implement since, I believe it is started 2012, already have that thought. Now it's an implementation period, of course, we know that. A lot of people told me that America is not part of it. Yeah, because when the old America, only 200 some years, you know, history and the world is more than that. So at that time, Chinese do business trade is through the railway or the waterway. So that's why right now, Chinese want to do this One Belt, One Road is go through the old, olden way. So, but however, I was think America is exceptional nation for the many, many years. You know, so they have a lot of things that everybody can learn. So I think they can play a very big role in it, too. If they want to, if they think that they wanted to accept this is a world connected economic growth, that's my personal will. And especially if you look at the map of One Belt, One Road, they basically is go through all this, maybe you will say third world country, it's still need to be developed. Yeah. So it's a good way to do that, to make the world is a little bit more equal in the economic environment. That's, I think is a good idea, a very good policy that China try to implement on this. Yeah. So while the China building the bridges and the railways is the same time it's helping other country to grow as well. Yes, China itself, building their big bridges, big road and big tunnel and railway because of, you know, after World War II and China still is a very, very close country and a lot of thing is not rebuilt. Yeah. And there's no outside technology that comes in to help. But now China open since the 80s, so I think that after they open and they slowly, they wanted to build the modern China. Yeah. So therefore, you saw a lot of bigger, well-willed, bigger bridges, bigger, you know, public road. Yeah. Everything is big or airport. So I think that why America cannot do it? It's not American. It's not good enough. America is a mature country already in that sense. They already have that in place. It's very difficult for them to test out everything and to rebuild it. So probably slowly they will do that. Yeah. Well, I was traveling in the East Coast last summer and I really like, you know, in New York, I still see the building, the older. Right. The subway. Buildings, yeah, the subway. And in China, which is, of course, there's a new China is a fascinating new building, new bridges. But I miss all the, you know, the courtyard and the old building. They're all gone. So in a way, I think China also pay prices. Right. Yeah, I agree. I know that you are very into the Yin Yang. Right, right. So we're going to talk a little bit about that. So, you know, we all may know about China Yin Yang symbol, you know, it's a full circle. And to me, East represent the Yin or Yang and the West represent Yin or Yang. And together we're, you know, because the difference shape and the shade to pull as a full circle. And China, like say, Yuan Meng, which means round dream, like a China dream. Round dream is also meaning the circle of a fulfillment. I see. Yeah. So as a whole, you know, there's so much we can learn from each other and there's so much we can offer one another. Right. So what do you think the most important that America can learn can learn from China vice versa, that China can learn from America? Okay. This is also my personal view. Yes. Okay. I think that America can learn from China is Chinese people, they are the hardworking people, you know, they're resilient in a way, no matter how hard they will overcome that. Yeah, that's a Chinese character in our blood. So I think that in that sense, they took them 50 years to today's, they're in a world stage, right? There's nothing anybody can do about it because they are from a very poor country. Now they are really the second largest economic power in the world. Yeah. So on the other hand, I'm a US citizen, as you know, and US is an exceptional nation all this year, all this year, still today. However, it really depends how our policy evolved in the future. Yeah, so if our policy towards economic or foreign policy, whether it will change dramatically or, you know, slowly change it or so slowly adopted the changes in the world environment that play a big part of it to me. But I think that Chinese can definitely can learn from America a lot of things, including technology, consultation, I mean, consultancy. America actually have a lot of good things. And their policy, the government towards business policy, I think to me is better than a lot in the East side, the Asia side. Yeah, not as a just China, I mean, in general, in the Eastern country, because they are more open, they are more entrepreneur spirit. That's right. So, but on the other hand, Chinese company, a lot of them, as you know, they haven't have a lot of them to partner with Chinese government, so a lot of restriction. So right, still a lot of restriction. I hope that China will, you know, slowly to lay back on that. So to let the entrepreneurs to take over all this business. I mean, I only want to talk business because we are business organizations. Well, you've been traveling, traveling throughout the year. Right, yeah, from time to time. Yeah, so have you met a lot of people that the investors, they are investing in the US? Yes, there's a lot of people, if they're looking for a stable investment, you know, because of America still is the stable environment for them to, to invest. For China, if you're looking for a short term, short term gain, three years, you can get back your investment. So that will be China. Yeah, yeah. So but long term, it really depends on the policy that, you know, the country's policy that you and I will not, or no, until then, or we will see it, or we may not even able to see it. Yeah, so this is really depends on, I hope there's a lot of young leaders come out from China, as well as US, so they will have a little bit more harmony, you know, to, to, to do all this in this world, the world stage. Yeah, we're going to take a break. Aloha. We have this crazy thing going on today. I was just walking by and all these DJs and producers are set up all around the city. I just walked by and I said, what's happening? I, they told me they were making music. So I do it. Welcome back. And you're at the show, Understanding China. And my name is Xiaofang Zhou with Marina Pong. So you've been traveling and meeting a lot of government officials and as well as business people. And I also been living there for a year and a half since 2016. And I met a lot of people as well. What do you feel the Chinese investors, when they come to China, to the US and they want to invest in hotel or entertainment or golf course, you know, what they, what they should really focus on in the US, like a cultural, because there's a cultural difference. And there's a lot of misunderstanding because whether you like it or not, Chinese are moving in, right? They will become our neighbors and they will become our maybe boss, future boss. So how American, you know, Chinese, this is a crossing country and then, you know, China was in a third world country, which still people thinking Chinese has a, you know, men still have a long hair, the braid, the Xiao Bian, Xiao Bian. So how can we really embrace that so much of the cultural differences? And also making the investors welcomed and they're here is not just, you know, making money, but they're here also to helping the local society to grow. Right. I think because China right now produce a lot of new richest men in the world. And these businessmen, they wanted to find a way to invest their money. And of course, America is one, one of the country they're looking into it. However, US have a lot of regulations and a lot of tax. Right. You come with it if you invest in US. So, and Chinese doesn't like it or doesn't use to it. So I guess that I wanted to see Chinese will understand a little bit more about those before they really enter into, you know, US, not they step the door here and then they will complain, you know, a lot of, you know, not perfect thing for them. It really depends on their goal when they invest, it's a long-term goal or short-term gain. And I think the United States on the other hand, you know, because the United States is praised for entrepreneurship, it's a free trade, you know, all this year since the founding father. So I think, you know, that's like you said, nothing you can do about it because they have the money they want to be invest here as well as the other country in the world. And we just have to have those regulations that's still in place as far as they still paying their taxes, they still doing the right thing, you know, compliance. So I think that, you know, we can live with each other, but the reason why right now we have a little tension, I guess, is a lot of Americans felt that maybe we're a little threatened by those money coming from outside, but I don't see it that way. I see it every money comes in will gain the job opportunities. Yeah, I see that way better than all this will be fell 30, 50 percent, and then there's no job opportunity because of everybody cannot make money. I would say that the same way like if the US entrepreneur should want to invest in China, the same way, I hope, I personally hope the Chinese also open to welcome them, you know. And maybe less more the Chinese regulation that they normally have, because they have a lot of control. For example, they don't want certain thing, they don't want a foreigner to own it. Right. The same. Right. Right. So I think that's both sides. Yeah, different policy. Right. Right. And learning to each other, their culture, it is a very, very critical role. I think that the Chinese culture and the Western culture is so different and they adore different things. Right. So. Well, that makes your job very important. Yes, when you go to China, you really promote them to facilitate that situation. Yeah, about not just regulation, but culture sensitive. So I think that's why Hong Kong play a very significant role in this. Because Hong Kong is a Chinese majority resident living in Hong Kong as a city, as a freest city in the world. And at the same time, and Hong Kong all this time, is half of the Western culture and Chinese culture combined. Right. So I think that's. So you have a definitely better understanding. Yes, yes, yes. So I think that they have a lot of good, very resilient professionals there that you can rely on. Right. Well, talking about Hong Kong, you're a native born. Right. And Hong Kong is really fascinating, as I remember it in my childhood. And now China is a bustling, restless and giant. And what do you hope to see changing China? I kind of like the theme, the city more city, and the village more village. So I hope China will be that way. You know, like Shanghai is really similar. Shanghai and Shenzhen is really similar to Hong Kong right now, right? That's a very city, a vibrant city. But China is so big. And there's a certain province, it's very village, like a countryside. So I hope they will balance that. Yeah, there's a lot of actually, I've been traveling in thousands of China. And each city has their own food and culture. So the government, the provincial or the district government, they're building small cities. And like the old time coming back today, and there's a lot of attraction for tourism. So is it really boot up their economic? I like to visit China. China is a fascinating tourist place. I guess there's a lot of history there. So I hope that US residents, including Hawaii residents, will put it on their list. So really go to see through your own life, the change of China. There's the old and the new. But the content, the old soul, even though you see a fast train, but there's people, you can still see the ancient China. And that's really, I feel, it's precious for people to actually go visit and just learn But I do hope that the Chinese also, on the other hand, would accept or learn a little bit more about the Western culture. For example, a lot of not very good behavior, like spitting, you know, that kind of thing. I hope that the new generation will be, you know, improve and not do it anymore. Because that's not good for the environment. Right, of course. So there's still challenges, you know? China is a big country. Right, I know. But now they're doing very good. If you think about 80 to now, they did very good already. Consider they are so big. And what is your advice for Americans? Oh, I cannot do that. If they want to go to just China for a week or what? You know, you always travel. Yes, it really depends on the individual what they really want to look. If they only wanted to be a sightseeing, a concept of China, they can just have a couple of days in Beijing, Shanghai, and then a couple of days in the, you know, maybe Sichuan province, you know, those countryside, or the older China side, so they can see both. Yeah, so they can really pretty much is country, you know? But if they only focus on business, of course, you have to go to the city, right? So I myself, if I take, go along with my members, our members, so we always focus on the city. Right, because we want to see how you do tours, too. Yes, yes, I remember that 2013 I went to China with a group of Hawaii Chinese community leaders. And we went to Shanghai, Beijing, and also Sichuan, and Zhengjia. Zhengjiajie, right. So that's a lot, and then Guangdong. So, and then back to Hong Kong. So a lot of places you can visit. So you would never, you would never tire of it, because it's so big. One last question. Do you feel you are Hong Kong Chinese and there's a million Chinese? They were so different. They're different world, different mentality, even different culture. Right. Although they are Chinese. Right. Do you feel it's kind of a competition between Hong Kong and a million Chinese? No, no. I think that if you talk about competition, everywhere is competition. Yeah. Yeah, even in America. Right. So I think that you always find someone very exceptional, like you. What you do is very exceptional. So I think that it really depends on what your mission, what's your life mission, what's your goal, what you want to achieve in your life. Yeah, so I don't feel this is a competition at all. I mean, China have so many engineering graduates every year. So compared with US, I think it's like this. But do you think it's a threatened? No, it depends on what your goal. So you can do. Maybe I'm an entrepreneurship spirit thinking. That's a very good thought. You're just a focus in business. You focus on what you want in your life. Instead of judging where it is from. Right, right. So I think that we will live in harmony if you do that. Coexistence. Yes, yes. Well, it's going to be a Chinese New Year. Yes. And what do you want to say to the people? Gong Xi Fa Cai. Gong Xi Fa Cai, yeah. In Chinese mentoring, it's Gong Xi Fa Cai. And there's an event, a special event? Well, yeah, unfortunately, how are you now? We just lost the parade this Saturday. But however, Hong Kong Association will have an event. But we will be after the Chinese New Year in Chunjie. Chunjie Spring Festival. Chunjie Spring Festival is going to be March 11. Oh, March 11. So I want to invite you. Thank you so much. But I won't be here. I'll be in China. Back to China. Yes. Oh, OK. And thank you for joining us. Oh, you're welcome. Always welcome. Yeah. And Aloha everyone. And thank you again all to join us, I think, Tech Hawaii with Jay Fadel, Understanding China. And my name is Xiaofang Zhou, your host. Aloha and Happy Chinese New Year.