 Hello from downtown Honolulu. From the center of the Pacific, the Pioneer Plaza, we're here at the ThinkTech studios. I just want to take a moment to say Merry Christmas to all the ThinkTech people. It's quite a vibrant community of hosts and guests and volunteers and technical people behind the scenes here who make this happen continuously. And just a word of recognition and gratitude for all you do to make communications possible. I'm Michael North and I'm the guest host for this episode of the Art of Thinking Smart. I'm filling in for David Chang. And in this program we attempt to capture some of the applied knowledge and wisdom of experienced people in the business and economic and cultural and technical worlds to pass that information, those ideas, on to others so that we can think smart. Not just think fast or have a lot of information or go from place to place quickly, but we think so we can go around corners efficiently so that we can make the decisions that will produce good results. And that's quite an art and it takes a little time. And sometimes there's a good deal of trial and error. Sometimes there's mentorship and education that takes apart. Sometimes professional standards and so on help us. We have a person here today who has an unusual range of experience in China, in mainland China and in America. This is Xiaofang Zhou, our guest for today. Xiaofang's life is divided roughly into two parts. The first half spent in China as a student and a young professional and working in various industries in China, a university graduate. And then coming to America and starting from scratch, starting from a suitcase and building into several successful businesses, import, export and retail and so on. And she's also done a lot of work in the field of cross-border communications between America and China because she has the language and the understanding on both sides and applied experience on both sides. Aloha, I'm Carl Campania. I hope you please. So Xiaofang, when she looks at the international scene these days, she sees both opportunities and challenges, has an unusually clear view. And she's here after six months solid working in Beijing. And you came here for a series of events called Deep Love, which is an unusual title. Can you tell us a little bit about Deep Love and what that program was? It was just completed two days ago, so it's very fresh. Aloha is so good to be back home in beautiful Hawaii. I was living in China, Beijing for the last six months. And during the last six months I was traveling also around China. And one of the cities I always go visit is Huai'an. Huai'an is a small town in Jiangsu province. It's almost like a center in China. Near by Suzhou, everybody heard about Suzhou, Shanghai. Huai'an is a small town, but it's also lived a great peacemaker. It's small by Chinese standards. About three, four million people. Yes. Much bigger than Honolulu, but by Chinese standards it's a small sub-regional capital. Beautiful place. Yes. And Joe Lai, the first Premier of China who was born in that city, Huai'an. So I often visit his home, his family there. What's the time frame for Joe and Lai? When was he born? Well, Joe and Lai, the former Premier of China, who was born in Huai'an on March 5th, 1898. So it's 118 years, 118 years. So he lived through war and revolution and, wow, the whole 20th century was, that was a very challenging time for China. It is. And lots of people, of course, Chinese people, he is beloved Premier and he's people's Premier. The world maybe no Joe and Lai is a politician statement, the government Premier, but they didn't know more. They didn't know much about who the Joe and Lai, the person, as a father, as an uncle, as a people's. And as a husband. Yes. And when I, the last visit, I, it was in June, early June, and I visited the Joe and Lai resident where he was born. And the director at the Joe and Lai resident, they showed me a beautiful new exhibition in their courtyard. And that's called Deep Love, Kangli Qin Shen. It talks about, you know, in China, everybody know Joe and Lai, but actually, they also know there, he has a beautiful wife, but not only as a couple for 60 years, but they also, you know, fought together, shoulder by shoulder. And they've been, they've been through the long march, and they went through the new China. And her name is Deng Yinchao. And I think in the western, not so many people know about his wife, Deng Yinchao. And they met when they were teenagers. And Deng Yinchao was a speaker, was a leader, was a woman, a pioneer for the, for, for new China. And this exhibition. That was the time when women's rights was not a common subject in China. Right. Right. Because women couldn't own property or have a job. Right. So she was the, the pioneer for leading the woman movement. And so this exhibition is about Joe and Lai and Deng Yinchao, their life, their youth, and their revolution, their whole life. So when I saw, it's about the 38th panel. And they asked me, we have shown this in China, all over China. But we've never been to Hawaii. We've never been to abroad. Can you help us to take this exhibition so that have other people, the western Americans know Joe and Lai and Deng Yinchao? Because through their stories, they can understand the past China, the new China, and the China today, because they represent the spirit, the best spirit of the Chinese nation. So we're talking about the art of thinking smart here. Joe and Lai was a very intelligent person. And he must have developed some principles, some ideas for thinking smart in his long career to survive and to guide China through those treacherous waters. When you think of Joe and Lai, what's the number one lesson that we hear now in the 21st century could learn from Joe and Lai? What can he teach us? Respect. Joe and Lai is very respected by Chinese people, the government people, business people, young people, older people. And he's still remembered, still today. And the strong, you know, the word is respect, because he respect people, not just the people for the China, but people from around the world, Africa, America, Europe. So could you say you give respect and you receive respect? Yes. And the two are, which comes first? Do you have to give it or do you have to ask for it? I think the first is to giving. Giving is a receiving. Because when you give, I say, I have a gift. I have to hand it to you. So my hand is out. And that is the same time as a receiving as well. Here's the test. And it's for all of us to pass this test. Sometimes we give respect. But despite that, other people don't hear, they don't listen, they don't know, and they even disrespect when we give. So what is the right response when we give and then we do not receive? What should we do? Give respect with understanding. There's a different level of understanding. I'm talking about the deeper understanding, the cultural, the person, the history, the gesture. There's a lot of misunderstanding. And if you have a misunderstanding each other, then that's the first, I think it's the first foundation. But respect comes with human, all human beings will love that for the respect. So without knowing you or judging where you're from, but we showing our respect to one another, like aloha, whether you know them, Hawaii is a perfect place. People come here, they can all feel the warmth of aloha. Is it different from other places in that way? Very different. The aloha, when I first come to Hawaii, and that word is a reason, it's just a seeded into my being. And it's not just a word, it's the meaning, it's the gesture, it's understanding, it is feeling connected. So you were hosting a number of people from China here over the past week. Yes. And some of them very high level delegation from the government. Yes. Did they feel aloha? Was that connected somehow? Yes. Really? I never see them. The biggest smile when they first arrived here. Of course, the warmth, China is, Beijing is very cold. It's below zero. Hawaii, the, you know, the warmth and the blue sky and clouds, white, white clouds and green flowers and mountain, ocean. And they feel very welcome, very, you know, like a hugged by the nature. And then there's a people from Hawaii. And everybody has a big smile and they have a flower shirt. So it's very different when you come in, you feel welcome, that you feel you are in the nature, you are connected with people without barrier, with one word of aloha. And, yeah, they... This was an event that was a, it was an official event at the Hawaii State Capitol. Yes. And this delegation was officially welcomed by Speaker of the House, former Speaker of the House Calvin Say and by current Speaker of the House Josuke and other representatives. And the Attorney General of the state came. So did those people connect with their friends from across the ocean? And is that part of your intent and mission? Yes. Everybody feels like a home, like the words Ohana. Because in China, actually, a lot of people come to me and say, you know, Hawaiian cultural is similar to Chinese cultural. They're very friendly, very homestyle. And there's politician, there's a business man, there's, you know, ordinary people, scholars. But when we come together, it's like a melting pot. There's no difference. Everybody is like a brother and sister, like a family. So they really feel home and they felt very special. We're going to take a brief break and be back in just one minute. Aloha. I'm Carl Campania. I hope you please visit us this summer. It's a wonderful summer. It's actually a cooler summer than we're used to. But I hope that you come back and visit us and watch our show Education Movers, Shakers and Reformers here on Think Tech, Hawaii. It's at noon every Wednesday. See you then. Hello, and Aloha. My name is Raya Salter, and I am the host of Power of Hawaii, where Hawaii comes together to figure out how we're going to work towards a clean and renewable energy future. We have exciting conversations with all kinds of stakeholders, everyone who needs to come together to talk about renewable energy, be they engineers, advocates, lawyers, utility executives, musicians or artists to see how we can come together to make a renewable future. Tuesdays at 1 p.m. Welcome back to the Art of Thinking Smart. Here we are with Xiaofang Zhou from the Asia Pacific Group. Now, Asia Pacific Group, Xiaofang, what is Asia Pacific Group? What are you doing? How and why? What's it about? Well, Asia Pacific Group was originally was Asia Pacific Network Foundation. It's a nonprofit organization, and we have a senior run, founded this program. It's Roger Epstein. He was the, and then Mark Shlove and other lawyers in Hawaii, Honolulu. And they have been working with Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, the bar for many, many years. And especially Roger Epstein went to China in a giving presentation on tax law, trustee insurance for those Chinese investors in the law, at the law firm, because they have a lot of declines. And but they're coming. Yeah, they're coming and they're buying homes. They become our neighbors and they buy businesses. But before they come, they don't really have the full information on the law, especially tax law, because the U.S. tax law is international global. And most of the investors, they have a business in China. And to serve these people already here, and people are planning to come in here. And for the future, we actually, we decided to have a business group that specifically helping those people. So this, this June, I was in China, open office for the Asia Pacific Group, and working directly with all these law firm and business organizations and partial government and partial private entities. So that's what you know, we do presentation, we, you were there, Roger was there. And we have a partner, Tobin, butcher. So we were there also to build relationship, because it is very difficult to do business across country. It's difficult. There's, you know, obstacles in your own country. So there, there's a lot, not just law or investment, there's a cultural differences. There's a language barrier. And there's the environment, everything, protocol, politics, everything is a different. So our group at Asia Pacific Group is focused on the development for eight principles. Yeah, in spite of all the businesses, we helping the Chinese people actually to blend it in to a cultural of the US. So for them to really feel this is home because it really teach them the art of thinking smart. Yes, in America. Yeah. And so you said something earlier that caught my interest. We were talking about respect. And I asked how you develop respect. And you said, through understanding, understanding is not always that easy. Even among people in America, there's communities that don't understand each other. Different history, different vocabulary, different food, different everything. And the gap between the American community and the Chinese is in some ways even greater. So how do you approach because you've had to do this? How do you approach understanding something that you don't understand? You just come from zero? How do you do that with open heart? Or you say love? Love is a universal language. Once you have that open heart, and the love unconditionally just love, like you love nature, you love people the same. Can you love unconditionally in business? Of course. And that is the core, the all successful businesses. The first in Chinese, there's a four rule, like a diamond have a four rule. There's lots of rules in China. In real estate, there's a rule in business. There's also, I say the four rule. So that is like a law. You need to understand the business, the core of the business. And then you have the money. You are well equipped, because money is the tool. And then you have the partnership. And then you have the location. This could be anywhere. It could be Hawaii. So once you have this four principle, and the next three rule, it's also very important in business, especially doing business with Asia, China. Number one rule is a relationship. And number two is a relationship. And number three is a relationship. The relationship is combined so many, there's a trust that there's a respect, there's understanding, there's a love, open heart, sincerity, so many that can be into that relationship. Yeah, I've heard said that Chinese businesses based on relationship first, and then business negotiation follows. A lot of American business is based on business negotiation, relationship, customer relationship, client and so on. And from that may develop the personal relationships. So in a way, as in many other things, China and America are mirror images of each other. And we are affecting each other, of course. Many young Chinese come here. Many young Americans go there. So this is going to change, right within our lifetimes. How do you see America and China moving forward together? You know, I personally feel the relationship is a little different. Where we're talking here, the China, the relationship to the Chinese, what it what what does that mean to Chinese? And what does that mean to America, even not a relationship? Even that's just one word that I think has two different meanings. In America, it's more, to me, it's more mechanical. It is the order, it is the right, you know, all the company has the protocol. And they have a systematic as a relationship, right, for the customer. But in China, the relationship is how do I describe it? It's very hard to describe. It's almost like a family, almost like a family. So for instance, we, we also, I'm on board for the Pacific Royalty. Pacific Royalty is based on that relationship and trust and respect and understanding and coming with the business model. So, for instance, in before the law, before the customer service, and, you know, the all the program, there's only human relationship, thinking back in hundreds. Let's bring it to something really useful for our audience. Yeah. And I think probably everybody in this audience would be interested to know, how can I effectively do business in China? Of course, I'm interested in having that relationship and building my business. What is the first step that an American or anyone outside of mainland China should know, should take? And as an expert in that field, how should, how can you begin? Because it seems so difficult sometimes. First of all, be a student. Oh, yeah. For American business people, when you want to do business with China, go to China and learn and listen and be a good student with, you know, what's what you have learned in America or the world, put it aside and go to China. And so we're not going there to teach them or show them or give them something. Well, you first be a student, then you can be the best teacher because knowing yourself, because you already learned so much here in America, but you don't know China to win the win. Business is both sides. So you need to not only understand yourself and the law here, but you need to understand the other side, your partner. So I sense a connection to respect that word we started with forming right there. If you're if you're really a good student, if you're really receptive in learning, then it's out of a sense of respect, which will be returned. Yes. Right. Yeah, we all love to teach. We all love to share. So if you are humble, you know, be a student, all Chinese people will love to teach will love to share. That's our that's in our custom. We all love to talk. Yes, not all of us love to listen. And not just with our heads, but with our open heart. Yeah. Yeah. It might seem difficult for some business people who just, you know, I've got my shoes, and I want to go there. They're special shoes, and I got the right price and they have the right logo and color. I just want to sell my shoes in China and go home. Yes. And I sense that what you're saying is that is not going to work. Well, you know, some in some cases it would work, but it won't last. It's, you know, we're talking about the relationship, the sustainable, the long term relationship. So that's if you really want to build that actually is a pattern. A lot of American businesses get a start in China, but then can't sustain it. Right. And they have to pull back. Yes. Even that happened to Uber. Yeah, it's actually very costly than just, you know, taking time and patient to learn and to listen. And so how can we how can we reach you if we need this type of advice? Well, I'm here. We have office here at the Honolulu, Hawaii. The number is 808-638-7100. And we we have people here answer the phone 24 seven. Of course, we have eight hours. But there's a website. Yeah, there's a website, Asia Pacific Group that US and in China, Beijing, if you often visit China, I will be in Beijing. And that number is, I give you my cell number, because I can't remember my landline. We have a small office and but it's right in the center of Beijing, Chang'an Avenue. Number one, and the number is 1366-125-8223. Very good. So welcome to Beijing. I hope you know welcome to to visit. Thank you, Xiaofeng. I really appreciate your insight and sharing your time with us. So Merry Christmas to everybody. It's that season to enjoy family and peace and reflect on what's coming in the new year. Aloha.