The Idea of Together

From 21 to 28， 1972， U.S. president Richard Nixon visited the People’s Republic of China， ending 25 years of separation between the two countries and marking an important step in formally normalizing the relations between the two sides. President Nixon called the visit“the week that changed the world.”

On the 40th anniversary of the event， the late president’s youngest brother Edward Nixon came to China with a delegation of 8. On the first stop of his China visit， he met with Zhang Wei， Vice President of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in Beijing on February 20. After the meeting， Mr. Edward Nixon and Devon Nixon， the great nephew of Richard Nixon， had an exclusive interview with China’s Foreign Trade reporter.

Q: Starting 1984， you have been in China for over 30 times， strengthening US-China relationship and striking business deals in various fields. What is your purpose of this visit to China?

Edward Nixon: First and foremost， this trip is to recognize the anniversary of the opening that changed the world. The visit 40 years ago shows how much change would take place if you get both sides together and solve the problem. I haven’t realized until recently how much strategy my brother uses in confronting problems by getting the two extremes together. We need more of that internationally. The leaders of China and the leaders of the United States need to be less accusatory and more receptive by listening. It’s very important to listen before you open your mouth. That philosophy is within our family.

Beyond that， every time I come to China， whether it’s for an official thing， like a diplomatic effort， there is always an interest in the commercial side， the prospect for improving the exchange in both directions. We need to have more exchange of entrepreneurs from both countries， finding out what’s new， what’s the promising prospect and where we can go with it together. The idea is together.

Q: Are you bringing any project or

forefront technologies to China for this trip?

Edward Nixon: There are a lot of ideas that I want to introduce on this trip. I come with a formula for hydro metallurgical treatment of base metal ores. It cleans up bad extraction process. We use the technology in Chile. We will see if we can get the Chinese to help and invest in our effort in the United States. We can also cooperate here in China.

Besides， I am bringing green nano steel technology which comes from Hungary. It produces extraordinarily strong nano steel. It requires much less iron content to get the same result. The technology needs not only to be spread in China， but worldwide.

We also try to bring new solar energy technologies to Baoding. It’s four times efficient extracting energy from the Sun by using concentrating light through lens onto a cell that’s made of exotic materials.

We have some projects under way. For example， a visa program in Massachusetts inviting Chinese to invest in the United States， provide ten jobs and get a life visa. It’s a golden opportunity. We will come back another time and see what we can do.

Devon Nixon: Uncle Edward helped make the first suggestions that led President Richard Nixon to create the Environmental Protection Agency. Since then， a lot of the world’s top inventors， people who are interested in green technology and energy， have come to our family to bring these businesses global.

Our family is involved in an agriculture company called SoilTap， to improve soil condition and sustainably improve agriculture in a natural way. We have been testing and proving the technology in the U.S. for over ten years. It’s very successful. Tests show it increases the yield up to 200% and at the same time increases the nutrients value on average by 50%. It is proven technology already in use in the U.S.， Panama and other countries. This is aproduct I have seen with my own eyes and know is real.

In the future， we have another carbon negative business that turns trash， and anything with a carbon base， into electricity and fuels. We have a lot of very new technologies that can improve the livelihood in China. I know China’s next Five-Year Plan is very focused on agriculture and green technology. We are able to help.

Q: On this trip， what places are you going to visit and who are you going to meet with?

Edward Nixon: After Beijing， we will go to Hangzhou， Shanghai， Kuanshan， Wuxi， and Shenzhen. Aside from the anniversary event， the major cooperation we want to develop is the green nano steel. We will be meeting steel companies that can import the new nano steel formula as I mentioned before.

Devon Nixon: For the agricultural side of the business， I am going to start my company in China very soon. Because the technology and the products are so new， the way to test it is also new. I am looking forward to meeting with the right people so that we can market and sell the products in China， to improve not only farmers’ lives but also Chinese people’s lives. One of the things I always look for in my ventures are those that have a positive impact on the people they touch.

Q: What advantages and difficulties do you see U.S. companies often have when doing business in China? Do you have any suggestions for them?

Edward Nixon: Red tape is always a problem. U.S. companies doing business in China need to find the right person to take charge and direct them.

Devon Nixon: China has always been the manufacturer of the world. And now with the rise of the middle class， it will be the purchaser. China’s consumer market has a very bright future.

From all my friends here in China and from my experience in the past three and a half years， people look at U.S. companies as having high-quality products. U.S. brand names bring a certain image of good quality. That is a benefit to U.S. companies bringing their products here.

As to the difficulties， it is common for businessmen in China to take time with things and deal in roundabout ways. While in the U.S.， businessmen like to be direct and get things done fast. So if U.S. companies try to do business in China with a U.S. mindset， there will be a conflict. You can’t come to China and ask things to be done right now. You need to have a vision of a long term. You must be patient and work hand in hand. I don’t expect my business to happen overnight. I plan to be here for the foreseeable future. I think this is a difficulty that can be overcome.

Q: With huge foreign exchange reserves in China and high unemployment rate in the States， both Beijing and Washington are encouraging Chinese companies to invest in the States. However， many Chinese investing attempts were thwarted by the U.S. on the ground of threatening its national security. How do you see the obstacles to Chinese enterprises trying to invest in the States?

Edward Nixon: If there is a suspicion on the part of the United States， so much to make an obstacle out of it， that is very discouraging. We are getting around that. We have more and more reasons to open that door and find out what it’s all about. I am optimistic that things will get better. More exchange will improve our relations and peace of the world.

Chinese enterprises trying to invest in the States need to have someone who is in good standing with the U.S. government as their lead， as someone who can put things into operation， at least someone with the enthusiasm to see something through to the end. But at the same time， they should keep the door open. If things do not work， shut it aside and go for another one.

Q: How was your meeting with Vice President Zhang of CCPIT? In what way can you work with CCPIT? Edward Nixon: I met with Vice President Zhang here this morning. There is a lot we can do in solar energy， mining， agriculture， cashmere， etc. I think it’s a golden opportunity here. If I have the means， I will be here again to visit your facilities and consider your options.

President Zhang added that Mr. Edward Nixon and Devon Nixon will be welcome to CCPIT’s trade and investment promotion activities such as the Guizhou Investment and Trade Fair and Inner Mongolia Mining Conference.