Global Leadership Summit 2010 Day 1:Dr. Peter Zhao Xiao

From the conference notes:

A prominent Chinese economist, Dr. Peter Zhao Xiao was commissioned by his government to study the success of the American economy. He concluded that a moral foundation allowed the economy to flourish, argued that China's economy would benefit from the spread of the Christian faith, and embraced Christianity himself.

Former Head of the Economic Research Center, where he provided strategic advice for the central committee of the Chinese government, he continues to be a respected scholar and government advisor, speaking openly about the influence of Christianity on economics.

In 2007, Dr. Zhao assumed the chairmanship of the Cypress Leadership Institute which seeks to help transform the business culture in China and to bring world-class leadership resources to Chinese leaders in key industries.

From my personal notes:

• The communist party sent Zhao to the U.S. to learn about free market economics, and ended up concluding that the Chinese economy will benefit from the Christian faith.
• Zhao lives in Beijing and doesn't speak English (a translator was present).
• Wrote an economic paper for school entitled "Market Economies with Churches and Market Economies without Churches".
• Religion brings stability to economies.
• Agrees with Bill Hybels that leadership is about bringing someone from one place to another ("here" to "there"), but also stated that it's about bringing someone to the "right place" – in the "right direction".
• The most significant change in the last 2,000 years was Christ being born and the spreading of Christianity.
• The most significant change in the last 1,000 years was the change that Martin Luther brought about.
• In the past 500 years, the most significant change was the discovery of America by Columbus and the "blooming" of America.
• The twentieth century brought about the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of China.
• Zhao does not agree with the statement that China is "rising up", but that it is "coming back".
• China led for most of the last 5,000 years, and fell far behind, but no other country has seen the high rate of growth that China has seen in the last 30 years.
• China is about to surpass Japan economically, and by the year 2020 is expected to surpass the U.S.
• Margaret Thatcher once said that China will not become a superpower unless it can export values.
• No country in Asia will follow China. There is no "Chinese Dream" like the "American Dream".
• The Chinese people love Americans because of the values the people exhibit.
• China needs to go beyond economic growth.
• China needs more mature leadership, to learn from the whole world – not just economically, or technologically, but culturally – to learn from the world's best values.
• Most importantly, China "must" learn Christian values.
• Zhao expressed his thankfulness to all the missionaries who brought the Gospel to China, such as Matteo Ricci, Robert Morrison, and Eric Liddell. 
• In 1949, missionaries were asked to leave China.
• It might take 1,000 years to recover the church of 1949, but "God is powerful".
• Christians have grown 100-fold in the last 30 years – conservative estimates indicate there are now 18 million Christians, while "optimistic" estimates indicate upwards of 130 million.
• "Personal life" transformation has far surpassed China's economic growth. 
• Zhao prays that China will become the largest Christian nation in the world.
• Personal life transformation happens first, and the rest builds upon this foundation.
• There are only 2 forms of transformation: transformation with the cross and transformation without the cross.
• All great civilizations have either been Christian or have been influenced by Christians.
• "America has built a city on a hill."
• Europe came first, then America, and now Asia.
• One good thing about Chinese culture is that Chinese people are "not stubborn".
• "Chinese culture is not a static thing – it is dynamic."
• 202 B.C. – Han Dynasty
• The Han Dynasty combined Confucianism and Daoism.
• 618 A.D. – Tang Dynasty
• The Tang Dynasty combined Confucianism, Daoism, and Tao Buddhism.
• Zhao believes a "third great revival" is coming, one that combines Confucianism, Daoism, Tao Buddhism, and Christianity.
• China is forming a harmonious society.
• Taking Christianity away now will not enable a harmonious society.
• A Chinese "Mayflower" has set sail – Chinese coming to America to learn.
• The Chinese government has seen how honest Christian business people are – they are always the first to follow the law – to comply, for example, when the government first asked businesses to keep only one set of books.
• Zhao believes that having a lot of Christians in China alone does not guarantee a "smooth ride". China has "quantity" now, but not "quality".
• Zhao stated that he knows a lot of Westerners fear China. The Church can support China – to help the Chinese love God more, to help them live godly lives, to give generously, to love their neighbors.
• Zhao concluded by saying that he hopes the Global Leadership Summit will be held in China one day.