Leadership Summit Session Six:: Dr. Zhao Xiao

Dr. Zhao Xiao was commissioned by the Chinese government in 2002 to come to the United States and do research into why the capitalist economy provided the country so much success.  Dr. Xiao concluded that this economic philosophy was so successful because of its rootedness and connectedness to Christian principles.  Along the way, Dr. Xiao even converted to Christianity.  He returned to China as a converted Christian Chinese communist (!).  He has been advocated for religious freedom from his governmental platform ever since.

• Leadership is not just influence; it is about leading people in the right direction.  Simply influencing them is not enough.
• What will be the significant change that will define the next 500 years?  Perhaps it will be the rise of China.
• Dr. Xiao doesn't think the right term is "rise up;" it is "come back."
• China was a world leader in many ways from Christ's birth to 1870; since then, it has fallen off severely.
• In the last several years, the World Bank has documented that never has such a huge population experienced such a dramatic growth in economic power.
• By the end of this year, China will supersede Japan to #2, and is poised to overtake the U.S.
• However, economic growth does not automatically lead to leadership influence and good decisions.
• China has struggled with dramatic pollution and resource challenges.
• China is struggling with disparity, corruption, and other invisible problems as they grow: they are moral problems.
• If China can not export values and ethics, then China can not become a superpower (Margaret Thatcher).
• Another scholar has been quoted saying, "There is no such thing as a 'Chinese dream'."  Equivalent to the American dream.
• Many people in the world love Americans, not because of their economy/materialism, but because of their values.
• China must once again open her arms to learn, not just systems and policies, but culture and values... the most important one being from Christianity.
• Missionaries' work, like Matteo Ricci, Robert Morrison, and Eric Liddel, has borne fruit, even despite Chairman Mao's persecution.
• Conservative estimates count 18 million Christians in China; optimistic counts are at about 130 million.
• Life transformation is now exceeding economic transformation in China.
• Chinese people are not stubborn; their culture is not static, but dynamic.
• In Chinese history, there have been two cultural revivals: the Han dynasty (200 B.C.) with Confucianism and Taoism, and later with the incorporation of Buddhism.
• Dr. Zhao thinks that Christianity will support a new revival in Chinese culture.
• There are already movements that are affecting the way Chinese business leaders do business, and how ministries are being organized.  See the Cypress Leadership Institute.
• If China's life in Christ grows as its economy grows, China will be a blessing to the world.