“Isolation means a lack of growth. I grew up in China at a time when the country was completely isolated. That era is over.” Quote by Zhang Xin
“Investors don't like uncertainty. The market is telling us that they need certainty, they need to see where the economy is heading. If the government is committed to continue the Open Door policy, they will need to come up with concrete policies and execution steps to increase confidence.” IfsNeedsGovernmentStepsEconomyDoorsPolicyIncreaseCome UpCommittedCertaintyUncertaintyInvestorsConcreteExecutionHeadings Author:Zhang Xin
“The question is not about whether it will work or not. It's how quickly we can pull it off. Structural change will happen. When economies grow, there comes a time when you cannot rely on investment alone. We had that. The return on investment is becoming less and less. So we have to change. The old model doesn't work anymore. It's a question of speed.” HappensGrowsEconomyReturnBecomingModelsInvestmentSpeedRelyThere Comes A TimeReturn On Investment Author:Zhang Xin
“Many years ago, we were only able to build boxes. Today, architects from all over the world are working with us - Zaha Hadid from London, Gerkan, Marg and Partner from Hamburg, Kengo Kuma from Japan. We brought design and digitalization from abroad to China.” WorldYearsTodayAbleDesignYears AgoBoxesChinaLondonPartnersJapanArchitect Author:Zhang Xin
“When we started out, we were among the first. Beijing had no and Shanghai had very few large buildings. At that time, it was all about building, building, building - and then selling, selling, selling. We were working like a manufacturer. Soon, however, we realized that land was running out in Beijing and Shanghai. So we started keeping our buildings, and managing and renting them out. We became landowners. That was the second act.” FirstsRunningLandBuildingSellingBeijingShanghai Author:Zhang Xin
“China's economy became more complex. By now there is a large number of small- and medium-sized companies that work quite differently from big, state-owned enterprises. They don't follow any long-term business plan and don't rent office space for years to come. They start out and need an office right away, for a week, a month or half a year, and they want to be among other entrepreneurs like themselves.” WantNeedsYearsLongStatesBigsTermSpaceNumbersHalfCompanyEconomyPlansWeekMonthsOfficeEntrepreneurComplexesChinaMediumsLong TermEnterpriseLarge NumbersBusiness PlanHalf A YearOffice Space Author:Zhang Xin
“Our tenants now are companies like Uber, the taxi service, Meituan.com, China's version of Groupon - and a large number of startups. These companies operate in a modern way, just like their customers: They go on the Internet, look for an offer and take it.” WayLooksNumbersCompanyModernGoes OnInternetOffersChinaCustomersVersionsLarge NumbersTaxiTenantsUber Author:Zhang Xin
“I went to a mixed school and I can't remember being bullied at school, ever. I was quite large, in those days. Usually, if you're going to be a bully, you'll pick on someone who is small. I didn't bully anybody, and I don't remember being bullied.” IfsI CanSchoolRememberPicksBullyingBullyBulliedBeing Bullied Author:Elton John
“China has consistently surprised us. When I returned from the United States many years ago, it was unimaginable that we would end up where we are now. What China has achieved defies all logic. I credit this to the hard work and enterprising spirit of the Chinese people.” PeopleYearsEndsHardStatesSpiritUnitedUnited StatesHard WorkYears AgoLogicChinaCreditChineseConsistentlyUnimaginableEnterprising Author:Zhang Xin
“I am a runner. Last October, there was a marathon here in Beijing. I didn't participate this time, but friends told me that the run wasn't prepared too well. The organizers had only arranged about three hours' worth of food and water supplies. Most people don't finish within three hours, however. Too bad for them - or so it seemed. In fact, however, even those finishing last were perfectly taken care of, particularly during the fourth and fifth hour when demand is highest.” PeopleWellsFactsCareRunningLastsThreeWaterHoursTakenDemandHighestPreparedFourthRunnersFifthMarathonFinishingOctoberSuppliesOrganizerBeijing Author:Zhang Xin
“Because people along the route had realized that there was demand and quickly organized supply. That's so Chinese. In a well-organized country like Germany, such a problem may not have arisen in the first place, but in China people immediately recognized an opportunity.” PeopleFirstsWellsMayCountryProblemOpportunityDemandChinaChineseGermanyOrganizedRoutes Author:Zhang Xin