Christopher Nixon Cox delivered a speech at the Hopkins - Nanjing Center, Apr. 10.
“My grandfather, former US president Nixon believes a peaceful and prosperous China is very important for maintaining global stability, and the Sino-US relationship is the most important bilateral relation in the 21st century,” said Mr. Christopher Nixon Cox, co-founder of the advisory firm OC Global Partners at the Johns Hopkins University - Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, Apr. 10.
39-year-old Cox has visited China many times, among which the visit in May 2013 when he retraced Nixon’s tour to China in order to mark the centennial of his birth drew the most attention.
That diplomatic coup led by Richard Nixon, the 37th president of the US, ended 25 years of mutual silence and cleared the way for the establishment of formal ties between the United States and the People's Republic of China.
When President Nixon visited Hangzhou during his historic trip to China in 1972, he planted a redwood tree, a symbol of friendship between China and the US. In 2013, Cox visited Hangzhou and planted two yew trees next to the redwood, which has already grown big and strong trunk.
“With nurturing and careful attention, the tree has survived the storm, so did the relationship between China and the US. The Sino-US relationship is evolving. That’s the way I look at it,” said Cox.
To assist Nanjing in building a “famous innovation city with global influence”, Cox attended the emblem unveiling ceremony of the 2018 Nanjing BWF World Championships on the morning of Apr. 10.
Cox is very thankful that the wonderful badminton sport gives him an exposure to Nanjing. “Sports can really break down barriers, and bring people together. Nanjing is very much a sports capital.”
Cox, who has extensive business ties with East Asia, also shed light on innovation. “So many great ideas come from education. To create next generation technologies and commercialize them, the medium and small sized companies should work closely with educational institutions and bring together the institutions with venture capital.”
It’s the first time for Cox to visit Nanjing. “The hospitality of the people, pleasing architecture, green trees, and local foods, especially the salted duck are all the greatest impressions I have. Peaceful, comfortable and nice…it’s real China.”
