Q&A: Interview with US health secretary
Updated: 2007-12-10 17:24
Li Xing: Yeah I heard about that.
Michael Leavitt: So I was governor during the time of the Olympics.
Li Xing: Oh good.
Michael Leavitt: And all of the preparations leading up to it. So I have great admiration for what the Chinese people are doing to prepare to host the world. It's a very big job.
Li Xing: Yeah it is.
Michael Leavitt: But I will tell you that it's worth it. And when you're finished, it will have created a great legacy for China. And the world will come here and see the progress that China is making. The world will come and see the challenges that China has. But there's nothing wrong with that. That's a good thing. And the world will come to know China in a way that they haven't before and will leave with great affection for the Chinese people.
Li Xing: They are still interested in leadership. So what key ingredients do you believe a successful leader needs to manage in the 21st century.
Michael Leavitt: First, I would say the ability to collaboratively solve problems. I believe in the 21st century that the world is beginning to intuitively organize itself into networks. This very news organization is a very good example. This is a network that receives news and information from all over the world, and it has organized itself into a network. And the world is doing that intuitively. And countries are beginning to do that intuitively to organize themselves into networks, e.g. companies, enterprises, and news gatherers. The way we communicate. The Internet itself is a prime example.
In my opinion the sociology of a network is collaboration and learning to collaboratively solve problems, big problems, is a primary leadership skill for the 21st century. The ability to bring groups together who in some ways compete, but are stronger when they cooperate, allows a networked society to make progress that an individual or mainframe society will not. That’s one skill I've concentrated on and one I think will be an important 21st century skill.
Li Xing: Cooperation is really a key word. It goes with our saying that cooperation is one of the key ingredients that China is talking about trying to create a harmonious world. We are always talking about cooperation.
Michael Leavitt: A key to that, however, is accepting of standards. I think the motto of the 21st century will be cooperation with standards that we all understand. I refer to it as in our country as national standards, with local control. China, like the United States has to deal with various provinces and their governments. If there are national standards that everyone understands there is some values in having local control, so that people can develop a network. Learning to navigate that will be a very important part for all of us.
Li Xing: There have been some questions over safety and products standards of Chinese products in the past few months. They are concerned whether these problems have affected China-US relations? Or in a way, strengthened China-US relations?
Michael Leavitt: I believe that they are strengthening our relationships. We are learning to work together to solve common problems. We have different systems. We are building bridges with common goals. There is a phrase in computer technology "interoperability". Taking different systems and allowing them to work together in ways that build the strength of the network.
When I talk about a networked world, that's what I am talking about. I'm talking about people who are living in different countries, with different systems, but adopting common standards and having the ability for that network to strengthen both of them.
Might I add. This is a reflection of how the world is changing. We are inventing the 21st century process of import and food safety. We are not scaling up the old system to meet the demand. We have to invent a new system, because it is so different to what was occurring 20 years ago.
In developing these relationships with China and other governments, these discussions are often brought about by problems, but the problem presents an opportunity. Because it means once we get together it means we can build a system that strengthens both.
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