Tell us a little about yourself:

I am a graduate student from Peking University majoring in Finance. During more than 4 years’ study at Economics and Finance, I have been especially interested in corporate finance, investment banking, and international trade/finance issues such as exchange rate regime and global trade imbalance. Besides academic study, I also served internships at China International Capital Corporation (Research Department) and KPMG Accounting Firm (Auditing Department). These experiences granted me a direct understanding of China’s capital market. In my leisure time, I love to do sports, like football, tennis, ping pong and swimming which are my favorites. I also enjoy reading history books and listening to pop/rock music. As I have never been to America before, this program will be my first experience in the US, and I regard it as a great opportunity to understand the American life, its financial market, and the US-China bilateral relationship.

Why did you apply to this program?

I applied to this program mainly for the following four reasons: First of all, I am very interested in international trade and finance issues. As we know, the trade volume between the US and China is one of the biggest bilateral trade volumes in the world.  On the other hand, the trade pattern between the two giant nations is extremely unbalanced, which creates lots of disputes and conflicts. I think this program offers a perfect chance to gain deeper knowledge about US-China bilateral trade issues, which is the key to understand current world economic situation.

Another crucial reason is that I want to learn more about the advanced capital market of the United States.  I am concerned about the reform and improvement of China’s financial market as its trade and economy grow.  Currently there are still many problems with China’s financial market and its structure still needs to be further optimized. I insist China should learn from America’s advanced experience on financial market and further reform domestic financial system according to its own situation.

Moreover, I am deeply concerned about the America’s policy towards climate and new energy development.  After the new U.S. President Barak Obama takes office, I expect there will be some dramatic changes in these policies, and I want to see how they are going to influence the world. Plus, I’d like to know more about how American firms take measures to protect environment.

Last but not least, I am very interested in American life. I want to know what their daily life is like and the way they think. Direct communications with ordinary people can be more effective in understanding a country than watching TV/Movies. And this program is a perfect chance for me.

Please identify the single aspect in US-China relations that you are most interested.

I am most interested in the US-China trade relationship. In 2007, the bilateral trade volume was over $300 billion and they have become most important trade partners for each other! I once heard a description of US-China trade relationship from a professor claiming that China and the US are “dancing” together, which implies that both countries have wide interests in each other and both countries have to “hold” each other so that they won’t “fall.”  I think this description is appropriate. Of course, there are many accompanying conflicts such as RMB appreciation, trade barrier, and anti-dumping accusation. I believe this program can be an ideal opportunity for me to know more and deeper about these issues.

What are your top professional goals? What do you want to accomplish during your internship?

As a student majoring in Finance, I am very interested in the investment banking business. My top professional goal is to join a leading investment bank so that I can devote myself to the development of China’s capital market. My prospective goal of this program is to learn more about both commercial bank and investment bank operations in the US. Moreover, I want to get a better understanding of the stock and commercial bond market, which are both the weak chain of China’s financial market. I hope to figure out how China should deepen its financial system reform. I also want to have the chance to involve in the study of real trade practices between China and the US.

How will the U.S.-China Bilateral Trade Internship Program help you and your country in the future?

I think the program offers an ideal opportunity for students from both the US and China to gain a comparative understanding of the culture and the young people of each country. Plus, we can gain much better understanding of trade patterns and policies between the US and China.

Particularly for me, I will try to know more about the US financial market, especially during the world financial crisis. I firmly believe China should stick to the market economy in its financial system reform, learn from America’s advanced experience on financial market, and adapt the experiences and lessons to China’s own situation. Moreover, real-world work experience of the internship can greatly help me achieve my career goal to join a leading investment bank and devote to China’s financial market development.

I also appreciate the chance to sense real American life and communicate with its people. I regard us as the representatives of the young people group from both countries. You know, communications between common people (especially the younger people) of the US and China can be crucial for them to understand each other. Not only the government but the whole society should make contribution to promote the bilateral understanding. I think that’s another important meaning and benefit of the program.