At a recently held cocktail party attended by some Chinese scholars, foreign diplomats to China and editors-general of a number of international media agencies, all the guests exchanged ideas in an easy atmosphere. Despite the language barrier, they exchanged trust and sincerity via just a hello, a handshake, a smile or a hug. On one side of the name card that Mr. Li Ruohong gave to me, I only found his name, office number and email address. And on the back of the card, there was an English word “founder”. It was not until over two hours later that I got to know that the gentleman who had been chatting with me for a long time, the host of this activity, was the founder of the King’s Garden Villa.


Dr. Li Ruohong, currently serves as the Chairman of the China World Peace Foundation, Senior Consultant to the UN Partnership Office and board director of the business school of Canada’s Alberta University. In fact, Mr. Li is taking the leading position in terms of achievement and attainment in fields of real estate, culture and medical care. But for many years, he has been devoting himself to his work without any effort to make what he has been doing known to the public. Instead, he has made great efforts to integrated his personal pursuit, his business, his life and wealth with the whole society, the whole nation as well as the whole world.
In order to promote the world peace, Mr. Li Ruohong has been shuttling between different state governments and international organizations attending various activities. He has established partnership with the cultural and media agencies on different continents, involving fields of TV, magazine, Internet, arts and tourism among others. Many serial activities that he has launched has gained support from various state governments, NGOs and entrepreneurs. As an internationally recognized philanthropist, Mr. Li has made great donation to the Arabian International School, a Japanese cartoon school, a Mongolian language school as well as Wenchuan in China’s Sichuan province among other domestic or overseas disastrous areas. The Jingrun Hospital that he founds and operates has combined medical treatment, preventive medicine and the service of a health club. He has donated all the profits for the past five years to schools for the blind or the deaf, or to help the children of migrant farmer workers continue with their study, or to other public good programs.
As a cultural real estate project, King’s Garden Villa is located on the Xiaoyun Road of Beijing’s Chaoyang District. Covering a total area of 220 hectares, the residential area boasts 400 villas, leaving sufficient space for further development. Diplomats and their family members of tens of countries live here. The Peace Garden, a park located in central King’s Villa Garden, is currently an internationally well known spot for activities of the public good, which is compared by foreign diplomats, visiting governmental delegations and the media as a Mini UN. During recent years, some new ambassadors to China, after presenting their credentials, paid a visit to the Peace Garden.
Genes of a Revolutionary Diplomats’ Family
Extensive Learning：The song Missing You for Ever for which you have composed both lyrics and music has been broadcast by Voice of China on China National Radio. So does the song reflect any of your personal experience?
Li Ruohong：I was born to a revolutionary diplomats’ family where I received much traditional education from my parents. As for my experience, I have been a worker, a farmer, a soldier, a university students and a postgraduate. I have worked for the government, enterprises and the NGO. During the Cultural Revolution Period, when I was studying at Beijing’s No. 56 Middle school, I was criticized and denounced in the public for complaining that the then Vice Chairman Lin Biao’s slogan appealing for over worship for Chairman Mao was of formalism.
Extensive Learning： How was it like to be denounced as a middle school student?
Li Ruohong：My Anti-Party remarks were reported by my teacher to the schoolmaster. And then I was denounced by all the teachers and students in the school. Like the senior cadres, I was tortured, altogether twice. For one time, I was tortured alone. For the other time, I was tortured together with a deputy schoolmaster, a daughter of a senior cadre Luo Ruiqing.
Extensive Learning：Do you think it is very special experience? What impact does it have on you?
Li Ruohong：It is not that special. Many people have experienced the Culture Revolution. I came across it when I was very young. With my young heart, I could feel the political disturbance. In addition, I once maintained the hot-water furnace, fed pigs, planted rice seedlings, having done various physical works. All through these years, I have written two songs, Both are popular songs. Missing You for Ever is one of them. It is a song in commemoration of my mother, telling stories of the past including the Culture Revolution period, reflecting how I spent my childhood and achieved success.
Extensive Learning：What did you think of your situation?
Li Ruohong：Since I was very young, I have been holding such an opinion that our society should be a democratic and fair one. During this special period, I was old enough to make a judge on what the society should be like. Based on my own judgment, I chose not to dance the so called Red Guard Dance, though people across the country at that time were dancing it, singing the slogans and even reciting the slogans before and after meals.
Extensive Learning：What you did should be beyond common young people’s noteworthy conduct and independent character.
Li Ruohong：That might be be because of my genes. Due to my family, I was able to contact quite a few international figures since I was young who held opinions of democracy and justice. Based on my comprehension, I dared speak out my own judgment, disregarding various dangers.
Extensive Learning：Besides what is reflected by the song, what other impacts did you mother have on you?
Li Ruohong： It is mainly about how to maintain a moral courage in difficult situations. As is stressed by traditional Chinese value, the jade can be smashed but never changes its color. The bamboo can be burned but never can its joints. The tough experience in one’s young age will help one endure, insist and keep hopeful. Every period of experience would stimulative. My moral courage helped me survive all the political or economic difficulties or struggling. For example, if the present policies are to change, or there will be an economic crisis, I will not panic and am sure that I can deal with and withstand all kinds of difficulties because I have a proper understanding and attitudes of many things.
Taking the Lead of the Era
Extensive Learning：You later on became a real estate developer, chairman of China World Peace Foundation, a nongovernmental diplomat, an artist and even a scholar. How did you make this happen? And how do you identify yourself?
Li Ruohong：I had no background to rely on and just walked my own way. When I was young, I hoped that I should have rich experience. So, after leaving the army, I started running my own business involving fields of investment, petroleum, vehicle trading and tourism. I was among the first batch of entrepreneurs getting out of China’s official system.
I should say that I have been taking the lead of the era for all my life. I did my job well no matter what I am, a farmer, a worker, or a soldier. As soon as I succeeded, I started transferring to other fields. So why do I decide to participate in the work of the NGO? I think that the NGOs, governments and enterprises make a complete society. Hence, a society without NGO will be incomplete because NGO is the indicator showing the results of reforms in society, politics, economy and culture. Well, what is the difference between the government and the NGO? The government asks me to do. While working with the NGO means I will do. What’s the difference between the NGO and the enterprise? The enterprise is for itself, while the NGO is for others. That’s why I’ve chosen to work for this field. In my words, politicians want votes, while entrepreneurs want banknotes, but what the NGO wants is love. The NGO does not work under the motivation of the interests.
So, I chose the World Peace as my theme for the founding of the China World Peace Foundation. It has gained support from the UN, the IOC, and the International Committee of the Red Cross as well as over 100 state governments, certainly including the Chinese government. So, there are more and more opportunities for me.
Extensive Learning：In a society where administrative resources prevail, your choice is still out of people’s expectation.
Li Ruohong：Working in the official system has much limitation. During the past, if I would report my work to the minister, I would think about it for a long time even about how to start the conversation. Now it is not the case completely. We can easily chat with many state heads since we are equal. Before, we had to abide by the rules of the government.
Personally, I am very traditional, deeply affected by Chinese traditional culture and politics. I also learned a lot in China’s opening up and reform drive, seeing various opportunities across the world. According to my plan, I should have working experience in the government, but should not end up working as an official. That’s why I didn’t choose to work for the central government. I think I can do better in the NGO field.
Peace Is the Biggest Universal Value
Extensive Learning：May I say that you are out of the barriers of the official system?
Li Ruohong：I respect the government because I am a Chinese. Things owned by a nation should be shared with the world. Globally speaking, each nation is able to provide something of the universal value to the world. No matter what it is, democracy, freedom, rule of law, or traditional cultures, it has the universal value as long as it is recognized internationally. You long for peace. And people in the world all long for peace. You yearn for harmony. And who else will be willing to live in conflicts? When working, one won’t hope that where he works is full of struggles. Neither the society nor the country would like to see the war.
Extensive Learning：That is to say that the peace contains much cultural implication. It means not only the non-war state, but also the harmonious relationship among the people. In this sense, peace might be the greatest universal value.
Li Ruohong：That’s why we’ve chosen peace as our theme. And we have built up the Peace Garden, a platform for international people to people exchanges aimed at peace promotion.
Extensive Learning： It seems to me that you have so clearly specified what you are to do. Well, what have you been doing as the chairman of the China World Peace Foundation?
Li Ruohong：What I’ve been doing is very simple. First, I published my book —《China NGO》, which focuses on how we should make contribution to the international community as well as our people and society based on the practical experience of various countries and research of international NGOs’situation.. During a number of activities such as the Global Women’s Summit, the Sino-African Forum and the Beijing International Forum for People to People Friendship, I introduced my book to the participants. Representatives of NGOs from over 100 countries have listened to my introduction about the situation of NGOs in China. Some 100 ambassadors to China have collected or read my book.
Secondly，the China World Peace Foundation is giving full play to the soft strength of the Peace Garden. Among what you have seen in the Peace Garden are scripts of calligraphies appealing for peace by 178 ambassadors to China, state heads or leaders of international organizations such as UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, former IOC chairman Jacques Rogge, former secretary general of the Arab League Mr. Amr Mussa and board director of the Boao Forum for Asia Mr. Ramos. All the ambassadors were very serious when attending the scripts unveiling ceremony. For example, some ambassadors from the Arabian countries knelt to pray at the ceremony. We have also arranged honor guards for the ceremony. So, the state heads, foreign ministers or governmental delegations will come to take pictures with the stone tablets of their countries when visiting China.
Extensive Learning：Among the scripts are poems and essays. Both reflect the writers’ sparkling theories as well as their talents in diplomacy and their political beliefs.
Li Ruohong：All the scripts focus on the theme of peace. Some integrate peace with nations, some integrate peace with education, some with sports, some with longevity, and some elaborate the implication of peace in a religious way. What’s significant is that the ambassadors of the USA and DPRK, two countries in conflict, have both left here scripts appealing for peace. Israel, Palestine and Lebanon are in the state of war, but their ambassadors all appeal for peace here. So the Peace Garden is featured by a peaceful atmosphere.
In addition, here are over ten countries’ embassies to China, presidents of many international companies and media agencies both home and abroad. This facilitates our communication with them.
Extensive Learning： That might be the reason why some UN officials, a number of international media agencies and some state heads have called the Peace Garden as the Mini UN.
Li Ruohong：This is a big international family as well as a club for ambassadors from various countries. Ambassadors of some 90 countries have visited here. So have some institutions and societies in China. I myself am the chairman of Sino-Moroccan Friendship Association, Sino-Senegalese Friendship Association, Sino-Nigerian Friendship Association and Sino-Tunisian Friendship Association. These associations have been approved by the presidents of these countries and can serve as platforms for China’s exchanges with these countries. The Peace Garden, as a platform for exchanges and cooperation among various state governments and peoples has thus come into being.

Across the institutional constraints

Extensive Learning: Is China World Peace Foundation led by domestic administration？
Dr.Li RuoHong：Some leaders want to put our organization under the ministry, but if in diplomatic contacting, we must follow an equivalent principle. The UN secretary Mr.Ban Ki-moon comes to me several times because we`re a representative organization among so many Chinese NGOs, we have direct cooperation with the UN. Lots of governments invite me directly to the international forum; they also host lots of international event with us.
As an international organization, must have an overall viewpoint, without any prejudice on one political viewpoint, one religious belief or culture difference. But be consistent with even hostile country.

Extensive Learning: Sometimes different countries could be hard to unite, especially among some hostile conflicts.
Dr.Li RuoHong：The unity is not put all the viewpoints onto one only, but be harmonious, not only China needs the harmonious society, but also the whole world. For example, although China has contradiction with the US, Japan, Russia, every year all kinds of activities are held between the government and the people. Each country has its culture specialty and economical imbalance, so communication is much important to find the common interest. We utilize the Peace Garden to welcome and improve the establishment of the friend city friend business. Not long ago, we donate the medical materials to Maldives and accompany the Tunisia delegation pay a visit to central communist school, national administrative college and Tianjin Hebei province.

Extensive Learning: That could be great, what other activities have you held?
Dr.Li RuoHong：In Peace Garden we supply a platform which caters the guest to hold lots of activities, not only Chinese but also international such as Arabian Concert, China Korea Japan United Concert. We are creating a World Champion Club which attract and admit some famous athletes such as the basketball player Stephon Marbury, the Real Madrid goalkeeper Casillas and so on. They are all become the volunteer and contribute to the world`s peace. Moreover we introduce some Chinese enterprises to invest into foreign countries and regions such as North Korea and south America.

Utilize all the money to do the public welfare

Extensive Learning: The ‘Chinese NGO’ is a conducting idea, Peace Garden as a platform for gathering the resources. By the resources could apply in many programs. So what program should be done and how it divided, and any in common?
Dr.Li RuoHong：Could be divided into four aspects, peace and sport, peace and culture, peace and education, peace and health. China has five thousand years history, Chinese businessman has the nature of returning to the society after earning in whichever the area, then the reason of the model “Peace plus one”. We will make the triple methods by forum, club and business, doing the public welfare by the economic profits. For the “Peace and Sport” we have cooperation with over 80 counties. The principle is “international, neutral, cooperative, public welfare”.

Extensive Learning: How to comprehend the “neutral” since you focus on domestic?
Dr.Li RuoHong：In our program included different counties, different corporations, international ones, domestic ones, we`re not doing charity but public welfare, make the right capital to do the right things. With all the partner just friendship, not the negotiation, so we could welcome all the entity.

Extensive Learning: So that you operate all the programs with friendship?
Dr.Li RuoHong：Definitely, we could hug with all the governmental members, without any hierarchy or official diplomacy. Some countries doing the governmental purchase at ours, we also got the supports from all the domestic aspects, we always put the big event and foreign affair forwards.

Chinese humility liberal and love

Extensive Learning: Since the society is influenced by the Impetuosity at this moment, what do you think as the successful man of yourself?
Dr.Li RuoHong：Because I`m utilizing the special method which differentiate from the others, I always coordinate the resources among the different areas or by the different countries, that`s my own specialty.

Extensive Learning: You`re leading an successful business, all that is under your moderate appearance, is it proved that the more moderate you are, the more confidence you have?
Dr.Li RuoHong：I think it`s the Chinese people`s nature, I`d like to being moderate, this character has formed during my childhood, I always doing things with love but not benefit, so I could dealing the thing calmly and gently.


Extensive Learning: How about your business way?
Dr.Li RuoHong：Sometimes I was so impatiently sometimes I was quite patiently, by now I could release myself and become a responsibility for the society. Macroscopically mustn`t irritable but microcosmically must care enough due to the plan and result. I often tell my team that their appearance should be appropriate and their behavior should be gentle since we could think of not only the Chinese people but also the entire world.

Extensive Learning: So that`s what you called the international viewpoint as a Chinese.
Dr.Li RuoHong：China has a five thousand years history, it remained lots of cultural fortune. But why there is so little Chinese patent in the world, there lacks a acquaintance of Chinese culture, for the foreign people that Chinese culture is complicated, they could only get the news from the media, and some western attitude is different from the China`s, so hard to avoid some misunderstand occurs.

Extensive Learning: So you popularize the Chinese culture by your organization, and do you have any demands for forging your personal quality?
Dr.Li RuoHong：Definitely have some personal rules, I have no any religion. Lots of people persuade me to join in the Christian, the Buddhism and the Islam, I think whether join or not, as long as you do the things with love, you could let people know your kindness, could get the common view and getting the further cooperation.

Extensive Learning: Many people conflict with themselves and couldn`t overcome, however you did it smoothly, how could you impress your team and lead them to business?
Dr.Li RuoHong：Everyone has the emotion, but in Peace Garden the system is different from a company, I hope my employees to do things with love but not focus on the benefits. The arrogant people are only suitable for the governmental position. From the nation`s prime minister to a single peasant we communicate all kinds of people, neither flatter the important people nor look down to the common ones since we have the cooperative relationship with whomever. The public welfare is good thing, showing mercy, just like a child pick up one cent on the road and turn in to the police, now the police is the society.