America needs jobs, but the financial crisis has robbed the nation of the liquidity it needs to create them. China has cash, and is willing to invest in America. That’s why the Federal program EB-5 Immigrant Investor Pilot Program, which requires each foreign investor seeking a U.S. green card to invest at least $500,000 in a U.S. project and create 10 jobs, is getting more attention as of late (http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/Resources%20for%20Congress/Congressional%20Reports/EB-5%20Investor%20Pilot%20Program.pdf).

The program, which has been around for about twenty years, saw a nearly two-fold increase in applicants between last year and the year before (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704124504576118500940803720.html).

Considering how much money from other countries could potentially be invested here, the EB-5 program should be the first of many such programs that America should initiate and promote. Let’s keep finding more ways for both countries to work together use their resources to achieve their respective objectives.

My father said these words to me more than 35 years ago, and they ring in my ears today.

Both China and America now face enormous challenges in economic recovery and sustainable development.  Yet, from these daunting challenges spring a multitude of market opportunities for innovators and investors.

In America, “green tech,” education services and health care are providing entrepreneurs and investors with many ways to innovate and grow new markets, while in China, high speed rail, “3-screen convergence” (mobile phones, televisions and computers) and consumer markets are leading the way.

The market opportunities are everywhere in the heartlands of both countries; at universities and research institutes, on factory floors and construction sites, in music studios and movie soundstages.

The key to success is understanding the challenges and assembling the human and physical resources to address them in a financially justifiable and meaningful way.

Beyond that, nothing but the limits of our imaginations and willingness to work hard stands in the way between where we are today and where we want to be.