One Man's View of the World

If you want the competitiveness that America currently has, you cannot avoid creating a considerable gap between the top and the bottom, and the development of an underclass. If you choose instead the welfare state, as Europe did after the Second World War, you naturally become less dynamic.

After all, it’s not a new power – it’s an old power that’s reviving. And I believe it is China’s intention to be the greatest power in the world.

In this regard, the Chinese have the wiser foreign policy approach. They do not believe it is their business to change the system. They deal with a system as it is and get whatever advantages they can out of it, without entangling themselves.

Yes, I would say that it was innate in me. There’s a Chinese phrase which goes: if you look after yourself, you look after the family, you are loyal to the emperor, the country will succeed. So, the first thing to do is to look after yourself and be a gentleman. That’s a basic requirement. Every individual should try to aspire to be a gentleman.

Internally, three qualities define the Singapore success story – making the country the safest place to live and work in, treating every citizen equally and ensuring continuing success for every generation of Singaporeans.

The key, in my view, lies in educating women – which causes them to want fewer children. The sooner we are able to do this, the sooner we will have a less populated world.

That is why I am in favour of sending students on scholarships to Britain instead, because I am sure they will come back. In the UK, you do not stay behind because you are not welcome. And because the economy is less dynamic, there are fewer jobs for you.

Bright young students aspired to become lawyers, doctors and professionals