Cao Zhen

CECIL JOHNSON, a Florida-born private equity businessman, is preparing to tap into the Chinese financial market, and the veteran U.S. investor believes that China is becoming a serious player in the world’s financial system.

A Shenzhen resident for three years, Johnson’s main business is located in neighboring Hong Kong, where he owns a company involved in private equity financing. For him, Shenzhen is a bridge linking overseas investors with inland governmental projects.

With degrees in history, politics, science, economics and law, Johnson has done business all over the world for nearly three decades. After finishing a private equity project, Johnson helps investors put their private equity proceeds into big environment-related projects, a process which is entirely monitored by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

The investment projects that currently interest Johnson are infrastructure projects in small cities, water-treatment plants and railway construction in depressed areas. He said the projects were not just about making money, but also putting money back into circulation.

“The market depends on people spending their money. With this money, you pay salaries, creating jobs in China, in America, and in Europe. It helps stimulate the world economy,” said Johnson.

Johnson’s private equity business mainly focuses on Europe, the United States and some developed Asian regions. He hopes he can bring his business to the Chinese mainland in a short time.

“China is a nation with a long history of about 5,000 years. I’ve known from some reports that more and more Chinese professional people are going to the West for further studying... It’s not because they don’t have the ability to do but because they don’t understand the rules of the game... As long as you can follow the rules, it won’t take a long time to efficiently join the world monetary banking system. You have begun to look at it, so I must be patient and wait for the game to fully develop here in China,” Johnson said.

Although he is a veteran businessman, Johnson never bargains with the vendors in Dongmen, where he buys handicrafts and antiques once a week.

“I’m surprised when I go to Dongmen. It’s an unbelievable place. It’s the biggest shop in the world.”