“Once you have contact with actual people, it will last. People need to develop these relationships when they are young and open-minded, not seeking to gain anything out of them other than shared learning, experiences and friendship. Not all of the scholars will become future leaders, but they all will have had the experience of understanding some of the intricacies of East Asia, and will return to their home countries as ambassadors and advocates of good will.”
Ronald K.Y. Chao
Honorary Chairman, BXAI
Mr. Ronald K. Y. Chao is the honorary chairman of Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) and founder of Bai Xian Education Foundation. He is also vice chairman and director of Novel Enterprises Limited, and an active philanthropist with a vision of a prosperous, sustainable, and conflict-free modern Asia.
Inspired by his university experience in Japan and concerned with the fragility of Sino-Japanese relations, Mr. Chao established the first Sino-Japanese dormitories in China in 2010 with a mission to promote friendship and understanding between the young people of Mainland China and Japan. In 2013, he further extended his original vision and renamed these dormitories “Asian Youth Centers” to accommodate students from other Asian countries. That same year, Mr. Chao expanded his mission to bridge cultures by establishing the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP) to nurture future generations of Asian leaders. In 2014, with the support of five founding members, Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) was established to oversee the development and implementation of the AFLSP. Today, BXAI provides over 100 scholarships to Asian students each year and has established partnerships with 16 leading universities across Asia.
Born in Shanghai in 1939, Mr. Chao holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Tokyo and a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois. He joined Novel Enterprises Limited (NEL) in 1965 and served as managing director from 1987 to 1996. He has been vice chairman and director of NEL since 1996.