■中文译文
价值中国:您认为处于什么职位的人,是最适合将我们的世界变成一个更适合居住的地方的呢?商人,投资银行家,政治家还是作家?为什么?
彼得森:我认为,一个有充分动力的公务人员是最佳选择。因为,不管怎么说,他们处于政府,一个能够制定政策和规划来对生活质量产生显着影响的部门。
价值中国:除了是否需要用到自己的资本之外,您认为私募产权(PE)跟投资银行之间的主要区别是什么?
彼得森:绝大多数的私募产权(PE)不涉足证券交易,中间人交易和承销等领域。私募产权(PE)倾向于将注意力集中在长期投资上。
价值中国:我们发现您为黑石制定的对目标资产的并购战略是温和的按部就班,而不是采取“快速肮脏”的交易方式。为什么?
彼得森:找到和任用最佳人选时需要时间的。同样的,把这些人员和新的商业整合到整个公司中,也是花费时间的。
价值中国:黑石为整个PE行业带来的经验教训和做出的贡献主要是什么?您对您的自传中,最满意的思想是什么?
彼得森:我必须承认,黑石一直是在以最高程度的诚信等级来运行它的整个业务。它还证明了一个多样化的公司能够在各种各样的经济条件下良好运行。我最满意的经历是我在华盛顿政府的经历。
价值中国:我们非常荣幸在亨利·基辛格博士发行他的新书《论中国》的时候,曾赠我们价值中国签名以表示肯定。他在中国非常的出名是因为他是中门正式建交的关键性人物。您对他在中美关系中起到的作用有何评价?
彼得森:我曾经跟基辛格在尼克松那一届政府的白宫里密切的合作过。我认为没有人比他对中美关系的贡献更巨大。
价值中国:您是怎么样看待呗哈佛教授尼尔·弗格森创造出来的“中美国”(Chimerica)这个词的呢?这个词有什么本质上的意义吗?
彼得森:我不太了解“中美国”这个词。
价值中国:宏观经济学在世界范围内都处于衰退阶段,你对此事有何观点?
彼得森:太多的发达国家都是过度放债的,这些债务导致我们容易受到金融危机的攻击或者更长期的缓慢增长,因为巨额的债务吞噬掉了在一个更加竞争的全球经济下迫切需要的资源。
价值中国:中国经济在现阶段的政策和社会条件下是否可以持续发展?为什么?
彼得森:我不是一个研究中国问题的专家,但是他们现在将注意力集中于储蓄以及对科学、技术和教育的投资,无疑是正确的选择。
价值中国:您这一代人跟您的后继者之间,在心态和性格特点方面你,是否有什么关键性的区别呢?您对年轻的企业家们有什么建议吗?
彼得森:我们这一代人绝大多数都是储蓄和投资导向的。现在这一代人则更倾向于在现在消费,在将来付账。我认为年轻的企业家们应该尽最大努力去尝试,这样他们才能挺过早期阶段必然的失望。(2013-03-25)
■英文原文
ChinaValue:Which role do you think the best way to make this world a better place to live, the businessman, the investment banker, the politician, or the author? Why?
Peter G. Peterson:I believe a well-motivated public official is in the best position. It is, afterall, government that sets the policies and programs that so affect the quality of life.
ChinaValue: Except for using your own capital or not, what do you think the key differences between a Private Equity firm and an Investment Bank firm?
Peter G. Peterson:Most private equity firms do not engage in trading of securities, brokerage and underwriting. Private equity firms tend to focus on making long term investments.
ChinaValue:We found your M&A strategy for Blackstone’s target asset was gradual step-by-step move rather than “quick & dirty” tough action. Why?
Peter G. Peterson:It takes time to find and pick the best people. Then, it also takes time to integrate these new people and new businesses into the overall firm.
ChinaValue:What are key lessons and contributions Blackstone made for the whole private equity industry? What are your most satisfied thoughts in your autobiography?
Peter G. Peterson:Blackstone, I must say, ran its business at the highest level of integrity. It also demonstrated the virtues of a diversified firm that could do well in all kinds of economic conditions. My most satisfying experiences were in my Washington government experiences.
ChinaValue: It was our great honor to let Dr. Henry Kissinger once gave our ChinaValue a signature as positive recognition when he published his new book . He is very famous in China because his critical role of building China and US into official diplomacy. What are your comments on his contributions in terms of relationship between China and US?
Peter G. Peterson:I worked very closely with Henry Kissinger in the Nixon White House. I know of no one who had made a greater contribution to the U.S./China relationship.
ChinaValue:What do you think of the word ‘Chimerica’ (China-America) coined by Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson? Any perceptive toward realistic results in essence?
Peter G. Peterson:I am not aware of this term “Chimerica”
ChinaValue:Macro economy is in fading process worldwide. What are your outlooks or views about this?
Peter G. Peterson:Too much of the developed world is overleveraged. This debt leads us with the vulnerabilities of financial crisis or a longer term slow growth crisis as this massive debt service devours resources badly needed for investment in a much more competitive global economy.
ChinaValue:Can Chinese economy be sustainable under current political & social institution? Why?
Peter G. Peterson:I am no expert on China but they are certainly doing the right thing by focusing on savings and investment in science, technology and education.
ChinaValue:Are there any critical differences of mentalities or characters between your generation and your successor’s? What are your advices to younger entrepreneurs?
Peter G. Peterson:My generation was much more savings and investment oriented. This generation is much more oriented to spend and consume now and pay later. I think younger entrepreneurs need to try especially hard so they can survive the often inevitable early disappointments.