"Tariffs are a form of self-isolation. In the long term, they will hurt the United States more than China," says Chris Pereira.

LONDON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Whoever remains open will succeed, and whoever closes off will pay the price, Chris Pereira, chief executive officer (CEO) of New York-based consultancy iMpact, has told Xinhua at his London office.

Pereira, a British-Canadian entrepreneur who has lived in China for over two decades and is fluent in Mandarin, has once worked for Huawei as its executive of public relations and has witnessed China's rapid transformation.

"The Yellow River is the birthplace of Chinese civilization. I wanted to learn at the source," he said on Friday. In 2004, Pereira entered Zhengzhou University in central China's Henan Province to study Chinese language and literature.

"When I first arrived, I couldn't even find coffee without added sugar. I took buses without air conditioning," he recalled. However, he said he has seen young students studying under streetlights and it made clear to him the dedication and determination of the Chinese people, and the idea that effort can lead to change.

"Today, every street corner has cafes. Now I can ride high-speed trains at 300 kilometers per hour," Pereira said. "These details show the rise in living standards, and China has moved from a stage of speed to one of quality. We entrepreneurs must balance fast growth with sustainability," Pereira noted.

"China looks at problems with a long-term view. It doesn't panic, it doesn't rush. With 5,000 years of history, there's wisdom in patience. For business too, you need a long-term plan, or you won't survive," he told Xinhua.

In addition, he highlights the importance of building trust in overseas markets. "In overseas markets, the product is not the main issue. The biggest challenge is trust," he said. "I know Chinese brands making excellent products -- smart toothbrushes, for example -- but they cannot break into the North American market because sales channels don't trust them."

"Knowing how to make quality friends is magical," he said. "If your local partner likes you and trusts you, they will choose you even if your product is more expensive."

Voicing his disagreement to U.S. tariffs, Pereira said "Tariffs are a form of self-isolation. In the long term, they will hurt the United States more than China. Every time the U.S. closes a door, China should open one wider."

He also said that restrictions can actually strengthen Chinese firms. "Look at Huawei. U.S. sanctions forced it to innovate. Now it's stronger than ever. Whoever remains open will thrive."

Pereira pointed out that in the past two years, the British government has been expressing the willingness to maintain and even deepen economic ties with China. "Sectors such as new energy vehicles, consumer electronics, and tourism are areas where Britain is actively looking for Chinese participation," he said.

"China isn't perfect. Britain isn't perfect. But in an imperfect world, we can still find ways to make it better," Pereira added.