After five amazing years in the US (and six before that in China) I moved back to the UK today. I left both counties feeling conflicted about how living there made me feel. What I can say is that the people of both counties are amazing and have a lot to offer each other.

In China I saw a work ethic that would make any Westerner reconsider their future job security in a world of remote working and in the US I saw unparalleled business innovation built on an ingrained cultural belief that anything is possible

What can China learn from America? 1. Creating a level playing field for business competition. 2. The benefits of offering pathways for immigrants to become long term residents or even citizens. 3. The importance of soft power and why it's not good to culturally isolate

What can America learn from China? 1. Extreme poverty can be addressed and should be decreasing in the 21st century. 2. The shared public value in infrastructure and public transit investment. 3. Social mobility (price of education and housing in particular)

What can the UK learn from China and America? A lot it turns out! I feel I understand the strengths and weaknesses of the UK better than I ever did 11 years ago. I'm looking forward to be more socially and politically engaged than I was and treasure what we have.

The UK has a lot of challenges ahead (much of it self inflicted) but we also have a lot going for us too. I'm excited to be home with fresh ideas, fresh perspectives and a deeper appreciation of the world's two super powers and how our future depends on their cooperation.