Keith Peiris, the 12-year-old boss of a web site design company, Cyberteks Design, is probably the most noticeable figure among the 600-strong "Team Canada" accompanying Prime Minister Jean Chretien to China.

In an interview with Xinhua Thursday, Peiris insisted that he is "just like any other kid." But few children make decisions he has made, like exploring business opportunities across the world and starting business in Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in a few months.

Peiris described his trip to Beijing as "very impressive" and the Great Wall as "spectacular", regretting that he was not given enough time to climb to the top.

Peiris's analysis of Shanghai also sounds convincing although this is his first time to be in shanghai. Shanghai is indeed a commercial center, he said, noting that his visit to this fast-paced metropolis has been "fruitful" and he has met peers counterparts from the network industry.

Despite his age, Peiris knows very well that being CEO means he has to shoulder responsibility and address tough issues. "It was not easy to start with," he admitted, recalling some bad experiences he had with would-be customers scared off by his tender age. "But things are getting better," he said cheerfully.

When asked about his plans, Peiris affirmed that he "wants to invest in China" and will set up an agency in Shanghai, because " there'll be more opportunities here, particularly after China's WTO entry."

Peiris founded Cyberteks Design in June 1999. Presently he has 25 clients in North America and 7 offices in the US. The company 's annual revenue is a six-digital number.

(Xinhua 02/16/2001)