"In the face of this new change in Sino-European relations, what should we do in the development of the equipment industry?"

In an office of the National Development and Reform Commission, Han Hong, the deputy director, asked Feng Xiaochen with interest, who had just returned from Europe.

Han Hong and Feng Xiaochen had known each other ten years ago, but at that time, the Equipment Industry Company was subordinate to the Economic Commission, and belonged to the Planning Commission at that time, and Feng Xiaochen was not Han Hong's direct subordinate. This time, the state institutions were reformed, the Economic and Trade Commission was abolished, and the equipment industry company was assigned to the name of the National Development and Reform Commission, and the two became real superiors and subordinates. However, in the process of contacting Feng Xiaochen, Han Hong never treated Feng Xiaochen as an ordinary subordinate, but more as a colleague who could discuss problems on an equal footing, even if he sometimes had to point out Feng Xiaochen, it was only because he was a little older and had some experience in working methods and dealing with people.

Han Hong regarded Feng Xiaochen as an equal colleague, and Feng Xiaochen himself couldn't think like this. After he returned from Europe, he immediately went to the National Development and Reform Commission to report to Han Hong what he had seen and heard during the trip, especially mentioning that the mode of technological cooperation between China and Europe has undergone a significant change, and China has changed from a simple role as a student in the past to a collaborator and competitor with equal status.

"Europe's technological heritage is still difficult for us to surpass, but the gap between the two sides has narrowed significantly, especially in some emerging technology fields, which have formed a pattern of mutual strength. In addition, the long-term economic downturn in Europe and the tendency towards welfare-based education have led to a large amount of money not being invested in the field of production technology, but instead being consumed by various households. Large-scale technology research and development projects such as the Captain Cook project are generally faced with the dilemma of unsustainable funding. In contrast, our country's financial situation has been improving in recent years, enterprises have a large amount of liquidity in their hands, the state attaches great importance to large-scale projects, and the capital investment is sufficient, which is incomparable with European countries. Feng Xiaochen said.

Han Hong nodded: "You're right. In the past, we have always said that our country has the ability to concentrate on doing great things. In the past few years, our economy was backward and our finances were stretched, and even if we wanted to concentrate our efforts, we could not come up with much money. In the past few years, the financial side has become rich, and the scale of funds that we can mobilize by the NDRC has become larger and larger, and we have been able to carry out dozens of large-scale projects at the same time. Such conditions are not available in European countries, nor do the United States and Japan. This is a great opportunity for those of you who are engaged in large equipment. ”

"We are the lucky generation. Feng Xiaochen echoed.

Han Hong said: "Yes, you are the lucky generation. However, there is such a good opportunity, and if you can't do well, then I'm sorry for us older generations. ”

Feng Xiaochen smiled: "Director Han, you are not old. According to the standards of the United Nations, you have just passed the line of youth, and you still belong to the sun at eight or nine o'clock. ”

Han Hong smiled and pointed his finger at Feng Xiaochen and said, "It is said that your Xiao Feng has an upright personality and speaks without covering up or stopping you, how can you learn the trick of slapping sycophants?"

"I'm upright, but what I'm saying is from my heart. Feng Xiaochen pretended to be wronged and said.

Then I gladly accepted. Han Hong snorted.

It is also common for superiors and subordinates to make such jokes, which helps to harmonize feelings. After the two laughed together, Feng Xiaochen then talked about his own considerations on these issues, which were formed during his time in Europe, and of course, verified by some experiences of later generations, and confirmed to be correct.

"Compared with Western countries, the technical level of our country's equipment industry is still ranked behind, so the route of absorbing and introducing advanced Western technology cannot be changed. Among the three major sources of technology from the United States, Japan, and Europe, the United States is bound to tighten its technology transfer to China out of international political considerations; Japan is worried that China will compete with them for traditional markets and economic dominance in Asia after it develops, so it will also adopt a policy of strict defense against China. Although Europe is aware of the competition from China, it is not in conflict with us in terms of political interests, so it is the weakest defensive against China. My view is that in the next 10 years or so, we should give priority to Europe as the object of our technical cooperation in armaments. Feng Xiaochen said.

"That's a good idea. Han Hong commented.

"In addition to the political considerations, there are also economic reasons for choosing Europe as a partner for cooperation. In a situation where the European economy is getting worse day by day, and the living demands of the European people are getting higher day by day, the Europeans have no other way but to sell the technology they had in the past. This means that it is easier for us to buy advanced technology from Europe, or even to merge with its large traditional companies directly. Feng Xiaochen said.

"Are you saying that Europeans now have to sell their ancestral property to make a living?" asked Han Hong.

Feng Xiaochen said: "To be precise, it is to rely on the sale of ancestral property to maintain a living of spending all day and wine. ”

"We're willing to help them with that. Han Hong said heroically, "The National Development and Reform Commission has arranged funds to support domestic enterprises to merge valuable equipment enterprises in Europe and help our enterprises achieve technological leaps." However, we have to say that the money from the National Development and Reform Commission is not blown by the wind, this is the hard-earned money of the 1.3 billion people in the country, and when you want to buy European companies, you must collect those valuable enterprises, and you can't move back any garbage. ”

"That's for sure. Feng Xiaochen said with a smile, and then said: "In addition to acquiring their enterprises, technical cooperation is also an important way. This time, I took Luoye Company and Chenyu Construction Machinery Company to Europe to find partners, which is to explore a new model of cooperation between Chinese and European enterprises. Luo Ye is a state-owned enterprise, and Chen Yu is a private enterprise, both of which are representative.

What I learned from this trip to Europe is that the cooperation model between our company and European parts suppliers needs to be fundamentally changed, and in the past we were dominated by each other, succumbing to each other's existing technical specifications. In the future, the cooperation between us should be based on us, and let the other party tailor it for us. The reason is also very simple, that is, we already have the right to speak in the market, and there is no need to look at other people's faces. ”

"Very well, that's very important. Han Hong said, "In the past, when we imported technology from Europe, it was basically everyone who had the final say. Some spare parts companies have much larger shelves than our OEMs, forcing us to do things according to the path they have drawn. I heard that some European parts companies, threatened not to work on the weekend, we have already burned eyebrows, people should take a vacation, should get off work, obviously spend five minutes to help us solve the problem, we have to wait for several days, how much we have suffered, they don't care at all. ”

Feng Xiaochen said: "There are too many such situations. So I think it's time to change that. In the future, when we do business with European companies, we must agree on the terms of service in advance. If we dare to make us wait for a few days in vain, we will directly cancel the cooperation and let them drink the wind. ”

"Don't generalize, sometimes we have to ask for others, and we have to endure at this time. Han Hong reminded.

Feng Xiaochen said with a smile: "That's for sure, the store bullies the customer, the customer bullies the store, and we understand the truth of watching people put down the dishes, and the Europeans also understand, some of the companies I contacted in Europe this time have a much more humble attitude towards us than in the past." ”

"The store bullies the customer, the customer bullies the store, this is called dialectics. Han Hong summed up quite theoretically.

This kind of chat is what people call a retreat. Before formulating various policies, policymakers often have to jump out of specific matters, conduct some discussions from the theoretical and historical plane, and form some principled opinions before implementing concrete measures. People sometimes use words like "from a high vantage point" to evaluate leaders, but in fact, it is not entirely a compliment, real senior leaders, for many issues of view is indeed more advanced than ordinary people, their depth of thinking, far from the political situation can be imagined.

With these previous consensuses, Han Hong and Feng Xiaochen then discussed the specific development ideas of some equipment projects, including the sixth-generation drilling platform development project named by Feng Xiaochen as Zheng He's plan. Han Hong appreciated the idea of the equipment company planning to set up a research center in the Netherlands, and suggested that other projects could be handled in the same way. In addition, in addition to opening research centers in Europe, the United States, Japan and other places can also be set up, as long as the recruitment flag is erected, there will be no worries about no food.

After leaving the NDRC and returning to the equipment company, Feng Xiaochen held a meeting of middle-level cadres, first Leng Feiyun informed everyone about the trip to Europe, and then Feng Xiaochen introduced the content of his conversation with Han Hong and conveyed the instructions of the leaders of the NDRC. Feng Xiaochen's proposal for a new model of China-EU cooperation has been widely accepted by everyone. Compared with the tendency to worship the West that still exists in society, the cadres and employees of the equipment company are more confident, on the one hand, because they are exposed to more things and have a more objective view, on the other hand, there is also a subtle influence on everyone by such a super confident traverser as Feng Xiaochen.

After arranging the work of each department in the near future, Feng Xiaochen returned to his office. The secretary, Meng Yang, handed him the freshly brewed tea, and reported in a low voice: "Mr. Feng, Mr. Ruan of Haidong Quanfu Machinery Company is here, and he has been waiting for you in the reception room for an hour, is it convenient for you to see him now?"

"Lao Ruan is here?" Feng Xiaochen said with a smile in his eyes: "Please come over, by the way, make him a cup of the best red robe in a while." Lao Ruan is a person who pays more attention to face, don't let him feel that he has been left out. ”