Chapter 458: The Presidential Palace
Passing through the deep cloister of the Presidential Palace, Sioux Cheng and Zhang Li came to the bottom of a small patio.
The patio is surrounded by green creepers, with stone pillars and red and white walls, giving the center of the complex a dense forest feel. Looking up at the sky, it was blue and clean, and there were flocculent white clouds swaying leisurely.
If it weren't for the rotten bureaucratic atmosphere at the end of the nose, it would really feel like a paradise here. 0
They were brought in by the Kazakh chief of staff, an old man about 50 years old with loose muscles. At this time, he said kindly: "Please wait a while, Mr. President will come to see you after the meeting." There is water and drinks in the room, so please use your own toilet. ”
"Thank you. Zhang Li said in Russian.
Wang Guan and Li Jianxia both had something to do, so Su Cheng brought a translator who joined the company last year.
The chief of staff shook Zhang Li's hand with a smile, then shook hands vigorously with Su Cheng and turned to go.
Seeing him walk away, Zhang Li said with some amusement: "The president's chief of staff is so enthusiastic, it can't be that he has collected money." ”
Su Cheng coughed lightly. The Information Bureau will often inspect the information of employees within the group, and Zhang Li's review is also passed. However, the less people know about the "capital exchange", the better, but Zhang Li guessed correctly.
The chief of staff paid $50,000 for his door, a hundred times his personal salary, and his enthusiasm was natural.
Zhang Li didn't quite understand the meaning of Su Cheng's cough, and said with a smile: "Kazakhs are very friendly to us Chinese, and I met a young man from Kazakhstan a few days ago, and he asked me about Chinese kung fu." Say which school in China you can go to and see a famous teacher. By the way, they seem to have a Chinese Film Week and a Chinese TV Week, and Jet Li and Bruce Lee's movies are often shown ......"
He said a few words to himself, and when he saw that Su Cheng was not interested, he turned around and said: "The Kazakh officials I met recently are very kind, but they love to take advantage of small advantages, and when I took the car that day, I saw Lao Yang giving the traffic police 10 dollars." Fun with that traffic policeman. Alas, it is not known what the president is like. ”
Su Cheng raised his eyebrows, he really lacked interest in preaching, and he was helpless against Zhang Li's arrogant personality.
It's not like a college student who graduated in the late 80s. Students who graduated in the early 90s already have a lot of so-called "free thinking", and the cautiousness that was common in students in the past is becoming more and more difficult to see.
Zhang Li is one of the Niu people recruited by Dahua, he began to learn Russian in junior high school, entered the university and learned English, in addition to this, he can also speak a little Japanese. Coupled with the popular major of economic management, Zhang Li is like a fish in water in the recruitment market, and he can choose his favorite enterprises and units. In the end, Dahua Industrial was chosen. Of course, because of Dahua's treatment and welfare policies. But there are also romantic feelings in it, after all, today's Dahua is already a banner in Chinese enterprises.
However, it may be because of the strong ability. Zhang Li doesn't seem to care too much about the company's constraints. It's nothing in normal times, Dahua adheres to the eclectic tradition of Sioux City, and is very patient with the character of its employees.
But when it comes to bribing foreign politicians, Zhang Li's joke is a bit dangerous.
Sioux City secretly reflected: After going back. To change the position of this Zhang Li to suit him, it is not enough to just consider his foreign language level, the human resources department should also make a little adjustment, only look at the ability and not the personality, sooner or later there will be problems. Next time you go out, you still have to bring a familiar translator.
Zhang Li didn't know that his casual behavior without a brain was about to cause a small earthquake in the human resources department of Dahua Group, and he still laughed to himself, a little heartless.
After about 10 minutes, another staff member from the presidential palace came out, and said with the same smile: "Please come with me, Mr. President, wait for you in his study, and the chief of the guard will check the weapons on your body, if you have them, just give them to me now." ”
"No weapons. Is Mr. President a person?" Sioux City understood a little when he said the study.
The staff said "yes".
"How is his English? Does he need an interpreter?"
"Mr. President is very proficient in English. ”
"Then I'll go in alone. Su Cheng took the bag from Zhang Li's hand and said, "You go and wait outside the presidential palace and tell Gu Hongjun." ”
With the previous paragraph, Su Cheng didn't want a little broken kid like Zhang Li to have any more access to any confidential information.
Zhang Li didn't know why, so he agreed and went.
Su Cheng tiptoed his bag and continued to say in English, "Lead the way." ”
In the bag was prepared bearer bonds, totaling $1 million, which was an appetizer for the president of Kazakhstan. There are not a few foreign companies that peep at Caspian oil, and there will be no shortage of money. In fact, in Central Asian countries, it is a joke to take projects without throwing money at them, and this kind of company that does not conform to local conditions is a waste of time to come out to play oil extraction, and it is better to open an oil school to cheat students out of money.
In Central Asia, officialdom is a big market. Nearly 10 years of political chaos have created a generation of "fair trade" Central Asian officials, who can always find a way to complete whatever they want, as long as there is a suitable price, and if they do not give the right price, the officials also promise to find a way to make trouble. There may be some bargaining during this period, but don't you need to bargain for items that were previously priced at Macy's?
In terms of professional ethics, the officials in Central Asia are exemplary, as long as they receive money and make promises, few of them go back on their promises, which is commendable.
After a few steps, we arrived at the attendant's room. When the guards did the inspection, they deliberately did not fight
The leather bag that Kaisu City carried with him was just repeatedly probed with equipment.
Finally, the chief of the guard nodded to Sioux City.
When I entered the study, the first thing I saw was a huge tapestry, furry with a certain historical story, more than ten meters long, not to mention hundreds of villains in it, and I knew that the price was expensive at a glance.
Nazarbayev was sitting on a precarious seat, as if reading a book.
It was an old-looking Central Asian,, with yellow skin, black hair, and small eyes. The arms are strong and powerful. gives Su Cheng the feeling that he is more like a workshop director in a state-owned factory.
Seeing him come in, Nazarbayev took off his glasses, got up and said with a smile: "It's the chairman of Dahua Industrial, let's sit down and talk." ”
He walked around the large writing desk and sat down on the sofa in the center of the room, looking at each other across the coffee table from Sioux City.
Su Cheng bowed and said: "Dahua's trip is to explore the feasibility of the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline. ”
"I've heard that. Nazarbayev had already received a "donation" of money in the early stage, and he leaned back in his chair very relaxedly. He asked, "Dahua Industrial, has it been authorized by the Chinese government?"
"There is no formal mandate yet. ”
"Oh, then whose agent am I talking to?" Nazarbayev is very familiar with China. His life experience is similar to that of the Chinese leaders in the 90s. Work in the factory first. Then he threw himself into the arms of the caucus, became the secretary of the party committee of the Karaganda region, and finally became the secretary of the Kazakh Soviet. In the end, Kazakhstan became independent, and he was elected president of Kazakhstan with a high vote.
As far as Sioux City knows, he will sit in this position for more than 20 years. The whole of Kazakhstan has not had a change of president since independence. Nazarbayev's leadership and judgment of Kazakhstan are also well known, and a Central Asian country can develop steadily. And it is developing faster than the surrounding countries. It's not easy.
The future Nazarbayev's popularity in Kazakhstan probably surpassed Putin's popularity in Russia. However, Nazarbayev in 1993 was only in power for 2 years, and his position was not stable. In the process of foreign cooperation, he is cautious and inevitable.
Su Cheng didn't pull the tiger Pila banner, and said calmly: "I'm not anyone's agent, I'm independent." Of course. I have received some support in China, and I am still somewhat sure that I will push for the completion of the China-Kazakhstan line. ”
"A purely private Chinese company?"
"Yes. Sioux City's tone didn't change in the slightest.
Nazarbayev picked up the teacup, pretended to drink water, then smiled and said: "An oil pipeline, I'm afraid, is not supported by a purely private enterprise." Your supporters should choose an appropriate occasion to first put forward the request for the China-Kazakhstan oil pipeline, and then we will move on to specific issues. ”
For the sake of the road money, Nazarbayev met with Sioux City. However, when it comes to plumbing, he doesn't mean to be accommodating. The so-called appropriate occasion is a diplomatic occasion, and this kind of thing is difficult to happen in the absence of a unified voice within PetroChina. Moreover, it also deviated from Sioux City's plans.
Su Cheng's hand was on the bag, and he didn't push it out immediately, but said: "Your Excellency's request is reasonable, but on the issue of oil pipelines in our country, we are more inclined to the Sino-Russian oil pipelines." ”
"What do you mean by looking for me?"
"In my opinion, Russia is asking too much and not being sincere enough. Moreover, an oil pipeline has an annual passing capacity of only 20 million tons to 50 million tons, and even if Russia sells more oil and exceeds our needs, it is just a flash in the pan, so it is better to build an oil pipeline to Kazakhstan first to meet the current demand. "Sioux City deliberately ordered 20 million tons, which is 1 times higher than the initial target of the Ontario line, and the temptation for Nazarbayev is obvious.
He didn't do anything to chase away customers, but he didn't mean to nod his head, but said slowly: "Can the annual oil demand of 20 million tons be guaranteed?"
"Absolutely. Dahua Industrial once signed a natural gas underwriting agreement with the UAE government, with a total amount of more than 3 billion US dollars, and the international natural gas market five years ago was more difficult to sell than now. If His Excellency the President so requests, we can enter into an offtake contract for 20 million tons of oil. "Sioux City has come up with a gas offtake agreement from the UAE, which is still very convincing.
Nazarbayev probably saw similar information, and then listened to Su Cheng's emphasis, so he said: "Suppose, let's say we sign an agreement, you can't sell oil outside of China." ”
Oil sells much better than gas, so Kazakhstan needs a consumer, not a middleman.
Su Cheng immediately agreed, and said, "Dahua Industrial can agree to your conditions." In this case, can we ask the Kazakh side to show its goodwill first? It is not a secret that in China, the enterprises that support the construction of the Sino-Russian oil pipeline have stronger political power than we who support the construction of the Sino-Kazakh oil pipeline, and if the Kazakh side can offer to support the Sino-Kazakh oil pipeline, it will reduce our pressure and push forward this matter more quickly. ”
"However, it could put Kazakhstan at a disadvantage in the negotiations. Nazarbayev's voice was slightly deep, and he clarified the crux of the problem in one mouth.
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ps: I was so sleepy yesterday that I slept without finishing it.
It's getting less and less efficient to stay up late. It's still a chapter today, I'm going to bed early, and I'm going to write at least tomorrow morning.
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