China has made great contributions to global economic growth (the wind is coming from the East-international people have witnessed China’s reform and opening up).
In the 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has greatly liberalized the market access for foreign investment in many fields. The above picture shows that in March 2002, Citibank Shanghai Branch officially opened to the outside world, which is the first wholly foreign-owned bank approved to operate foreign exchange business for domestic residents and enterprises.
Xinhua news agency
jean pascal tricoire
Suboko
Maianzhe
Spitford
This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up. 40 years of unity, 40 years of hard work, 40 years of spring breeze and rain, the people of China wrote a magnificent epic of the development of the country and the nation with their hands.
In the past 40 years, many international people have come to China to invest in business, study and visit schools, and pursue personal development. They are witnesses, participants, contributors and beneficiaries of China’s reform and opening up. Starting from today, this newspaper will launch a series of special editions of "The Wind Comes from the East", in which international people will talk about their experiences of China’s reform and opening up and share their stories of China with readers.
Seize the opportunity and move forward with China.
jean pascal tricoire
I first came to China in 1992. At that time, I was just a tourist, and I walked around the western and central parts of China. I am deeply attracted by the grandeur and vastness of this land and the hard work and simplicity of the people. At that time, everything was exuberant and slightly raw, and I also captured the information that China needed more development. So I decided to work in China. In 1993, I came to China as I wished, and served as the head of a sales department of Schneider Electric China Representative Office. Since then, I have forged an indissoluble bond with China.
In 1995, the Group made a strategic decision to increase investment in China. We began to invest and build factories on a large scale, and at the same time, we enriched our business by acquiring leading enterprises in related fields. At that time, with the further promotion of reform and opening up, economic development zones emerged one after another, accompanied by a large number of public infrastructure projects, many newly established industrial and mining enterprises, commercial buildings and residential buildings scrambling to stand up, which brought huge markets to our power transmission and distribution products.
Walking in the increasingly prosperous streets, I saw the brilliant lights of various landmark buildings flashing in the sky at night, as well as many landmark projects of energy and infrastructure construction, such as the Three Gorges Dam, the West-East Gas Transmission Project, the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, etc., all of which were behind us, and my pride was born. We also provide comprehensive technical support and power supply services for many major events.
Looking back, I have some personal experiences. The first thing is to seize the opportunity and work hard. From the first factory in China in 1987, we have developed into a business network with 26 factories, 3 major R&D centers, 8 logistics centers, 26,000 employees and more than 800 dealers covering 300 cities. From the initial focus on low-voltage power distribution and industrial automation, it has developed into a leading enterprise in the digital transformation of energy efficiency management and automation today. In recent decades, Schneider Electric has experienced different stages of development, such as "selling in China", "manufacturing in China" and "research and development in China", and completed the transformation from Schneider Electric China Company to Schneider Electric Company in China. Secondly, the whole society is diversified and win-win and coordinated. In the whole development process, we have been working together with partners to jointly promote the development of the industry and the whole industrial chain and establish a benign ecological circle. Finally, the individual, the society and the country achieve each other and coexist and prosper together. When individuals look at self-worth from a big perspective, they will find that we are meaningful to society, the country, the world and the historical tide.
Over the past 40 years, China has formed a unique market economy development model and created a vibrant business environment. As the second largest economy in the world, China has made great contributions to the global economic growth. The life of the people in China has undergone earth-shaking changes. The green leather trains, guest houses and slightly lacking material life in my memory have quietly settled in the past and become history.
In the French office of Schneider Electric, the work card of Mr. Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s reform and opening up, who worked in Crusoe Schneider Iron and Steel Plant during his study in France was still preserved. It is the same company that he stayed for a short time, which will add a wonderful stroke to the picture of China’s reform and opening up in the future.
There is an old saying in China: Don’t go against your heart, then be friends. Along the way, we are witnesses, witnesses, contributors and beneficiaries of China’s brilliant achievements in reform and opening up. We have caught up with the good era of China’s reform and opening up, and China has entered a new era, which will usher in different opportunities and challenges. Schneider Electric will keep its promise and go forward with China.
(The writer is Chairman and CEO of Schneider Electric Group)
Local innovation benefits more global patients.
Suboko
This year coincides with the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up, and also the 25th anniversary of AstraZeneca’s entry into the China market. Looking forward to the future, China will make more efforts and bring more changes to the health and well-being of mankind with the concept of more openness, integration and development.
China’s 40-year reform and opening-up is unprecedented in scale, span and achievements. In the field of medical and health care, China has made great progress in expanding social medical insurance, reforming public hospitals and strengthening primary medical care. In the 13th Five-Year Plan, China promoted "Healthy China 2030" to a national strategy, with the goal of establishing a mature universal health insurance system by 2030. This commitment and determination attracted worldwide attention.
AstraZeneca is fortunate to be a participant, witness, contributor and beneficiary of China’s reform and opening up. Adhering to the concept of "China is China", we have a complete industrial chain from R&D and production to commercial operation, with more than 10,000 employees in China. Since entering the China market, we have brought about 30 kinds of innovative drugs to patients in China, all of which focus on the diseases that China patients need most urgently. Today, China has become AstraZeneca’s second largest market in the world and an important growth platform for AstraZeneca’s global business development.
Since the reform and opening-up, I can deeply feel the progress of China’s health field, and realize that the China government is committed to safeguarding people’s health and improving the health level of the whole people, and has always adhered to the "people-oriented" development direction. Thanks to the continuous optimization and acceleration of the approval process of imported drugs by the China Municipal Government, we have seen that patients in China can use the world’s leading innovative drugs more quickly. At the same time, the government of China also encourages local innovation, hoping that innovative drugs in China can benefit patients all over the world. The renal anemia drug that AstraZeneca cooperates with Fabojin Company, and will be listed in China for the first time, will be the first locally developed innovative drug that AstraZeneca listed in China before Europe and America.
We are delighted to see that last year, China officially became a member of the International Technical Coordination Committee for the Registration of Medicines for Human Use, and recently became a member of the organization’s management committee, which will be conducive to the international recognition of innovative drugs registered and approved in China. Since the reform and opening up, China’s local scientific research and innovation have developed strongly, multinational companies have set up R&D centers in China, and China’s local R&D teams have also played an increasingly important role, such as Theresa of AstraZeneca — — A new drug for the treatment of lung cancer was contributed by the R&D team in China at the initial stage of development. At present, the drug has been listed in 75 countries around the world.
The spirit of "openness, tolerance, cooperation and win-win" is the result of reform and opening up, and it is also the direction that the international community should adhere to. Last year, AstraZeneca and SDIC Innovation Investment Management Co., Ltd. established a joint venture company — — Dezhe (Jiangsu) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. hopes that through international and local cooperation, it will jointly devote itself to the exploration, research and development and commercialization of innovative drugs, further enhance the research and development capability of local new drugs, and let the "innovation" originating in China benefit more domestic and foreign patients.
The rapid development of Internet in China has also provided the possibility for the innovation and transformation of the medical industry. Through diversified cooperation in the fields of health Internet of Things, big data and artificial intelligence, we continue to develop health solutions that integrate diagnosis and treatment. In 2018, we signed a memorandum of long-term strategic cooperation with Ali Health and Tencent respectively, using more cutting-edge scientific and technological means to improve the accessibility of patient-centered whole course management programs.
Forty years of reform and opening up have made China an important member on the world stage. China is becoming a promoter of global and regional cooperation, and the "Belt and Road" has a broad development prospect, which also allows us to establish a foothold in China and realize medical interconnection with more regions. I greatly appreciate China’s insistence on economic globalization and trade liberalization and facilitation, and also appreciate China’s efforts in creating a harmonious and inclusive society and enhancing the well-being of the whole people. AstraZeneca is willing to continue to take root in China and join hands with all sectors to contribute to the development of health in China.
(The writer is the global CEO of AstraZeneca)
Transformation and upgrading will promote common prosperity of the world.
Maianzhe
Since the reform and opening up, China Bridge, China Road, China Car, China Port and various buildings that have sprung up have become China’s business cards. The whole world was shocked by the rapid development of China and its huge industrial and economic volume.
After 40 years of reform and opening-up, China has become the most important resource market in the world, which is pregnant with development potential and market prospect that cannot be ignored. In the early days of reform and opening up, the annual output of steel in China was only over 30 million tons, accounting for about 5% of the world. Last year, China’s steel output reached 830 million tons, accounting for about 50% of the world. The development and changes are amazing. BHP Billiton is fortunate to participate in it, forge ahead with China, and witness the rapid development of China and the transformation of energy structure. We are very proud.
At present, China’s economy has shifted from a high-speed growth stage to a new stage of high-quality development, and the economic growth mode has further changed from investment-driven to consumption-driven mode. In order to satisfy people’s yearning for a better life, I am deeply impressed by China’s commitment and efforts in green and sustainable development. China has carried out supply-side structural reform with very positive and substantial measures, and achieved many remarkable results. China’s demand for commodities is also constantly changing. Internationally, China adheres to the open attitude of multilateral cooperation and is committed to jointly solving the problem of climate change and transforming into a low-carbon economy.
In line with China’s sustainable development strategy, it is very important to improve production efficiency and provide high-quality and sustainable resources. We are confident that we will continue to supply reliable and high-quality resource products for China’s high-quality development and continue to provide strong support for China’s modern economic system construction in the future.
In the new era, China has deepened its reform and opened wider to the outside world, which shows China’s determination and sincerity to share opportunities and develop together with other countries. It has also opened up a vast market for multinational enterprises and brought more new opportunities to China itself, the Asian region and even the world.
BHP Billiton supports the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, believing that it will greatly promote the economic interconnection among countries, improve the infrastructure of relevant countries, and promote the emergence of new economic growth points. We predict that the investment projects of the Belt and Road Initiative will generate a large demand for building materials and equipment, thus directly or indirectly stimulating the demand for steel. In addition, the demand for commodities such as copper, oil and natural gas will also have a positive impact.
China’s sustained medium and high-speed economic growth has made China an important force to promote the recovery of the world economy and the development of world trade. The rising living standards of the people of China have made it the fastest growing and most potential consumer market in the world. Thanks to China’s huge industrial and economic volume and the rapid development of urbanization, China’s growing market demand has provided more and richer development opportunities for resource enterprises like BHP Billiton.
The prosperity and stability of the world economy and society require all countries to strengthen their cooperation and sharing on the basis of maintaining freedom and constant innovation in an open attitude and a spirit of mutual respect. There are many opportunities for multinational companies to cooperate with China enterprises, develop together through joint innovation, and provide resource guarantee for the growing world population and new demands.
China’s further opening-up will continue to promote economic growth and improve people’s living standards worldwide. At the same time, it will also create a large number of jobs, stimulate investment, and further help mankind get rid of poverty. China’s development concept of openness, mutual benefit and win-win will bring more and more development opportunities to all countries in the world. BHP Billiton will continue to stand with China, support and promote the process of free trade and economic globalization, and promote the common prosperity of the world.
(The writer is CEO of BHP Billiton Group)
Safe, friendly, open and inclusive is exciting.
Spitford
In September 2013, I became the President and CEO of ABB Group, leading the "new stage" strategy aimed at accelerating sustainable value creation.
ABB’s development in China has gone through a hundred years since it provided a steam boiler to China in 1907. In 1979, ABB set up an office in Beijing. Since then, its business in China has entered the fast lane. Today, ABB has 40 local enterprises in 142 cities with 18,000 employees. Its fields span R&D, manufacturing, sales and engineering services. ABB’s rapid development history in China is almost synchronized with the reform process in China.
We have established a first-class partnership with China, and hope that this partnership will continue into the next century. We are changing in the process of China’s reform. 12% of ABB’s employees in China are engaged in R&D, and its value chain is completely localized. 90% of the products sold in China are developed and manufactured in China. ABB provides support to China in important economic fields such as renewable energy integration, smart city construction and electric transportation. China is an important market and a very important partner of ABB.
China’s 40 years of reform and opening up have changed China and influenced the world. China’s long-term development goals, transparency and credibility, and political process are all extremely impressive. If we can work together, everyone will benefit and everyone will have a chance to prosper.
I think China’s efforts to further strengthen reform and opening up are particularly commendable, especially recognizing China’s determination and measures to pay attention to compliance management, integrity building and intellectual property protection. In my opinion, the development of manufacturing industry in China, especially the development of artificial intelligence, can be expected in the future.
At present, the top management of ABB Group often serves as a consultant for some provinces and cities in China, offering suggestions for the economic development of China, and closely tracking the policy trend of China. I now visit China six to eight times a year. The great changes that have taken place in China in various fields since the reform and opening up 40 years ago are obvious to all the world. Taking the field of electric transportation as an example, buses in some big cities in China have been replaced by electric vehicles, which is a great progress.
After visiting China many times, what impressed me most was the good public security environment in China and the open mind of Chinese. What I like most is the openness and friendliness of China. Every time I’m in China, I feel safe walking in the street at night. I can talk with Chinese, and this open and inclusive attitude makes me move.
(The author is the president and CEO of ABB Group, interviewed by Zhang Niansheng, a reporter of this newspaper in the United States)
Layout design: Cai Huawei