Chapter 691 Taking Risks
Facts have proved that at least the Europeans in the 1990s were able to show some efficiency when their lives were at stake.
Within a few days, news spread to China that the European Aerospace Group was planning to modify the itinerary and visit in advance.
At this time, Chang Haonan had basically finished his work in the capital and was about to leave for Jiangcheng to ensure the final stage of construction of the heavy-duty die forging press.
As a result, not long after Zhu Yadan reported her itinerary, she received a call from Ding Gaoheng.
"Xiao Chang, I just received a notice from above. The European Aerospace Group is going to send a delegation to China in two days to inspect and discuss with us issues related to cooperation in the aviation industry."
After the call was connected, the other party got straight to the point.
Chang Haonan was stunned when he heard the news, and then remembered that the European Aerospace Group was later the Airbus Group.
If calculated in terms of output value, about 70% of the cooperation with Europe he has facilitated in the past two years is related to this company.
Including the NSK bearing incident that triggered the collapse of Japanese companies' reputation last year, they also used the other party's Eurocopter company.
They are also old friends in a sense.
"Are you planning to go to the aviation industrial park we plan to build in Luzhou?"
Chang Haonan almost blurted out.
The location of the industrial park was determined in October 1997, and it has been almost a year and a half now. If we count the progress, various preliminary work such as land planning, policy support and infrastructure are almost coming to an end.
After all, it is a project personally supervised by the highest level. In addition, Anhui Province itself is also a relatively well-developed area, so the efficiency is certainly not high.
Considering that from the very beginning of the planning of this industrial park, it has been clearly stated that it is to provide supporting facilities for the European aviation industry. Now that the foundation has been laid, how to develop in the future will definitely still need to be discussed by both parties.
It was originally planned that the first phase of the project would only hand over some parts that did not involve the core of the aircraft to Chinese suppliers for production.
But in today's context, there is obviously still room for negotiation.
"Of course I will go to the industrial park, but this time the delegation opposite is very large, and the visit time is also relatively long."
Ding Gaoheng on the other end of the phone replied:
"In addition to Luzhou, the other party has also applied for trips to several other places, such as the Bingcheng Helicopter Group and the newly built aviation weather simulation wind tunnel in Fucheng."
"Although these matters have their own leading units, they were basically promoted by you at the beginning, so when negotiating later, we still have to refer to your opinions, especially in the industrial park, where many details still need to be confirmed. ”
"Of course this is no problem..."
Connecting China's aviation industry with the global aviation industry is something Chang Haonan has been planning since two years ago, so he almost subconsciously expressed his agreement.
But only halfway through his words, he suddenly realized that at this very sensitive time, the Europeans might have the same idea as him -
He wants to use the weakness of the euro as a bargaining chip in exchange for a wider range of industrial transfers. The other side also wants to use his advantages in the aviation industry to exchange for China's support for the euro.
It's like a bastard looking at mung beans - their eyes met.
As for why he went through all the trouble like this, it was obviously to deceive others.
…
It should be admitted that the Europeans’ ideas are good.
However, at the implementation level, there is indeed still room for improvement.
Even before Chang Haonan received the news and speculated on the purpose of the EU's trip, a report with detailed content and straightforward conclusions had been sent to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Inside the Oval Office.
An international affairs assistant handed the report to several other people seated on three rows of couches on the other side of the office.
"Everyone, this is information that the intelligence department has just intercepted in the past few days. The Europeans may be almost unable to bear it anymore and are preparing to ask for help from China."
After circulating it from beginning to end, the person sitting behind the desk said:
"You have just seen their specific plans, as well as the conditions and bottom line."
Having said this, he put the cigar in his hand on the metal bracket next to him and looked up at the sofa:
"Bob, do you think that if China agrees to the EU's conditions, how much impact will it have on the situation?"
Elsewhere, Treasury Secretary Robert Edward Rubin hadn't even recovered from the report he'd just read.
Not that the content of the report is that incredible.
On the contrary, the fact that the EU would seek help from China is basically a well-known fact and is not a surprise to professionals.
At most, I didn't expect that the former would be so stubborn. It took less than half a month and he couldn't bear it anymore...
What really shocked him was the report itself.
It wasn't until he heard someone calling his name (Bob is Robert's nickname) that he suddenly woke up. However, he did not answer the other person's question immediately, but carefully confirmed:
"The accuracy of this information..."
To Rubin, the content of the document just now was so detailed and substantial that it hardly seemed like "intelligence."
Even if he is asked to sit in the other party's meeting and write a memo, it is nothing more than that.
Therefore, his first feeling was -
This can't be fake, right?
After all, in the battle of wits and courage with the KGB in the past few decades, similar scripts are not uncommon.
What if we are preparing to divert trouble to the east?
As a result, the other party waved his hand directly:
"We have dedicated intelligence acquisition channels in Europe, and the accuracy does not need to be questioned."
Rubin still felt it was a bit outrageous, but since the leader said so, he couldn't ask any more questions, so he had to answer the previous question:
"Although China's economy is currently only seventh in the world and not as large as Italy's, its growth rate is very fast and its market potential is large enough. Its influence on the global economy is far more than just being seventh in the world."
"At present, the EU has basically taken all their response measures. The exchange rate of the euro against the US dollar this morning remained at 1.0210. If China really uses the euro in all or most of its trade with Europe, I think... at least it can Offset or even reverse the euro's downward trend in 2-3 months."
"More importantly, I personally think that if the Chinese side with the euro, then we will probably not be able to push the euro-dollar exchange rate below 1 in a short period of time."
During the first few items, the other people still maintained their calm expressions, but when Rubin mentioned the last item, the atmosphere in the office changed almost instantly.
A rational person's assumption is, after all, just an assumption.
Market confidence is something that is never rational to you.
Therefore, everyone unanimously focused on the key exchange rate point of 1:1.
It is no exaggeration to say that the negative impact caused by the drop from 1:1.1800 to 1.0210 may not be as great as the drop from 1.0210 to 0.9990——
If the euro is really hit below 1, even if it recovers in the future, the damage to its credibility will be irreversible.
For the few people here today, they have been planning for such a long time, so naturally they cannot give up easily.
"So China cannot be allowed to openly support the euro."
Albright, sitting opposite Rubin, spoke decisively:
"At least not in the short term."
"How to stop them?"
The question came again from behind the desk.
"WTO negotiations?"
Albright was a staunch supporter and powerful promoter of Allied operations. Naturally, the first thing that came to mind was the direct approach:
"If they side with Europe... I'm afraid it will be difficult to solve the problem simply."
Rubin felt his head swelled when he heard this crazy woman's speech, and quickly interrupted her:
"Besides, China's joining the WTO is also good for us."
Rubin himself also hopes that China can join the world trading system as soon as possible.
Although he has not told outsiders yet, he has decided to resign within this year, hand over the position of Finance Minister to his student Lawrence Henry Summers, and go to work as a senior executive in the enterprise.
A China that has joined the WTO will bring no harm to his career in his later years.
So he quickly stopped Albright’s crazy idea:
"We need to pay attention to strategy when doing things. China has not started talking to the Europeans yet. We cannot push them to come together. On the contrary, if we give them some sweeteners, we may be able to divide them..."
Rubin's prestige among the Donkey Party is considerable.
Therefore, after he finished speaking, several people immediately expressed their clear support.
"But what if the little white rabbit doesn't eat our carrots?"
Albright said something slightly joking, but there was no joke in his tone.