The second day of the preparatory seminar mainly dealt with Insight China’s main topic “One Belt, One
Road”.
As first guest speaker, we welcomed Mr. Patrick Roettger, Managing Director of Lenovo Switzerland GmbH. He mainly addressed the success of a global Chinese company, taking Lenovo as a best practice example. Today, Lenovo belongs to one of the top companies worldwide. More than 68 % of the revenue is generated outside of China. Most of the production, however, is located in China, being distributed over the Silk Road, thereby following the goals of OBOR. Closing his speech, Mr. Patrick Roettger especially highlights the importance of diversity and open mindedness regarding other cultures. “Be global, not international and avoid stereotypes and predefined options”.
Next, Mr. Hui Gu, Minister-Counsellor Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Switzerland, touched upon the Swiss Chinese relations and the perceptions of OBOR. Mr. Hui Gu especially points out the improved relationship between China and Switzerland in matters of trade, finance, innovation, and infrastructure. In 1950 Switzerland was among the very first countries to recognize and establish new ties with China. With the OBOR Initiative, Mr. Hui Gu highlights the opening up of a new era, in which not only Switzerland and China, but also many other countries profit from. The initiative aims to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Hereby, a wide consultation, a joint contribution and shared benefits are needed. Mr. Hui Gu states that, “with the spirit of mutual respect, treating each other as equals, mutual benefit and win-win, Chinese Swiss relations will play a pioneer role in the building of a new type of international relations”.
Before lunch, Dr. Daniel V. Christen, Board Member of Swiss-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, CEO Assetis AG talked about the Financial Aspects of OBOR. Today, the initiative focus lies in the investment in developing markets, towards Central Asia, East Europe, Southeast Asia and North Africa. Although the initiative stimulates a massive market, it also leads to a wide range of costs. According to Dr. Daniel V. Christen, the investment amounts to trillions of dollars. The total expected financing associated with the Belt and Road initiative is USD 20 trillion. The OBOR initiative is not only just an economic project, but it also facilitates the trade between China and its main partners, as well as helps get resources from Africa back to China.
In the afternoon, we had the pleasure to welcome Mr. Xiankun Lu, Managing Director Ledeco Geneva and Visiting Professor, Wuhan University of China, who just arrived yesterday in Switzerland from China’s spring festival. He presented us the strategic aspects of China’s OBOR Initiative. Starting with the history, how the first silk road even evolved, followed by the strategic objectives of OBOR, what the five aspects of OBOR are, about its challenges and opportunities.
The CEO of the Bertschi Group, which is also a long-term Gold Partner of Insight China, Mr. Hans-Jörg Bertschi, gave us an outlook of the concrete projects of Bertschi AG around OBOR. The company was the first which ever transported liquid chemical by rail on the Silkroad between Europe and China. Today the company focus lies in China and the Middle East and Mr. Bertschi already has plans for the company’s future.
Today was all about the One Belt, One Road Initiative. We had the honour and pleasure to welcome again many fascinating guest speakers and experienced an amazing traditional Chinese lion dance by the Chin Woo Kung Fu Schule Affoltern. Thank you!
