Volume 2: Feng Xi Comes Second Chapter 21: Negotiation Expert

  In the following half month, Lu Zhong joined the negotiation team organized by the municipal government. The negotiation team was composed of many nationally renowned economists. Although it was nominally organized by the municipal government, in reality, it was dominated by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, which was a combination of four departments: the Department of Foreign Trade, the General Bureau of Foreign Economic Liaison, the Import and Export Administration Committee, and the Foreign Investment Management Committee.

  It was Shi Decheng, the secretary of the municipal party committee, who could only be a bystander in the end. According to the negotiation process, it would be the West Germans investing in Wushan, and the land they encircled would certainly be a national-level high-tech development zone, and it would also be China's first national-level high-tech industrial development zone.

  The establishment of a national high-tech development zone was still being explored by the central government when the arrival of Germans became a catalyst.

  Duan Zhongcheng and others just watched from the sidelines, basically, there was nothing more about Lu Zheng.

  But in front of many domestic experts, Lu Zhong put forward some constructive suggestions, such as the terms that Chinese technical personnel can access the core technology of joint ventures and receive regular training at the parent company's laboratory in the United States must be written into the contract; for example, the Chinese side of the joint venture invests with land, but cannot invest cheaply, land is a very precious resource, etc.

  These opinions were mostly adopted by experts from Beijing, and as a result, Lu Zhong also managed to speak up for the local cadres of Wushan and gain some face.

  Regarding the development of high-tech zones, Lu Zhong also put forward several opinions. The most bold one is that Lu Zhong suggested moving some of Beijing's famous science and technology universities to the future high-tech park. However, Lu Zhong said that without strong technical universities and laboratories, the high-tech park would be like a tree without roots or water without a source. If we really want to develop this tech park into China's Silicon Valley, we need to have great vision. In the future, the development of high-tech zones and science and technology universities will be a mutually reinforcing process, rather than who helps whom.

  Although it makes sense, no one would take it seriously, and even if they did discuss it privately, some experts wouldn't hesitate to express their approval in front of the main leaders of the Wushi City Committee, saying something like "Little Lu is a good seedling, he has courage and ideas".

  In imperceptible ways, Lu Zhong's position in the minds of the municipal party committee's main leaders may have undergone a subtle transformation. At least, Zhang Yugong's attitude towards Lu Zhong has become increasingly intimate.

  That evening, Zhang Yugong suddenly called and invited Lu Zhong to his home for a simple meal.

  Lu Zhong knew that Liu Baojun had followed him for a lifetime and still didn't have this honor and treatment.

  The round dining table in the picture of Crane and Deer Wishing Longevity is called Yuanshan, the dinner was very rich, with chicken, duck, fish and meat, Mrs. Zhang's soup was extremely high-level, fragrant and overflowing.

  The wine is Maotai, fragrant and pungent.

  At home, apart from the little nanny, there were only Zhang Yuke and his wife, and Lu Zhong, three people chatting around the round table. Mrs. Zhang liked to listen to Lu Zhong's stories about all sorts of things, and even poured herself a small cup of white wine, saying "to keep you company, Zhongzi".

  At home, Zhang Yugong seemed to be very open-minded and suddenly asked: "Zhengzi, do you know Vice Governor Qi of the province?"

  Lu Zhong was taken aback, saying: "Yes." Obviously, there are no walls that don't leak in the official circle. Before this, the big shots of Wushan didn't pay much attention to themselves. If they had paid attention, Uncle Qi would have given some people a heads up and taken care of himself, and it would have definitely entered their ears.

  However, there are many deputy secretaries of the provincial party committee nowadays. Qi Shu's position as vice governor is not even ranked, and he is an outsider with no foundation. People like Zhang Yigong must have a strong backing in the province and won't take Qi Shu seriously.

  Lu Zhong nodded in agreement, Zhang Yugong smiled and stopped asking. He took a sip of wine, sighed and said: "Stolen half a day's leisure from the floating life, having made revolution for a lifetime, it's time to retire. From now on, this world belongs to you young people."

  Mrs. Zhang chimed in from beside him: "Whether you retire or not, you have to make arrangements for Zhenzi, this child is really good."

  Mrs. Zhang wore a deep gray dress, looking very elegant, and with this demeanor, she was indeed the leader's wife.

  Lu Zhong was a bit puzzled, how did he seem to be very popular among middle-aged women? From Pei Aihong to Ma Dajie and then to Zhang Furen, they all seemed to have a good impression of him.

  Zhang Yigong smiled and said: "Organizational matters, you've always been uninvolved, haven't you?"

  "Lu Zhēn is different." Mrs. Zhang said, giving Lu Zhēn a piece of braised pork, "If our daughter hadn't married early, I would have matched you two up."

  Zhang Yuke smiled and said: "You're getting further and further away from the truth, this is nonsense!"

  Lu Zhong smiled and ate his vegetables.

  Actually, due to Liu Baojun's experience, Lu Zhong had always been reserved towards Zhang Yuke, but at his home, he also felt that he was not much different from ordinary old people, and was quite kind and amiable.

  Zhang Yuke took a sip of wine and said to Lu Zhong: "Zhongzi, haven't you been to the negotiating team for these few days?"

  Lu Zhong nodded, after more than half a month of negotiations, the basic framework for the Sino-German joint venture to establish Changming Electronics Co., Ltd. has been basically determined. The German side will provide funding and technology, holding 70% of the shares in the joint venture company, while the Chinese side will use land and capital contributions to hold 30% of the shares. Next, they will negotiate the details of cooperation, such as how much land and capital contribution the Chinese side needs to make to account for 30% of the shares, and what policies the state will implement to give the green light to Changming Electronics Co., Ltd. This will be a very long process, if it doesn't go smoothly, it may take one or two years.

  Of course, now introducing foreign capital is about efficiency. Many times, the investor proposes what conditions and gives them to others, especially in this mode of joint venture with government-provided venues. The fastest record was a joint-venture factory in Shenzhen, from the start of formal negotiations to completion, only three days were used, so it's called "Shenzhen speed".

  However, when entering the detailed negotiation stage, Lu Zhong couldn't get involved. During this period, he didn't go to report on the negotiation team, but instead started his own work at the Education Commission.

  Zhang Yuke smiled, "Then you should not know that the Germans appreciate you very much. When we proposed that the Chinese side enter the enterprise management team, they refused very bluntly, without any room for maneuver. In the end, they mentioned your name and said that if there must be a Chinese person in the core position of the operations team, it would have to be you. Except for you, at least at this stage, there will not be any Chinese representatives on the company's operations team. Moreover, if you were to take on the role of Party Secretary, they also agree that the company can have a party organization."

  Lu Zhong was completely stunned this time. Now, whether it's a special zone or inland, they are all keen on arranging management personnel to enter joint ventures. The phenomenon of officials serving as general managers of joint ventures is widespread. Many joint ventures and even foreign enterprises have been forced to set up party committees and branches. These are what foreign investors do not want to see and are most opposed to.

  Schneider, you have such a good impression of yourself? This is also too unbelievable.

  "Zhuangzi, what's your take on this issue?" Zhang Yuke asked slowly and deliberately.

  Lu Zhong thought for a moment and said, "Director Yu Gong, can I say something from the bottom of my heart? If what I'm going to say is not right, please pretend you didn't hear it. Let's just say that the speaker is innocent, okay?"

  Zhang Yuguang smiled and nodded slightly.

  Lu Zhong said, "I think that at this stage, if we really want to do a good job with this enterprise, our party and government departments should not interfere too much. Let's give them the reins, we introduce foreign capital, in addition to learning technology, we also need to learn from their management methods and operating philosophy. If we must send our cadres to get involved, learning is okay, but participating in their operations? I think it can only be described with two words - causing trouble!"

  Zhang Yuke just smiled and didn't say anything.

  Lu Zhong continued: "Of course, necessary management is needed. It can't be that foreigners come to China and don't implement the corporate culture of their home country, but instead use various methods to exploit Chinese workers, turning our joint ventures into sweatshops."

  Zhang Yuke smiled and nodded.

  ……

  There is an office with a sign reading "Wushan City Foreign Affairs and Language Work Committee Office" on the second floor of the Wushan Foreign Language College office building.

  In the office, Zhou Xiaoming stood in front of Lu Zheng, listening to his arrangements for the next phase of work.

  Although Zhou Xiaoming would still mock the new director behind his back, calling him a big roughneck, in front of Lu Zhong, he was absolutely obedient and didn't dare disobey Lu's intentions.

  Moreover, Zhou Xiaoming had to admit that Lu Zhong had his own way of doing things. In just a few days, it seemed like he understood many tasks better than himself. For example, the special numbering system for translation talent reserve files he proposed allowed office staff to quickly know which files they needed, without having to move a large stack of personnel files around to search one by one.

  A slight change has brought great convenience to daily work, and Director Lu can't help but be admired by others.

  "Xiao Zhou, I'm probably also at the last post of my career. After I leave, I hope you won't think that my time working at the Education Committee was a joke." Lu Zhong suddenly said with a smile.

  Xiao Zhou was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red, and she stuttered, but couldn't say anything.

  At this time, the phone on the office desk rang. Lu Zhong answered it. The caller was Liu Baojun, "Zhongzi, let's get together tonight?"

  Lu Zhong smiled and said: "Good, Old Feng has also invited me, let's go together."

  Liu Baojun was taken aback: "Which Old Feng?"

  "Feng Lianying." Lu Zhong spat out a name with quite some era-specific characteristics, and upon hearing it, one might guess that he was born in the 1950s or that his given name was formalized by his teacher during that era.

  Feng Lianying, 36 or 37 years old, is currently the Deputy Director of the Municipal Organization Department and the Director of the Municipal Labor and Personnel Bureau. He is the youngest full-division-level cadre in the municipal organization system and is very capable and efficient. He was promoted by Zhang Yugong himself.

  Lu Zhong went to the Education Commission to take office, accompanied by Feng Lianying.

  "Oh, joint venture? Okay, let's sit down and talk." Liu Baojun agreed happily.