Chinese companies seek win-win results while developing businesses in Europe rather than zero-sum competition with local companies, said three Chinese entrepreneurs in a TV show aired by China Global Television Network (CGTN).
Yin Tongyue, chairman of Chery Automobile Company, stressed the importance of long-term view for Chinese companies in Europe, advising them to follow local rules and share the cake with local competitors.
"Going to a market, it won't do to just turn out Chinese products there. It is a must to follow local laws and regulations and local usage habits. Another thing is we must not take all the cream to ourselves without sharing it with others. We must be a fertilizer rather than a plunderer who goes to other people's home to loot their markets and talents. We also have some local competitors, but we try our best to avoid troubles with them and stay away from their markets," Yin said.
Jia Shaoqian, chairman of Hisense Group, a home appliances and electronics manufacturer that has five factories, six innovation centers, over 20 sales centers and more than 10,000 employees in Europe, said Chinese companies have been not only providing high-quality products and services for European consumers, but also playing an active role in promoting the development of local economies.
"When Hisense went to Europe, we also began with product export and gradually turned to brand building, and later to this globalization model of localized production. In 2018, Hisense acquired Gorenje, which had been losing money for 12 years. After our acquisition, it took just one year and a half to turn this company into profit making. In the city where Gorenje is located, around one third of the residents work in this company. So its turnaround suddenly made them feel Chinese companies are able to do things that European companies fail in management," Jia said.
Gao Jifan, chairman and president of Trina Solar, a leading provider of photovoltaic modules and smart energy solutions and a world leader in solar energy innovation, lauded Europe's healthy business environment for Chinese companies and particularly its efforts to protect innovation.
"For example, the talent environment, innovation environment and high transparency of laws and regulations in Europe are very desirable, So I like Europe very much. Especially, I think Europe has done a brilliant job in protecting intellectual property rights, as it's a key to high-quality development. Only when intellectual property rights are well protected, can innovation be protected," Gao said.
Chinese companies seek win-win cooperation in Europe
