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What do the Chinese know, and what can we learn?
September 16, 2008
1. Reaching across a great wall: Members of the Chinese Machine Tool and Tool Builders’ Association went to great pains to declare their doors and borders to foreign visitors at their upcoming Chinese International Machine Tool Show. They also want a higher level of foreign investment in their rapidly-growing manufacturing market. “China Machine Tool and Tool Builder’s Association is your trustworthy partner,” said CMBTA vice president Wang Lining. “We will follow international norms to provide convenient and quality services to all participants.”
2. So what do the Chinese know? Well, they know a sustainable power source when they see one. Wang said the country will build two 1-million kW nuclear powder plants a year for the next several years to increase total power output for the country. That will take China from 12 million kW in 2010 to 40 million kW by 2020. The Chinese fervently embrace nuclear power. What do they know? Well, they certainly know how to pronounce it, unlike the current U.S. president.
3. What else do the Chinese know? It’s not just nuclear power, either. Wang said the growth of sustainable power for China is critical for his country’s continued expansion. For example, in 2007, wind power accounted for almost 6 million kW in China. By 2020, the Chinese expect that jump to jump to as much as 60 million kW. I wasn’t aware T. Boone Pickens was Chinese…
4. What else do they know? They know they cannot do it alone. Wang noted that China leads the world in machine tool imports, which were up 34.5% in the first half of 2008. “It is expected that China’s machine tool and tools industry will be able to maintain a steady and fast growth pace in 2008,” said Wang. “The Beijing 2008 Olympic games were a great success,” he added. “Inspired by the Olympic spirit, let’s enhance exchange and cooperation to realize the goal of all-win and common development.”
5. So what can we learn? The days of the “evil empire” concept are fading. The world enthusiastically came to Chicago for IMTS to find out what’s new in machine tools, just as they will go to Tokyo, Beijing and Milan in the coming months for major international events in those cities. If you think this is a political problem, you’ve been watching too much CNN. Our issues today are with our business and finance communities. It is through international cooperation, not through internal isolationism, that these issues can be addressed and solved. November cannot come fast enough.
Posted by Wolseley on September 16, 2008 | Comments (3)
