Premier Wen visits ABB's VD4 workshop accompanied by John Yung, general manager of ABB Xiamen Switchgear Co., Ltd.
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Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited ABB's new medium voltage Power Products factory in Xiamen on May 8, accompanied by prominent government officials, including nine State Council ministers.
The visit is one of Premier Wen’s scheduled stops on a tour of the region to study and promote the “Western Cross Strait Economic Zone.”
This is a plan to accelerate trade, social and economic development on the western side of the Taiwan Straits by more closely integrating the economies, transport, infrastructure and economic policies of coastal cities in the area, and by strengthening economic cooperation with Taiwan across the straits.
Fujian province would be the hub linking this zone to other powerhouse economic zones in China like the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta.
The visit by such high-ranking member's of the government demonstrates ABB's leading position within China's industrial hierarchy.
Welcoming Primier Wen and his cabinet were the head of ABB Xiamen Switchgear, John Yung, and Stefan Blaschek, head of ABB Xiamen Electrical Controlgear, who provided a tour of ABB's new state-of-the-art product and production facilities in Xiamen.
Premier Wen shared his concerns about the impact of the global financial crisis on ABB factories in Xiamen. Yung said he remains optimistic about the business outlook in China, and told the Premier: "We have seen some impact in certain market segments, but growth opportunities remain strong in the metro, high-speed railway and nuclear power plant sectors. We have confidence in China's overall market, and ABB expects to maintain business on the same level as last year."
Blashek reported on order increases from the Sichuan reconstruction (the region devastated by a magnitude 8 earthquake one year ago), Premier Wen added that he expects ABB to work hard on these projects which will take at least another two years to complete.
Yung and Blashek also shared the details of some of ABB Xiamen's important national projects with the Premier.
Premier Wen emphasized that despite the impact of global financial crisis, China will continue its policy of reform and continue to welcome foreign investments. An example of this is the Western Cross Strait Economic Zone initiative itself, which China's State Council recently approved.
In the evening, P. C. Gay, head of ABB Xiamen Low Voltage Equipment, along with representatives from 20 companies in Fujian, attended a symposium presided over by Premier Wen, centered around the theme of Western Cross Strait Economic Zone.