Chapter 133: He Truly Could Not Do It

By the time Zhao Guoyang and his group arrived at the multimedia center, most of the guests had already signed in. He, Li Kejian, and Ji Zhongxuan took seats in the second row, leaving the front row for the five industry titans.

At nine o'clock sharp, following a brief opening address by Songjiang Mayor Huang Zhigang, the International Automotive Summit officially began. At 9:20, the first keynote speaker took the stage.

General Motors of the United States is one of the world's most renowned automotive corporations. Its portfolio, including brands such as Buick, Opel, Baojun, and Cadillac, has consistently remained among the most competitive in the global market.

Clark, the CEO of General Motors' International Operations, was the day's first speaker. His topic was the prospects for cooperation between China and the United States in the automotive industry. Clark began by presenting a series of figures illustrating the shift in the scale of cooperation between China and the U.S. in the automotive sector over the past two years. In his view, there was vast potential for collaboration in areas including automobiles, energy, and aviation, and he expressed his anticipation for seeing the latest American automotive technologies applied to the Chinese market as soon as possible.

As Clark finished, the hall erupted into thunderous applause. Zhao Guoyang, seated in the second row, joined in the clapping, but he felt unconvinced. The reason was simple: while Clark appeared to be attending the summit as a guest, his true objective was likely to act as a lobbyist for an American corporate invasion of the Chinese market. The sectors he mentioned—energy, aviation, and rail—were clearly outside the scope of General Motors' business. His ulterior motives were laid bare.

Ji Zhongxuan, sitting beside him, seemed to notice Zhao’s disdain. He looked Zhao up and down and asked in a low voice, "Xiao Zhao, you don't seem to think much of General Motors. Is there a reason for that?"

Zhao Guoyang composed himself and replied earnestly, "Academician Ji, it’s not that I look down on General Motors. In fact, they have always been one of the top three automakers in the world by sales."

"Then why are you skeptical of them? I’m quite curious," Ji asked.

Zhao paused to collect his thoughts. "It’s not necessarily skepticism. I’m simply dissatisfied with Mr. Clark’s attitude. The tone he used made it sound as if American companies coming to our market were doing us a favor by providing 'technological poverty relief.' In reality, all they are interested in is China’s massive market and our cheap labor."

"Take the railway construction he mentioned so casually. In my opinion, our domestic development momentum in that area is destined to surpass that of the United States. At our current rate of development, ten or twenty years from now, it might be us teaching them how to build railways. For him to have the gall to offer us 'technical support' is truly laughable."

Upon hearing this, Li Kejian could no longer remain calm. He turned to Zhao and asked eagerly, "Xiao Zhao, what is the basis for your conclusion? I mean, your claim that China’s railway development will surpass that of the U.S."

Zhao instinctively touched his nose. "Elder Li, it’s not hard to understand. The land area of China and the U.S. is similar, and our geographical environments are comparable. This means that, eventually, the total railway mileage of both countries should be quite similar. Currently, the U.S. has about 220,000 kilometers of track, while we have only 50,000. In other words, we have at least 170,000 kilometers of room to catch up—and that’s without even considering that our population is several times larger than theirs."

Zhao shrugged. "Comparing these numbers makes the conclusion obvious. Our country undoubtedly has vast room for development in railways. If we listen to people like Clark and import American railway technology, we’ll easily be led astray. Just think: their technology is decades old. Can it keep pace with the rapid changes in global industrial standards?"

Li Kejian’s face showed astonishment as he listened to these thought-provoking words. After a long silence, he asked, "Then, Xiao Zhao, what kind of plan do you think our country should have for railway construction?"

Zhao thought for a moment. "The specific plan is complex, and I can't explain it in detail right now, but the general direction is clear: we must independently research and develop new railway technologies. Even if the pace is slower, as long as we take steady steps, we will inevitably improve our own technology during the construction process."

"Right now, we are at 50,000 kilometers. Perhaps by the time we reach 70,000 or 80,000, our standards won't be fully stabilized. But I believe if we persist, by the time we hit 100,000 kilometers, our technical level will match that of developed nations, and by 150,000, we might even surpass them!"

"Good! That’s excellent! I will make a note of your suggestion, Xiao Zhao. I will present it to the Premier at the next executive meeting of the State Council! I am becoming increasingly interested in you. I truly wonder how your mind works..."

Li Kejian sighed in admiration after a long silence. Zhao Guoyang felt a bit uneasy under the older man's gaze. He knew his remarks were somewhat overstepping his bounds, but when faced with such significant issues, he could not bring himself to remain silent. In truth, before his rebirth, the Republic's rapid development of its railway industry had driven the progress of other sectors and secured China's rightful status as a major global power. By the 2010s and 2020s, whether in Africa or South America, railways were always China’s greatest source of pride and strength.

Zhao could not let such a massive opportunity slip away. As for what Li Kejian thought of him, he could not worry about that now. As he spoke with Li and Ji, the second keynote speaker took the stage. Upon seeing who it was, the expressions of the five titans in the front row became instantly grave.