Hidden in European archives, China's winding journey towards national rejuvenation

NATIONAL REJUVENATION

The Volkswagen archives in the German city of Wolfsburg contains a photograph shot in 1978, showing a group of "unexpected" Chinese visitors taking notes in front of a sand table in the Volkswagen car factory.

Dieter Landenberger, director of the Historic Communications Volkswagen, told Xinhua that the Chinese delegation from the First Ministry of Machine Industry of the PRC did not make any appointments before knocking on the door of Volkswagen.

"It was said it was their decision made at the moment when they saw Volkswagen cars on the streets during their visit to Germany. It was a great coincidence and was extremely lucky that W.P. Schmidt, the director in charge of the international business, was at the office," said Landenberger.

This encounter led to the introduction of foreign investment into China's fledging auto industry, a crucial part of China's reform and opening-up which started in 1978.

According to Volkswagen, some 10 million Volkswagen cars were sold all over the world in 2018. Among them, more than 4.2 million were delivered to Chinese customers.

In the western German city of Duisburg, in front of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce stands the statue of Werner Gerich, China's first foreign factory director hired after the reform and opening-up policy. The statue was a gift from the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

In 1984, in an unprecedented move, 65-year-old Gerich was appointed director of the Wuhan Diesel Engine Factory, a state-owned enterprise.

A photo kept by Gerich's son Bernd shows that his father, wearing a peaked cap and factory uniform, was discussing salary reform plans with his colleagues.

During his two years in office, Gerich reinvigorated the old enterprise, including setting up a system that tied pay to performance. High-quality diesel engines produced by the factory have since been exported to Southeast Asia, earning Gerich the nickname "Mr. Quality" for his rigid quality control and strict management.

From manufacturing to many other areas, through continued reform and opening-up efforts, China has tapped its potential, transforming itself into the world's second largest economy, the largest manufacturer, and the largest trader in goods.

Only a limited number of historical records in Europe on China's revolution has been uncovered so far, but the implications of what China has achieved are self-evident.