10 years growing with Xiamen
By Enid Chen
Photos by Liang Wei

金秋十月, 林德气体厦门有限公司迎来了十周年生日. 对于有120多年历史的工业气体供应商来说, 十年是短暂的. 然而十年间厦门工业经济的快速发展, 给林德气体厦门公司带来了无限的发展机遇, 因此这十年对于他们来说意义非凡. 在公司十周年庆典之际, 本刊记者专访了该公司发展的见证人--林德气体亚太区总裁孔拉特博士.


Dr. Bernd R. Conrad, President of the Asia Pacific area, Linde Gas

en years might not seem like a very long time for Linde Gas, which has a long history of more than 125 years. But the past ten years have been a significant period for China, during which dramatic changes have taken place here and Linde Gas Xiamen has undergone rapid and sustainable development," said Dr. Aldo Belloni, Member of the Executive Board of Linde AG, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Linde Gas Xiamen on October 25.

In 1995, when Linde Gas entered the Chinese market, what they saw in Haicang were vast areas of farmland and green fields. However, today the city has taken on a new look as a dynamic modern industrial base, where Linde Gas provides a boundless supply of gases to almost all sectors of industry. Linde Gas has gained a firm footing in Xiamen. "Looking back on the past ten years, it has proved a wise decision to make investment here. The steadlily improving infrastructure, the professional trained staff, and the rising standards for quality and technologies have made Linde Xiamen increasingly attractive for our customers. Xiamen is the starting point for Linde in China, and from this starting point, we are continuing to tap into the huge Chinese market. However, Xiamen will remain the core of our investment," added Dr. Belloni at the celebration.

A stronger network in China

On the occasion of Linde Gas Xiamen's 10th anniversary, Common Talk interviewed Dr. Bernd R. Conrad, the President of the Asia Pacific area who has witnessed the company's growth in the past ten years. Dr. Conrad uses the Chinese surname Kong, and said he felt privileged to have the same surname as Confucius.

Q: Two years ago, when I interviewed you before the CIFIT (China International Fair for Investment and Trade), the comment of yours which struck me most was: "The trees we planted yesterday are big trees now and tomorrow there will be fruit." Is Linde reaping a harvest now?

A: It's true that the trees we planted ten years ago are growing very well today. We are starting to reap rewards from our investments. However, it takes much more than ten years before a gas company can really gather a harvest. One of our most successful projects has been the 30-kilometer nitrogen pipeline connecting Jimei and Haicang built two years ago. It was put into operation last year and has been working very smoothly and successfully. This project has really helped to spread the name of Linde Gas.


Air compressor workshop at Linde Gas Xiamen

Linde's investment has also moved beyond Xiamen. There are now huge investments in Shanghai, Ningbo, Suzhou and Shenzhen. This means that Linde Gas is developing very fast and spreading successfully throughout China. In Xiamen, Linde Gas is developing in step with the industry. You need to understand that the gas industry is a service industry. Unlike other industries such as the computer industry, which can sell their computers throughout the world, a gas company can only sell in the local market. Whenever there is new market space or new potential customers here in Xiamen, we are going to fight for the project and invest more.

Q: What's the vision for Linde Gas for the next ten years?

A: In the next decade, we are focusing our attention in China on Fujian Province, South China, the Yangtze River Delta and North China. We will make our existing investments more profitable and look for new opportunities to develop. We will build a stronger and broader network throughout China. We see ourselves as a sophisticated professional service provider. We will continue to take the lead in technological innovation in the industry. In line with international standards, we also care about quality, safety and the environment.

Q: How will Linde Gas react to the competition from new international gas suppliers coming into the local market?

A: Linde has 127 years' experience in dealing with our customers. That's our strength. Every industry is full of competition. We have to live with competition and we are grateful for competition, because it pushes everybody to improve.

About Linde Gas
Linde AG was established in Wiesbaden, Germany, in 1879. Since its establishment, Linde has been delivering high-quality industrial gases, facilities and application technologies to its customers worldwide. Linde Gas established Linde Gas Xiamen Ltd, a fully owned foreign enterprise in 1995. The total investment in Xiamen to date has reached USD 72 million.

Vocabulary
dramatic 惊人的
undergo 经历
reap 收获
privileged 荣幸的
sustainable 可持续的

My Xiamen


Mark Hilton, from Britain, is a lecturer at Xiamen University. He has been here for nearly five and a half years.

1. What do you like best about life here?
I like the warmth, friendliness and openness of life here among people who, in large part, treat me simply as another member of the community rather than as some visiting stranger. I like the calm, relaxed way of life, the excellent quality of the environment generally, and the feeling of safety here.

2. What's your job here? How do you like it?
I am a lecturer at Xiamen University and generally like my job. I really enjoy the teaching and like my students very much, but I have so many that I can't get to know them all personally as I would like. On the other hand, I really dislike having to give tests and examinations, but that comes with the job at any university.

3. How do you spend your spare time in Xiamen?
What I like best is spending the time with friends round the table, enjoying a meal together, talking and relaxing, whether in a restaurant or friend's house or inviting a few friends round and cooking them a meal myself.

4. If there was one thing that you could change about Xiamen, what would that be?
The traffic! When I first came to Xiamen in 2000, there was very little traffic, the air was noticeably cleaner, and the city generally quieter. While I understand why people wish to own cars, I could wish that the situation could be reversed for the sake of the environment.

5. What's your favorite restaurant?
Mingrenju, a little north-eastern restaurant in a little street by Huyuan Rd.

6. What do you think are the differences between Xiamen and other big cities in China?
Compared with big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, Xiamen is a much more "human" city. To me cities like those-including London where my home in the UK is-they are not on a human scale. Really big cities like those are lonely places. Xiamen is not.

7. What's the last great book you read?
It depends what you mean by "great book"! If you mean "which I enjoyed very much", then I'm not sure, but probably "The Russia House" by John Le Carre. If you mean "important" then it would have to be "The Lord of the Rings", which I have read and re-read on a regular basis over the last 40 years!

8. What's your favorite piece of advice?
The day you stop learning is the day you grow old.