After making some arrangements at the Liberty Building, Lu Ming drove straight to City Hall.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the temporary municipal meeting proposed by Lu Ming began. However, Dong Wenquan did not come, saying that he was in another province and could not make it back.
But it is obvious that the temporary municipal meeting was proposed by Lu Ming, and the implication of his absence can be imagined.
"Qianxing, you convened the meeting, so you should speak." Baklo looked at Lu Ming with a smile.
Sherlock was also thinking secretly, a 19-year-old boy, even if he is good at litigation, so what? This is not a court. Every issue concerns every aspect of the work and life of hundreds of thousands of citizens in Beiguan. At such a young age, it is impossible for him not to want to taste the power. Look, he can't help it. A new official takes office with three fires. It's better for you to burn bigger and burn yourself to death.
Lu Ming took a sip of water. "It's like this. A citizen and businessman in Beiguan, Liu Shoufu, has a piece of land in Chengbang, where he has discovered a large reserve of crude oil. However, he is involved in a dispute with someone over that piece of land. I just got the news that he is involved in a murder case over there. I think it is also the responsibility of our Beiguan City Government to protect our company's overseas investment, right?"
Sherlock sneered in his heart. As expected, this is the use of public resources for personal gain
Bucklo smiled and said, "That's right."
Lu Ming continued, "However, Liu Shoufu's experience has given me some ideas. Whether he was wronged or deserved his punishment, let's put it aside for now. At the very least, our city government should ensure that our companies and businessmen who invest in other states, provinces, and other federal entities can enjoy a fair competition environment. Specifically for Liu Shoufu, we should strive for a fair trial for him."
"To be honest, few of our Beiguan merchants and local enterprises leave Donghai to invest in other places. Why? There are few places like Donghai that protect investors, have open policies and sound legal systems. Our merchants and enterprises have stayed in their comfort zone for too long and don't want to go out and face the storm."
"But in fact, I feel that the Western Region is rich in various primary raw materials and resources. Our Beiguan enterprises are actually relatively weak in the East China Sea region. In the East China Sea economic and trade market formed by the entire East China Sea and surrounding provinces, our share is insignificant."
"However, the competition here is too fierce. Enterprises in Beiguan have been stagnant over the years. I think Liu Shoufu has done a good job. He dares to jump out of his comfort zone. Although the Western Region is a bit chaotic, it is rich in resources. If we can establish a good relationship with the Western Region city-states and create a good atmosphere for our enterprises, it will be a good place for our Beiguan enterprises to invest."
"Of course, our company cannot monopolize the important local resources like Fila Petroleum. We are just making a small investment there to produce some products that process the raw materials and supply them to our upstream companies in the East China Sea. We are not enough to affect the entire ecological chain of the East China Sea market, but the profit points of our Beiguan company should increase significantly."
"Of course, the premise of all this is that we can have a good cooperative relationship with the city-state over there."
"Liu Shoufu's oil field is near Bat City. I want to use Bat City and the surrounding city-states as a breakthrough point to develop good relations with them."
While Lu Ming was speaking, he saw Sherlock trying to interrupt him several times, but Lu Ming continued talking without giving him a chance to interrupt.
As Sherlock picked up the cup to drink water, he opened his mouth and said, "Commissioner Lu..." Lu Ming waved his hand, "Please wait until I finish."
After a pause, Lu Ming continued: "In fact, according to the imperial policy, we have the obligation to help economically backward federations improve their development level."
"Our Dadonghai District also has an office in the Western City-State Alliance. We invest special funds into it every year. It's called the "Friendly Alliance Plan," right?"
"Some major city-states that align with our East China Sea values receive support from these funds every year."
"Although many people in the Western Regions have criticized our East China Representative Office for using a small amount of funds to exchange for preferential policies for East China Merchants, the actual wealth plundered back is much greater. Moreover, conditional financial support is a crude interference in the internal affairs of the Equal Federation."
"The Friendly Alliance Plan seems to have become synonymous with disguised hegemony in the Western Regions."
"However, many local civilians benefited from this plan, and it also played a certain role in changing local humanistic thinking and promoting their civilization."
"I think if we in Beiguan take the initiative to join this plan and seek out support targets that are not originally covered by the plan, such as developing friendly relations with remote city-states like Bat City, then the top leaders of the region should be pleased with our Beiguan City Hall."
Sherlock, who was about to say something, slowly sat up straight after hearing this and stopped interrupting.
Lu Ming pondered and said, "Here's what I thought. We will contact our Donghai representative office in the Western Region and organize an economic and trade interaction in an official form. We will go to Beiguan, led by the municipal commissioner, to send a trade delegation to investigate the local market."
"Of course, we must first show our friendliness. Baoyin Bank has agreed to provide low-interest loans for some local projects. Of course, these projects must comply with our laws and values in the East China Sea."
Looking at Bucklo, Lu Ming smiled and said, "Baoyin Bank is very supportive of our work, and we should also return the favor and help our local enterprises. Baoyin Bank has encountered some obstacles in opening branches in neighboring states and provinces, and it is not due to market factors. I think we have an obligation to help Baoyin Bank break the ice in the name of the city government."
Today's banks have entered the 2.0 era, the age of wire transfers. The old way of doing business will only lead to the decline of Baoyin Bank. If it wants to develop further, it is inevitable to open more branches in major cities across the empire, and then enter smaller cities to slowly improve this financial network.
After hearing what Lu Ming said, Bucklo smiled slightly and nodded.
Lu Ming continued, "Let's talk about this economic and trade delegation. In addition to low-interest loans, there must also be some free aid. We will discuss the amount later. The aid projects will be determined after contacting the locals, and they must be strictly reviewed."
"As for the friendly relations area we are mainly developing, with Liu Shoufu's oil field as an introduction, I have studied the dozen city-states around Bat City, with a total population of hundreds of thousands. It should be a good area with rich resources, and it can also be linked to some of our industries in the East China Sea."
"For example, there is a city-state that is rich in gold ore, but the public security is too poor. The real gold tycoons all have their own gold mining systems, and no one cares about the little gold ore there. But if our Beiguan gold industry can solve the public security problem and take over its gold mines, it will definitely have great development. I wanted to have a good chat with the old boss, but he seems to be very busy, so I'd better find someone else to be the gold industry representative of the trade group."
Lu Ming pondered, "This is basically my idea. Is it feasible? What do you think, Mayor?"
Before Bucklo could say anything, Gao Wangshi said with a sweet smile, "Not bad. If our city government doesn't support it, we will all be scolded to death if your idea gets out. Besides, the businessmen in Beiguan will definitely form a group to go there. At least, I want to form a group to go there."
Bucklo glanced at her, perhaps feeling vaguely that this woman was even more hateful than Lu Ming. She agreed with everything Lu Ming said, as if anyone who opposed Lu Ming's opinion was not adopted would be a fool and commit a serious sin.