"This is where we hesitate." Wang Hongsheng said. He pointed to the tea that the secretary had just poured out, and said to Qin Hai with a smile: "Let's drink tea first. Let's talk while drinking tea. I mainly want to hear
Let me hear your views on this issue."
Affected by the long-term planned economy, China's product price system is seriously distorted. Since the reform, the country has successively liberalized the prices of light industrial products, but it has not dared to touch the prices of heavy industrial products that are related to the national economy and people's livelihood. Heavy industry is the upstream of light industry.
Once the price of heavy industrial products rises, it will drive the price of downstream light industrial products to rise with it, thus affecting people's lives. In addition, once the prices of raw materials such as steel and cement get out of control, the construction of key national projects will face the threat of insufficient budgets.
This is also unbearable for the country.
Despite so many concerns, straightening out the price system is still something that must be done. If the prices of heavy industrial products are not adjusted for a long time, the development of heavy industry will be affected, ultimately dragging down the development speed of the entire country. Precisely because
Seeing this, the State Planning Commission has been planning a plan to liberalize the prices of heavy industrial products. By now, the entire price reform is on the line and will be launched at any time.
Wang Hongsheng is well aware of the risks of launching price reforms for heavy industrial products, and has been looking for ways to avoid risks. During this period, he has been in contact with officials from many places to discuss their ability to withstand price fluctuations. This time he came to Anhe
, he also discussed this issue with Chai Peide, but only received a reluctant reply. However, Chai Peide suggested that Wang Hongsheng listen to Qin Hai's opinion, although in the eyes of officials at their level, Qin Hai is just a private company.
He is just an entrepreneur. But Chai Peide believes that Qin Hai is a very insightful person and may be able to give Wang Hongsheng some alternative inspirations.
As early as the last time Qin Hai went to Wang Hongsheng's house for a family dinner, Wang Hongsheng admired Qin Hai's vision. After listening to Chai Peide's recommendation, he decided to have an interview with Qin Hai on the issue of price reform.
What insights does this quick-thinking young man have?
Qin Hai picked up the small Gongfu tea cup and admired the green tea in the cup. He drank it all and praised "good tea". He thanked Wang Hongsheng's secretary, then returned to the topic and said:
"Director Wang, I think that price fluctuations are nothing more than an imbalance between supply and demand. The supply of production means is currently planned and marketed in parallel. If we want to relax planned prices, we will actually push the planned production means to the market.
If units that were previously unable to purchase these production materials due to planning constraints are now eligible to purchase them, market demand will increase significantly, resulting in a certain contradiction between supply and demand. Do you think this is the case?"
Wang Hongsheng nodded and said: "That's exactly it."
Qin Hai continued: "If the market supply of a product is insufficient, it can only be obtained by the one with the highest price, which is why the market price rises. To avoid serious price rises, the country needs to prepare for rainy days and prepare enough in advance.
Materials can be sold to stabilize prices when supply and demand are out of balance. I think Director Wang and the researchers at the Planning Commission must understand this."
Wang Hongsheng said: "The truth is correct, but it is not an easy task for the country to prepare enough supplies. How much supplies do you think is enough?"
"I don't have such a concept. Director Wang should know this better than me, right?" Qin Hai said frankly. He is just a materials expert. If he is not an economist, how can he calculate how big the national material gap will be.
Wang Hongsheng also knew that his question was not something that Qin Hai could answer. He said: "We have organized no less than ten expert seminars on this issue. The opinions of the experts are also very different. Some people think that the country does not need to prepare any supplies and let prices
It will rise, and it will be fine if it rises to a certain level.”
"Haha, this view is not new." Qin Hai commented with a somewhat sarcastic tone.
"It is indeed not new. Western scholars call this shock therapy, and the Soviet Union is preparing to adopt such a policy." Wang Hongsheng said.
Qin Hai smiled and said: "The big brother of the Soviet Union is very conscious and is always willing to be a testing ground for us. We might as well wait for the Soviets to finish trying it and see what the effect is, and then decide whether we should use such a policy. What do you think?
What? According to my guess, within two years, the Soviet Union will tell us with bloody facts: This road will not work."
"You, Xiao Qin, make too many wisecracks." Wang Hongsheng reluctantly tapped Qin Hai with his hand and criticized. However, he agreed with Qin Hai's statement in his heart. As an old Planning Commission cadre, he knew
Shock therapy is actually drinking poison to quench thirst. It is impossible for China to try such a policy. Qin Hai is right. If the Soviets are willing to be a test field, let them try it. When they hit the southern wall, they will know that this road will not work.
.
"In any case, if prices fluctuate too much, the damage to the national economy will definitely be very significant. Many companies will be in trouble because of this, and people's lives will be seriously affected. I think that if our country wants to carry out price reforms, it will
Price fluctuations to a certain extent can be tolerated, but there must be sufficient means to ensure that prices do not rise to the point of endangering the country's stability. This is the country's bottom line." Qin Hai put away his ridicule and said to Wang Hongsheng.
.
Wang Hongsheng said: "You are right, this is also the view shared by several old comrades of our Planning Commission. Products that need to be established include coal, pig iron, steel, cement, copper, aluminum, caustic soda, soda ash, heavy oil, gasoline, etc.
Taking steel as an example, we consider that we need to have at least 20 million tons of steel reserves in order to not panic."
"20 million tons..." Qin Hai calculated silently in his mind and nodded. At present, the country's annual steel production is about 70 million tons, and 20 million tons is equivalent to one-third of the output.
If the State Planning Commission can hold such a large batch of reserves, it can put in supplies to calm the fluctuations when the market fluctuates, thereby reducing the risks caused by price reforms.
However, 20 million tons of steel is not a small amount. Based on the ex-factory price of carbon structural steel billet of 950 yuan per ton, 20 million tons will occupy 19 billion yuan of working capital. What's more, there are many types of steel, and some steel types
The price is much higher than that of carbon structural steel, so 20 million tons of steel will require at least more than 20 billion yuan.
Considering that steel is only one of the reserve products mentioned by Wang Hongsheng, and all other products are included, the funds that the country needs to allocate must reach at least 100 billion. With the current economic situation of the country, it is stressful to spend such a large amount of money.
It's very big.
Wang Hongsheng looked at the change in Qin Hai's face and knew that he had understood the difficulty of this reserve system. He smiled and asked: "How about it, Xiao Qin, is it possible for your company to help the country share some of the pressure?"
"Among the materials you just mentioned, our Daqin Group only produces cement and steel. The output of our Qujiang cement plant is limited and has little impact on the national macroeconomics. In terms of steel, our current production capacity is 1 million tons and we plan to expand in the future.
To 5 million tons. This capacity expansion plan was originally planned to take five years to complete. Since the country now has demand, we can consider accelerating the progress and completing the capacity expansion in two years. What do you think?" Qin Hai said. Wang Hongsheng
Now that the question had been put to him, there was no need for him to bargain anymore and he directly showed his trump card to Wang Hongsheng.
"Is it possible to complete the capacity expansion within two years?" Wang Hongsheng asked.
Qin Haidao: "This is not difficult. We have obtained some equipment from the Soviet Union and have contacted some second-hand equipment in Europe. We can purchase it at any time to form our production capacity. Of course, we may need some support from the state in this regard, such as foreign trade.
rights, and the right to use foreign exchange.”
Wang Hongsheng replied simply: "You make a report, and within the scope that the country can bear, special measures will be taken against you and you will be given the green light."
"That's great." Qin Hai said happily. It seems that it is beneficial to share the country's worries. The country can make up for his efforts by just opening a hole in the policy.
"If you go all out, how much steel reserves can you provide to the Planning Commission before 1994?" Wang Hongsheng asked eagerly.
Qin Hai thought for a while and said: "Our working capital is also limited. It is basically unrealistic to establish reserves for the Planning Commission in the form of inventory. However, I can guarantee that by 1994, 10 million will be provided at any time."
What do you think of the emergency supply of more than 1,000 tons?”
"10 million tons? What do you plan to do?" Wang Hongsheng was a little surprised. He never thought that Qin Hai would dare to say such a thing. In his original plan, if Qin Hai could provide one or two million tons of support, he would
I am already very satisfied. If Qinhai can really provide 10 million tons, it will be a surprise for the Planning Commission. The Planning Commission can transfer the working capital originally intended for steel reserves to accumulate other materials.
, this game of chess is considered a success.
Qin Hai whispered something to Wang Hongsheng. Wang Hongsheng nodded with joy on his face. He could tell that Qin Hai's plan was indeed feasible. If it works properly, the 1,000 promised by Qin Hai
Tens of thousands of tons of steel can be fully supplied, which will be a strong support for the upcoming price reform.
He also thought that Qin Hai's approach could also be extended to other enterprises. The Planning Commission controlled hundreds of large state-owned enterprises. If these enterprises could also learn from Qin Hai's approach, even if they had fewer obligations,
It can also greatly reduce the pressure on the Planning Committee.
"Xiao Qin, this matter is of great importance. I hope you can do it well. Don't worry, the country will not forget the enterprises that have made contributions. At the right time in the future, the country will reward you." Wang Hongsheng looked at it.