Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Mao Zemin also discovered this.

Wei Hongjun said: "So my idea is that we can learn from the experience of European and American countries. I heard that as early as 100 years ago, Britain held an international industrial exposition. We can also hold an exhibition in this model and bring out products that we think the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries may need.

We will hold similar import and export commodity fairs. At the fairs, we will show our products to the Soviet and Eastern European delegations. They may not have considered some of the products before, but after seeing our fairs, they may find that they also need such products.

Including the canned goods issue this time, if we bring all our canned goods to the trade fair, we can let the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries taste them on site and see what kind of canned goods they like. We can then make production plans based on their orders. This will be very helpful for us.

It’s a good thing for both of us.

Some needs can be created artificially.

This kind of trade fair is the best way.

Display your products openly for the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries to see.

"In fact, it's not just us. We can also invite the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries to bring their products to the trade fair. We can also look at the industrial conditions of the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries and make comparisons to find products that our country needs for construction."

"That's one way."

Mao Zemin nodded.

As soon as Wei Hongjun said this, Mao Zemin understood what Wei Hongjun meant.

This is indeed a good idea.

Compared to the current situation where everyone is unclear about each other's needs and what each other can produce, this kind of trade fair is a channel for mutual understanding. Once everyone understands each other, they can have a clearer idea of ​​what they should import and export.

This is a very good way to increase trade between the two countries.

"Where do you think is the best place to hold this kind of trade fair?"

"Beijing or Harbin. I think Harbin is better. Harbin has always been the most important trading city in the northern region and was even once one of the best financial cities in the north. The Trans-Siberian Railway goes directly to Harbin, so transportation is much more convenient."

Wei Hongjun continued, "Actually, this is trade targeting the socialist camp headed by the Soviet Union. Besides the socialist camp, we currently also do business with European and American countries. However, our cooperation with European and American countries is mainly through trading companies in Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia.

After the Berlin Crisis, the confrontation between the socialist camp and the imperialist camp became increasingly fierce. It was not easy for us to openly and extensively do business with European and American countries. However, in addition to socialist countries and imperialist countries, there is another force that is rising in the world.

These are the newly independent countries that have recently broken free from their colonial powers. With the collapse of the British and French colonial systems, there will be more and more newly independent countries emerging in the future, potentially dozens or even hundreds. We can certainly do business with these countries and increase trade.

We will then hold import and export fairs in the north with the socialist camp, and in the south with the newly independent countries. If some European and American merchants secretly participate in our fairs, we will also welcome them.

The Canton Fair holds a special place in China's trade history.

Even during the most chaotic years of 1966 and 1967, the Canton Fair was not suspended.

Wei Hongjun hoped to use the Canton Fair as a model to hold the Harbin Trade Fair in Harbin, thereby increasing exchanges with the socialist camp and trade within the socialist camp.

There is great potential for trade between China and the socialist camp.

Mao Zemin quickly took note of Wei Hongjun's words. After a while, he said, "Your idea makes sense. However, I can't decide how to proceed. I will discuss the current foreign trade situation with the officials at the Foreign Trade Bureau, and then contact the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries.

Let’s exchange ideas with trade officials.

"I'm just offering a suggestion. The details depend on your decision."

"Um."

Mao Zemin nodded.

After all, such an import and export commodity fair is no small matter.

Mao Zemin still needs to be considered.

"I'll find you again once I have a plan."

"it is good."

Chapter 787 Zheng Weishan’s Request

New China needs foreign trade.

Because China's foundation was too poor, even with the large-scale industrial support from the Soviet Union, it was still far from meeting the needs of China's industrial development. Because the industrial projects supported by the Soviet Union were all basic industries. But China could not only develop basic industries such as heavy industry, but also other industries.

The industry should also develop accordingly.

Therefore, in addition to the Soviet Union, New China also needed to import a large amount of other industrial equipment from abroad. Historically, China imported a lot of things from the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries, as well as from the United Kingdom, France, Northern Europe, Japan and other countries.

Just like when China was developing the synthetic fiber industry to solve its clothing problem, it imported machinery and equipment from Japan.

For the first three decades, China was eager to engage in foreign trade. However, its trade remained sluggish, driven by a variety of internal and external factors. One of the most direct factors was a lack of funds, particularly a severe shortage of US dollars.

Therefore, purchasing a complete set of synthetic fiber equipment from Japan would cost around $6000 million. However, even this amount of money was extremely difficult for China to come up with. Therefore, there are companies in China that specialize in producing export materials, and their mission is to export and exchange foreign currency.

Because China at that time needed foreign exchange to purchase the machinery and equipment needed by the country.

Therefore, Wei Hongjun also attaches great importance to foreign trade.

This isn't just about trade with the socialist camp, but also with European and American capitalist countries, and in the future, with the vast majority of Third World countries. However, neither the Canton Fair nor the Harbin Fair can be decided in a short period of time.

It requires discussion, incubation, and finally a plan.

It is also necessary to coordinate with various departments, governments at all levels, and various factories.

It's not a simple thing.

Wei Hongjun already had a lot of things to do, so he only gave Mao Zemin some suggestions on this matter. Mao Zemin and the Foreign Trade Bureau still needed to come up with a specific plan. Mao Zemin still attached great importance to Wei Hongjun's suggestions. Just like when he proposed to do the British and American

Military supplies business.

The CCP is poor.

However impoverished, the CCP remains a power vying for dominance. The resources and capital it can mobilize are unmatched by any other power. Therefore, once the CCP's Ministry of Foreign Trade took action, business flourished quickly. They were particularly successful in handling military supplies produced by Britain and the United States during World War II.

A large amount of funds was accumulated for the Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Currently, the trading companies in Hong Kong, Macao, Southeast Asia and other places that are directly controlled by the Ministry of Foreign Trade are all very strong.

Because of his successful experience, Mao Zemin attached great importance to Wei Hongjun's proposal and began to discuss the feasibility of such an import and export goods exchange meeting.

At this time, Wei Hongjun was dealing with the Soviet-equipped troops.

"What? Things aren't going well?"

Zheng Weishan has organized a Soviet-equipped unit, which has now taken shape.

Soviet weapons continued to flow into China and arrived in North China. Zheng Weishan used these weapons to start building a Soviet-equipped unit, but after the actual replacement, a lot of problems arose.

So Zheng Weishan found Wei Hongjun.

Although this Soviet-equipped unit is currently directly under the Central Military Commission, it is only in name. The Central Military Commission itself has few people and currently has no time to manage this unit, so the management and logistics of this unit are all under the unified responsibility of the North China Military Region.

Moreover, this unit originally came from the North China Military Region.

Everyone is familiar with it.

Whenever Zheng Weishan encountered difficulties, he could only turn to Wei Hongjun.

But things are different now than before.

After Wei Hongjun's transfer to the Central Government and his appointment to the State Council, the Council's work became very busy. Therefore, Tang Jie and Li Zhimin were now in charge of the North China Military Region's work. Zheng Weishan's desire to meet with Wei Hongjun was no longer as convenient as before.

You also need to make an appointment with Wei Hongjun.

Fortunately, Wei Hongjun attached great importance to the formation of the Soviet-equipped troops. Therefore, after receiving Zheng Weishan's request for a meeting, he immediately adjusted the time. In addition to Zheng Weishan, there were also the commanders of the 71st and 74th Armies on Zheng Weishan's side.

"Commander, these Soviet troops are completely fooling us. They claim to be Soviet-equipped troops, but they primarily deploy light weapons. They don't have the rocket launchers, anti-tank guns, or howitzers we want. How can this be considered a Soviet-equipped unit?"

Zheng Weishan complained to Wei Hongjun.

Zheng Weishan was very happy when he thought that a Soviet-equipped unit would be formed.

After all, it was the Soviet Union.

bad mood.

Although everyone has never fought against the Soviet army, and is not very clear about the Soviet army's combat effectiveness. But the Soviet army's ability to push back Germany and the Soviet army's ability to make Britain and the United States wary is enough to make these PLA commanders look forward to Soviet weapons. However, after the Soviet-equipped troops were actually formed, Zheng Weishan

Because the Soviet weapons that entered China in the early stage were only 2000 water-jet rifles (Mosin-Nagant), 600 DP light machine guns, 43 SG4500 Gulyunov heavy machine guns, 700 PPSh submachine guns, 2 RPG-7000 recoilless rocket launchers, and million rounds of ammunition.

This is what the first weapons that came in were like.

The second batch is also being transported, but the troops who received the first batch of weapons and equipment after training were not very impressed.

Most importantly, they are all light weapons.

No heavy weapons found.

What Zheng Weishan wants is Katyusha rocket launchers, howitzers, anti-aircraft guns, anti-tank guns, and if that doesn't work, mortars will do. The light weapons currently equipped to the troops alone have limited impact on improving their combat effectiveness.

The Soviet-equipped troops that Zheng Weishan wanted to form were not of this kind.

"There's also the Shuilianzhu rifle, but it's really not as useful as the Type 38 rifle we have.

Zheng Weishan started complaining about Soviet rifles again.

Wei Hongjun smiled.

The current situation is indeed full of problems. Although the Soviet Union agreed to sell a batch of Soviet weapons to China at a low price, they were mainly light weapons. Even rocket launchers and heavy machine guns were added at the last moment. But what China wants is not light weapons, but weapons that can improve the strength of the troops.

Heavy weapons to enhance the combat effectiveness of the team.

After fighting the US-equipped KMT troops, PLA commanders knew the power of American weapons. So they expected Soviet weapons to be able to counter American weapons, rather than a bunch of light weapons.

The People's Liberation Army now has no shortage of light weapons.

“Not only are they difficult to use, but some of the repeating rifles the Soviet Union gave us are too old.

Song Yulin, commander of the 71st Army, was even more dissatisfied.

Song Yulin was already dissatisfied with the fact that they were all light weapons. Unexpectedly, some of the rifles sent by the Soviet Union were so old. Although this batch of weapons was cheap to begin with, many of them were old weapons exchanged from the Soviet army.

But it's too old.

Wei Hongjun understands their troubles.

But Wei Hongjun could only comfort them: "I know you have a lot of complaints at the moment, but you have to overcome them. my country's national defense independence must give priority to learning Soviet weapons. At present, the General Logistics Department and the Second Machine Industry Ministry are imitating some weapons, and the main target is also the Soviet weapons.

Weapons. It is estimated that for a long time to come, our troops will be equipped with either Soviet weapons or imitation Soviet weapons. This is because it will allow us to unify the logistics of the troops. This is a major trend.

The weapons of the Chinese military are currently made in various countries.

It is truly made in various countries.

The General Logistics Department has conducted statistics on the current weapons and equipment of the People's Liberation Army and found that the PLA's firearms and artillery come from 28 companies in 98 countries. There are 13 calibers of light weapons alone and as many as 274 types of ammunition.

Under such circumstances, logistical supply is very difficult.

This "multi-national" mix of weapons might not be noticeable in small-scale battles, but it would immediately become a problem in large-scale engagements. Supplying such troops with ammunition would be extremely complex and chaotic, and logistical support would be extremely difficult.