Siemens 2006 Annual Report Download - page 66

Shanghai and Siemens
66
Shanghai – What a
megacity needs
Klaus Kleinfeld: Shanghai is an outstanding exam-
ple of a megacity that is mastering the challenges
of the 21st century. I sincerely admire the city’s
determination and speed in managing its develop-
ment and completing its projects.
Han Zheng: Indeed, its fast-paced development
has made Shanghai one of the most exciting places
on earth. Over the last two decades, the city has
changed almost beyond recognition. Twenty years
ago, there was hardly a single building over 16 sto-
ries tall. Today, there are 5,000. In the Pudong Dis-
trict, which was swampland until 1990, the Jin Mao
Tower, featuring the world’s tallest hotel, pierces
the skyline immediately next to the site of the 492-
meter World Financial Center, which is now under
construction. Within the next few years, new subur-
ban cities like Luchao Harbor City, Jia Ding, the Med-
ical Zone and the world’s largest deep-water con-
tainer terminal will further transform the city’s
appearance. In developing Shanghai, we‘ve set clear
priorities that focus on the modern service industry
and advanced manufacturing and that leverage
state-of-the-art technologies to achieve sustainable
success across the board. In keeping with the Expo
2010 motto – “Better city, better life” – we want
Shanghai to be a city where people like to live and
work.
Klaus Kleinfeld: The slogan captures the spirit of
this great city perfectly. I’m very interested in dis-
cussing the ways in which we can leverage the
know-how we gained as partners at the Expo 2000
in Hanover for the World Expo 2010. I believe
Siemens can make a major contribution to strength-
ening the city’s role as a 21st century center of
knowledge.
Han Zheng: We’re delighted to invite Siemens to
participate in Expo 2010. In the end, of course, this
is about more than just hosting a major event. We
have clear ideas about how we want to implement
the concepts shown at the Expo in order to make
Shanghai one of the most welcoming and efficient
cities in the world. As urbanization spreads, covering
85 percent of the whole of Shanghai in the next few
years, the subject of mobility, for instance, will
become even more important. We’re mastering this
challenge by expanding Pudong International Air-
port and by constructing an extensive mass transit
network. Naturally, all development projects will
comply with social, economic and environmental
requirements, improve education, healthcare and
social welfare, and safeguard the environment.
These are challenges that all major cities face world-
wide. We’re convinced that we can meet them suc-
cessfully.
Klaus Kleinfeld: Urbanization and demographic
change – that is, the increase in average population
age – are global trends. Our portfolio provides
focused and comprehensive responses to both
developments. Our mobility solutions optimize pub-
lic transportation and the shipment of goods. Our
wide range of transportation solutions and intelli-
gent guidance systems facilitates the coordination
Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld
President and
Chief Executive Officer,
Siemens AG
Klaus Kleinfeld talks to Han Zheng, the mayor of
Shanghai, about the city’s rapid development and
Siemens’ role in building a world-class infrastruc-
ture in the Chinese metropolis.