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The Chinese Huawei launched an unprecedented blitz in public relations, pushing its unobtrusive founder in front of the international media as the telecommunications company sought to quell the concerns of Western countries wanting to close their markets.
The move, accompanied by a significant staff turnover in its 300-strong internal affairs department, comes as the world's largest telecom equipment maker fights the Chinese authorities' fear of having access to its infrastructure to spy on.
In a 25-minute interview broadcast Sunday night – its premiere with state-controlled Chinese central television (CCTV) – Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] The CEO, Ren Zhengfei, ignored the global campaign against his company, which has repeatedly denied any connection with the state.
"If you sell your product well, you do not have to worry about the sale … It would be stupid of them not to buy," said the 74-year-old in a head-to-head head. , adding to three group interviews last week with English, Chinese and Japanese media.
"It would be their loss," said Ren, referring to the United States and other Western countries that have restricted Huawei's access to their markets.
Prior to last week, Ren had only had 10 media interviews since Huawei was founded in 1987, CCTV said. He met the international media in Davos in 2015.
"My public relations department has forced me," said Ren, smiling at CCTV, at the question of why he was open to the media. "I need to make our customers, our 180,000 employees, understand how to come together and get through this difficult time."
PERSONAL ATTACK
The remarks came as Polish authorities this month arrested a Huawei leader on spying charges, fueling Western suspicions against Huawei for reasons of national security.
While the Chinese national who was immediately fired by Huawei has denied these accusations, Huawei is preparing for potential spinoffs in its major Western markets, while Germany wonders if the US and its allies such as Australia will be restricted to the market.
The company was excluded from the Australian and New Zealand markets for fifth-generation (5G) mobile telecommunication equipment, while US President Donald Trump was planning to ban all Huawei equipment outright by decree.
Huawei is nevertheless growing rapidly, obtaining 30 contracts for the supply of 5G equipment and the delivery of 25,000 5G base stations, compared with 25 contracts in December, Ren told CCTV.
A relative of Ren told Reuters that the CEO had felt the need to talk to the media after the many negative events that had clouded the company's business over the past year.
The arrest in Canada of Ren's daughter, Meng Wenzhou, chief financial officer of Huawei, as one of the most prominent events, has been the arrest of violations of sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran.
"With all the attacks of the past year, everything became personal – when your daughter was arrested," said the person, who was not allowed to speak to the media and therefore refused to let him go. to be identified.
The arrest was made at the request of the United States and put a strain on Sino-US relations at a time when trade tensions were already threatening to undermine ties.
Yet, with his daughter released on bail and waiting for a US extradition request, Ren, in an interview with the international press last week, described Trump as a "great president."
FIRE FIGHTING
Ren's involvement in the media fits into a larger public relations offensive led by a company whose traditional opacity results from a highly competitive industry and its research and development programs. important development. "Maybe we believe our ideas are wrong," said Chen Lifang, chairman of the business public.
"Huawei is very concerned about the misunderstandings that still persist despite all the efforts made in recent years," Chen said in a statement to Reuters. "Huawei is determined to be even more open and transparent not only for this year, but also for the foreseeable future."
The company has expanded its international communications team from 25% to 30 people over the last six months, strengthening its engagement with foreign media, including visits to previously unknown research labs.
Among the key personnel changes, Joy Tan, president of Huawei's media and global communications, has moved to Washington to lead media and government relations. seat to take over the role of Tan.
The Huawei office in Washington has more than halved in the past year and has fewer regular employees, some employees voluntarily leaving the company when it was forced out of the market, said specialists.
Reuters announced earlier this month that Huawei Canada's vice president of corporate affairs had left the company as corporate oversight intensified.
Some Huawei employees described the rapid change in the international environment beyond their imagination.
"The AT & T deal at the beginning of the year was like the party about to start," a member of Huawei's public relations team told Reuters, citing a partnership with US-based AT & T. Inc (TN).
"And then all of a sudden, the house caught on fire, the party became a firefight, and then the fire spread to more and more places … Now we decided to d & rsquo; To have enough. It's time to be proactive and open to the world. "
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