As a pioneering Swiss enterprise investing in China, Schindler has also played an important role in Sino-Swiss relations and economic cooperation. As early as November 1986, Pierre Aubert, the then Vice-President of the Swiss Federal Council visited China and paid a special visit to the Shanghai Elevator Factory owned by China Schindler. He highly praised the enterprise as a "successful example of cooperation"  between China and Switzerland.

Enduring tie with China

As CEO of the company, Daryoush Ziai himself also has a close relationship with China. He said that though he first came to China in 2006, his father came here in 1971, when he was a little boy.

“I was born in Iran, and at the time Iran was a kingdom. In 1971, the king decided that he wanted to reestablish the relationship with China and my father came and lead a delegation to meet with some government officials in China. He spent ten days here and took many photos. When he came back, he told me a lot about China. Since then I was very interested to come and see China.”

“It took a long time before I came. I wish I had the earlier opportunity to come and experience China for myself,”said Daryoush with a smile.“I remember seeing a picture he took in Beijing looking down Chang’anjie (Chang'an Avenue); there was a sea of bicycles, a few buses, old buses. Today it’s a sea of cars, and a few bicycles. But it looks so different. Interestingly enough, Tian’anmen Square today is full of people, [there were] not so many people there. Same with the Palace Museum. For clothing, everyone almost worethe same clothes, a gray color, today the young people’s clothing is already quite international. The transformation is incredible.”

In 2006, before he joined Schindler, Daryoush Ziai visited China on business trips many times as General Manager of Carrier Asia. He was dispatched to work in China in 2010 and has stayed here ever since. He brought his parents here in 2007. “My father told me about what he saw back in 1971 in Shanghai People’s Square and Beijing’s Palace Museum. I also got to hear from him what it was like in China. But I remember seeing pictures of China back in 1971, and I must say it’s not the same world.”

He commented that China’s achievement in the 40 years would not have been possible without reform and opening up. “I think along the way, there have been ups and down and challenges. I have always been so impressed by how the government of China has managed to overcome those challenges. They have taken some difficult decisions but continued on the path.”

In his view, as the climate has changed, China is transforming its focus from plain economic growth. As far as manufacturing is concerned, he pointed out that to move to higher technology and more value added products and services is the only way to go for Chinese enterprises. “Because as the standard of living has gone up, the cost has also gone up in China. So in order to stay competitive, products have to be of higher quality, higher technology and more value-added. So the investment goes into this area. There is a transformation going between pure manufacturing, maybe lower value added manufacturing to higher technology, more research and development and more innovation. This is the right thing. And it is normal to see this happening.”

Daryoush’s expectation of China to deepen its reform and opening up

He finally wrote down his expectations for China's deepening reform and opening up, praising China for being an engine of global growth. The development of innovation and technology will not only benefit China itself but also the world.