Premier takes the right line with his promotional push

I received a phone call from my cousin on Tuesday.

The college sophomore complained that she was unable to perform well in her part-time job - promoting soft drinks at a supermarket in Shandong province.

She said she had enthusiastically invited shoppers to acquire a taste for soft drinks and buy some if they liked the flavors. However, she has been hard pushed to make any sales.

She asked eagerly, "Could you please tell me what to do?"

I suggested that to be a good promoter, you can learn from Premier Li Keqiang's experience in promoting China's high-speed railways.

With this in mind, let's take a look at how he has excelled in this role.

First, before making a good deal you should have high-quality products to offer. "I am really confident when I promote Chinese high-speed railways", the premier said in August last year when meeting with workers at China Railway Corp.

On Tuesday, Li said high-speed railways have become one of the most convenient forms of transportation for Chinese people and had helped to establish a high reputation for Chinese equipment.

He made the remarks to 16 overseas leaders at the Fourth Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries in Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

Second, apart from high-quality products, prices should be set at a reasonable and competitive level. As the premier put it, Chinese railway costs are lower than those in many developed countries.

To make high-speed railways affordable for countries in financial difficulties, Li promised when meeting with the 16 leaders that as long as their countries use products and equipment made by China, then China will provide financial support.

Third, an excellent promoter should provide good services and make its customers comfortable. Li told the overseas leaders that China wants to customize high-speed rail products and provide special designs to meet different requirements.

He invited the leaders to board a high-speed train for a 23-minute journey from Suzhou to Shanghai on Wednesday.

Last, but not least, be diligent. The premier has made dedicated efforts to promote Chinese rail products in recent years, highlighting the advantages of high-speed routes on many occasions.

Hard work pays off. With the premier's continuous efforts, China has enhanced cooperation on railways with a number of countries.

During the summit on Tuesday, China signed two documents on cooperation with Hungary and Serbia for a railway project linking the capitals of the two countries.

So, this is the suggestion for my cousin. I bet her sales will soon be on track if she chooses to accept it.

Contact the writer at anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/26/2015 page3)