Chapter 55 Same dream as Chancellor Merkel

"I heard that your long-standing dream is to travel across continents on a train that spans Europe and Asia." "Yes, how did you know? That is the wish I most wanted to achieve since I was a child." "So, how about we work together to travel between Germany and South Korea on the Eurasian train from South Korea to the European continent?" "Okay, if it can be realized, let's try it together." Chancellor Merkel, who met again after six years, shared a dream with me. Meeting Chancellor Merkel in September 2006 was like reuniting an old friend. In 2000, when I was vice president of the Grand National Party, I first met Chancellor Merkel, the first female leader of the Christian Democratic Party of Germany.Since then we've been in touch with congratulatory letters whenever something happy happens like someone winning an election or being a representative.Chancellor Merkel was one of the first foreign friends to send a letter of condolence to me when I was attacked in 2006.

People say that I have many similarities with Chancellor Merkel. In April 2004, Chancellor Merkel served as the chairman of the Christian Democratic Party whose approval rating had declined due to the scandal of illegal political donations. One and a half years later, she led the Christian Democratic Party to victory in the general election of the Congress and kept the Christian Democratic Party.And I also have a similar experience. Both of us are the party chairmen of the conservative political party, and we both have science and engineering backgrounds, so we have a feeling of spiritual connection.Chancellor Merkel pursues the same economic policy and foreign policy as me, and also has the same personality as me in emphasizing principles and agreements.

Because I was invited by the Konrad Adenauer Consortium, a think tank of the German Christian Democratic Party, I was visiting the headquarters of the European Union, the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Germany at the time.When it was agreed to meet with Chancellor Merkel, the German Parliament was in a busy state, and the German army's "Consent to Extend the Consent to Send Troops to Afghanistan" caused heated debates between the pros and cons, so the Chancellor's office was also very busy.At this time, the staff in the Chancellor's Office first said to me that the Prime Minister may be late, please forgive me, but just after saying this, Chancellor Merkel just walked in and said to me in person: "Sorry, because there are It's an important vote, I'll come back right away after the vote is over, please forgive me." After speaking, he hastened his pace and left, which was a kind of sympathy for his friends.After 20 to 30 minutes, she reappeared. Chancellor Merkel came to me and shook hands. After seeing our journalists, she suddenly posed for a photo.According to the past practice of the German chancellor's office, journalists from other countries would not be allowed to take pictures if it was not a meeting between heads of state, but she ignored those practices.

We chatted without an accompanying person, and talked about various topics, from economic reforms to the joint defense system with the Allies.In order to revive the German economy, Chancellor Merkel recently implemented a series of powerful measures, including maintaining foreign investment, medical reform, annual salary reform, power diplomacy, and pro-free market policies. She also shared with me frankly what she encountered in the process of promoting reform difficulties encountered and how to overcome them. I talked about the need for the reforms that the Prime Minister mentioned to rekindle the engine of growth and to become globally competitive, and that's what I usually think.When I mentioned that I want to connect Germany and South Korea with the Korean peninsula crossing railway and the Eurasian crossing railway, I reconfirmed the tacit understanding between us.

It has been my long-standing idea to connect South Korea with China, Russia, and Europe through the railway across the Korean peninsula.At present, it takes 26,600 kilometers to sail from the Korean Peninsula to Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, but if it passes through the Eurasian railway, it can be shortened to 12,200 kilometers, a full reduction of 60%. Fourth, transportation costs can also be reduced by 36%.In this way, not only Northeast Asia, but also Eurasia can be integrated, which will also bring about a representative logistics revolution. Chancellor Merkel also echoed my views and expressed the hope to take a trip on the Trans-Siberian train. We have reached a consensus to realize this dream together.

We have the same thoughts, and the two sides confide the most truthful words from the bottom of their hearts, share each other's future plans, and agree to realize that blueprint together.