China: In New Zealand, Huawei founder gives 1st ever media interview

During a visit to the company's New Zealand operations, Ren sat down with four local journalists at a Wellington hotel. The rules were strict: no international media, no photos. During 26 years at the helm of Chinese tech giant Huawei, founder Ren Zhengfei at no time once agreed to be interviewed by a journalist.

But the meaning was clear. Huawei is taking steps toward trying to dispel its image as a secretive and opaque company, and to reassure the world of its good intentions.

The telecommunications equipment company has suffered business setbacks in the U.S. and Australia due to fears it could be a security risk. Last October, a U.S. congressional panel recommended telephone companies avoid doing business with it. Huawei issued a pledge not to cooperate with spying, and argues the U.S. is engaging in trade protectionism.

Huawei has grown rapidly in developing nations and is increasing its sales in Europe. Last year, it reported a US$2.4 billion profit on sales of US$35 billion.

Ren, 68, a former Chinese military engineer, declined through spokesman Scott Sykes to be interviewed by The Associated Press. Sykes said Ren felt additional comfortable with a small group of journalists and chose New Zealand to break his silence because he has strong, positive feelings about the country “in his heart.”

In his interview, Ren, speaking through an interpreter, told reporters his company's relationship with the Chinese government was no different from that between companies from other nations and their governments, according to a statement by Fairfax Media.

Ren said he was confident no member of Huawei's staff would engage in spying, even if asked to by Chinese security agencies. He said he'd joined the Communist Party in 1978 at the same time as it was expected amount “exceptional” people would do so.

“At that time my personal belief was to work hard, dedicate myself or even sacrifice myself for the benefit of the people,” he said, according to Fairfax Media. “Joining the Communist Party was in line with that aspiration.”