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BEIJING, Feb. 27-- Chinese auto company Geely has recently acquired a 9.69-percent stake in German carmaker Daimler AG for 9.2 billion U.S. dollars, making the Chinese investor the single largest Daimler shareholder. The cooperation has won relatively positive overseas media and market responses, a sign of a closer economic bond between China and the rest of the world. The Wall Street Journal described Geely's investment in Daimler as a "milestone for China," saying "a closer association could be a boon for Daimler, too." The German government also maintained a relatively open attitude, saying that the purchase was a business matter and Germany is "an open economy that welcomes investments." Yet when Geely paid 1.8 billion dollars to buy Swedish automaker Volvo from U.S. auto manufacturer Ford in 2010, many Western media outlets expressed doubts and fear, viewing the Chinese firm's takeover as an opportunistic move at the height of the euro debt crisis. Behind the change of rhetoric are several years of successful overseas ventures by Chinese enterprises that have helped gradually gain a more favorable reputation for Chinese investors. Geely's investment in Volvo is no doubt one of these examples that have benefited all parties involved. In 2017, Volvo Cars has reported a strong 27.7 percent increase in operating profit, earning a record 1.8 billion dollars, and the company itself, which was struggling when Geely took it over eight years ago, is thriving. As for Geely, it has seen substantial improvements in technologies and management after buying Volvo, and quickened its progress in making itself a global brand, which has set the stage for its investment in Daimler this time. | 
