Hao Peng Attends China-Africa Dialogue on Infrastructure and Financing Cooperation

Hao Peng, Secretary of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC) Party Committee and Chairman of SASAC, attended the opening ceremony of the first China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum held in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, on June 27.

Hao called on efforts in studying and implementing the spirits in the speeches made by President Xi Jinping at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation while addressing China-Africa Dialogue on Infrastructure and Financing Cooperation, which was hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, the Provincial Government of Hunan, and SASAC.

Hao urged the Chinese central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to uphold the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, explore new paths for cooperation, develop new growth points, work together with African partners to push forward the construction of the Belt and Road, promote cooperation in infrastructure and financing and lift the bilateral economic and trade ties to a new level with the guidance of President Xi's congratulatory letter to the CAETE.

Ren Hongbin, Vice Chairman and Member of the SASAC Party Committee, was also present at the above activities.

Hao Peng addresses the event in Changsha, capital city of Hunan province on June 27. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

In recent years, Chinese central SOEs have carried on the traditional friendship between China and Africa, vigorously promoted the spirit embodied in the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, taken root in and contributed to Africa, and undertaken a large number of major projects with demonstrative and exemplary effects, according to Hao.

While enhancing their open cooperation and internationalization, Chinese central SOEs have also effectively helped improve the production and livelihood of African people and promoted Africa's industrialization, urbanization and modernization, he noted.

He added that SASAC will encourage Chinese central SOEs to actively strengthen strategy and demand alignment with African partners, build projects that match local development stages and strategic positioning as well as national planning and regional policies, and better boost local economic and social development.

Chinese central SOEs will focus on an innovation-driven approach and respond to the situation, and apply more new technologies, develop more new business models, stimulate more momentum in cooperation, and promote the interconnection of infrastructure in Africa to achieve greater results, he said.

Hao remarked that they will center on coordination, complementarity and integration, communicate and collaborate with local and third-party enterprises in accordance with the market-oriented principle and the rule of law, improve operation management and guarantee livelihoods, abide by international rules, laws and regulations of the host country, carry out the principle of honest and transparent operation, perform social responsibilities well, and recruit more local people and make more localized procurement so as to provide greater benefits to African people.

Representatives pose for photos at the Chinese Central SOEs Pavilion during the CAETE. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

During the dialogue session, the executives of a group of Chinese central SOEs, including China General Technology (Group) Holding Co., Ltd, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China Merchant Group, China Nonferrous Metal Mining (Group) Co., Ltd, China Railway Group Limited, and China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, as well as financial institutions, companies and government officials from both China and African sides exchanged ideas on infrastructure and financing cooperation.

After the meeting, agreements were inked for a total of 13 key projects, including eight in which Chinese central SOEs are involved.

Hao Peng (C) visits the Chinese Central SOEs Pavilion during the CAETE. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

At the CAETE, Hao and Ren visited the Pavilion planned by 12 Chinese central SOEs, communicating with their executives and learning about their production, operations, branding and cooperation with African partners.

Some Chinese central SOEs' executives and heads of the departments of SASAC also visited the Pavilion.

(Executive editor: Hao Wen)