Predecessor of China Merchants Group Established on Dec 26, 1872

The predecessor of China Merchants Group has contributed much to China's reform and opening-up. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Predecessor of China Merchants Group established on Dec 26, 1872

The predecessor of China Merchants Group was launched on Dec 26, 1872, during the Self-strengthening Movement.

The enterprise was used to launch the first merchant fleet and open the first bank and insurance company in modern China. It was also a pioneer in national shipping and some other economic industries of the period.

The company now is a national large-scale enterprise settled in Hong Kong and one of the top four Chinese-funded enterprises in the region.

With its headquarters in Hong Kong, the company invested in the development of China's first opening-up industrial park - the Shekou Industrial Zone.

China Merchants Bank and Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd., the country's first joint-equity commercial bank whose shares are held by a business entity and a joint stock insurance company, were also established by the group.

The early steps taken were all positive experience for China's reform and opening-up.

Changzheng-1, China's first nuclear submarine, launched on Dec 26, 1970

China's first nuclear submarine, Changzheng-1, was launched on Dec 26, 1970, becoming another advanced equipment of the country.

Changzheng-1, the first of its kind to be commissioned in the People's Liberation Army Navy, was contributed to by many enterprises including China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (now merged into China State Shipbuilding Corporation Limited) and China National Nuclear Corporation.

All of its components were developed domestically, and it was completely designed and built by Chinese enterprises, making the country the fifth in the world to produce a nuclear submarine.

The launch of Changzheng-1 was a strong support to China's status and image.

Lanzhou-Urumqi High-Speed Railway with the longest distance built in one continuous period in the world opens to traffic on Dec 26, 2014

The Lanzhou-Urumqi High-Speed Railway opened to traffic on Dec 26, 2014. With the longest distance built in one continuous construction period in the world, the railway was designed, built and inspected by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited.

China Railway Group Limited also participated in its construction.

Stretching a total of 1,776 km, the railway has a section of more than 300 km in an area with the most serious windstorms in China and perhaps in the world.

Seven most advanced world-leading technological skills were created during the construction, which solved problems like high-speed tunnel construction and wind barrier building on a severely cold plateau.

The railway also plays a role in the completion of the Eurasian Continental Bridge.

(Executive editor: Zhang Tianyuan)