Aluminum Corporation of China Limited (Chalco) has actively participated in Belt and Road cooperation. It launched projects in more than 20 countries and regions around the world. During this process, Chinese and foreign employees formed a deep friendship, and stories of their interaction showed their mutual collaboration, joint growth and good faith toward each other.
Wang Junyi with her business partner Alonso. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Wang Junyi, Mineria Chinalco Peru S.A.:
My business partner Alonso told me that hedging is not to fight against the market, but to realize and manage risks. As he put it, good hedging is not to pursue perfection, but to protect safety. I find his words relevant to my own job. As a translator, I have had to translate a large number of documents daily, such as contracts, technological manuals and minutes of meetings. I may not ensure every word corresponds to the original texts, but I must ensure the key information is conveyed precisely, so that any potential misunderstanding can be avoided.
As a translator, I don’t directly participate in decision-making, but I also contribute my own strength by precisely conveying every piece of business information.
Chen Hao poses with his security partner Soumah. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Chen Hao, Chalco Guinea Company S.A.:
Soumah and I worked as safety officers on various production sites in Guinea. Although we are from different countries, we have the same opinion on guarding safety, which is to translate safety requirements into clear scenes. We made comic manuals to help workers understand all the necessary knowledge about workplace safety. In the manuals, high-risk operations were illustrated with cartoons and captions in the local language. When the first 300 manuals were given out, employees praised them as easy to understand.
Our hard work has paid off. Chalco Guinea Company S.A. is the only Chinese-invested company that was awarded the annual safest Guinean mining enterprise prize in 2025.
Wen Zhiwei and his maintenance partner pose for a photo. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Wen Zhiwei, China Aluminum International Engineering Co., Ltd.:
At the beginning of my position at the aluminium oxide project in Indonesia, I found communication on equipment maintenance quite difficult. To convey technical details, the Indonesian translator Aliong took the initiative to study the equipment. We used to refine the translation of terminology while reviewing drawings. His notebook was filled with dense maintenance tips in Chinese and Indonesian.
We are the best partners in work and good friends in life who have the same interests and care about each other. We often taste Chinese tea and desserts together and talk about Chinese culture and delicious food. Sometimes, Aliong invites me to his house, which immerses me in the embrace of an Indonesian family with a unique cuisine.
The photo shows Tao Tong and her financial partner Alhassane. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Tao Tong, Chalco Iron Ore Holdings Ltd:
In Conakry, the capital of Guinea, I have worked with Alhassane on capital forecast and payment arrangement for nearly a year. He is a Guinean employee serving in SimFer’s financial arm for more than three years. When I faced problems with system operations or the cash process, I always sought his advice and he always gave me assistance in light of practical conditions. His professionalism and capabilities complement the steady, pragmatic work style of Chalco, providing great support for the Simandou Iron Ore Project.
Zhang Guangle poses for a photo with his maintenance partner Sylla. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Zhang Guangle, Chalco Guinea Company S.A.:
My Guinean partner Sylla is a crane operator. Our collaboration was difficult at first. We always argued fiercely about operational details. But after a long time of co-working, we are good partners now. When we get a new task, I clarify the weight, location and purpose, and he can immediately understand and form a lifting plan. Every stable up and down of the crane arm is a testament to our close cooperation.
Zhang Kun and his technical partner. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Zhang Kun, CINF Engineering Co., Ltd.:
When I got off the plane at the Conakry International Airport in Guinea, I felt the warm West African air, mixed with unfamiliar French announcements, rush toward me. As an electrical engineer, I came here to ensure the successful installation of the electrical systems for the project in Boffa, a Guinean town.
Communication was unexpectedly hard at the beginning of the project. The electrical terms were not conveyed as precisely as they should be, despite the translator’s efforts. I found a whiteboard at that time and chalked the equipment structures in simple lines on it as an explanation. I also showed how these things work through the circuit simulation software on my mobile phone. After that, we adopted this method to convey the meaning of technical terms. The increasing drawings on the whiteboard bore witness to our collaboration that crossed the barriers of language. When people with different cultural backgrounds strive for the same goal, language barriers and standard nuances would no longer be a problem.
Du Quan poses for a photo with his maintenance partner José Taype. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Du Quan, Mineria Chinalco Peru S.A.:
At the Toromocho copper mine, José Taype and I are responsible for the gigantic transportation devices. I still remember the day when we fixed a malfunctioning electric shovel hoist motor. At five in the morning, we got up and arrived at the mine pit. We stepped into the operating room and stayed there for six hours, working together to solve the problem.
The builders cooperate well with each other, despite the long distance and language barriers, quietly forging connections that transcend borders. The collaboration in the work has already charted the most touching chapter of Chalco’s overseas development.
(Executive editor: Yuan Ting)
