2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up and the founding of China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC). As China's first industrial trade company and one of the central enterprises that are involved in the “go global” strategy, CMEC took the lead in expanding its business presence along the “Belt and Road” and building its image as a high-quality project contractor of China. CMEC has been striving to benefit the Africans through dam and building construction, power transmission and telecommunications, mountain work, land reclamation from sea, and road & building construction in Africa.

　　

　　

CMEC, which is deeply rooted in the machinery industry of China, has accelerated the economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa and created records in the cooperation by relying on its high quality and speed and superior brand.

　　

In 2001, CMEC signed the agreement on the project of the Imboulou 4x30MW Hydropower Station in the Republic of Congo, which is the first large-scale EPC project between China and the Republic of Congo and the largest project completed by a Chinese company in the Republic of Congo. The project, which is dubbed as the “Three Gorges Project” in the Republic of Congo, has not only brought economic benefits, but also become a unique attraction and a must-visit destination of heads of states when they visit the country.

　　

In 2003, CMEC, in cooperation with Chinese financial institutions, initiated in Angola the “credit swap” model, namely exchanging resources for project. The model ushered the economic cooperation between China and Africa into a new stage and became a focus of attention of global economies. The World Bank has released an analysis report on the model.

　　

　　

In 2007, CMEC undertook in the Republic of Congo the Ghillie drinking water treatment project, which is the first large-scale EPC drinking water treatment plant of Chinese enterprise in Africa. In 2010, the second-phase construction of the project was launched. At the launching ceremony, Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, laid a cornerstone for the project, finally realizing the goal of "bring clean drinking water to the residents of Brazzaville”.

　　

In 2014, Ethiopia Reppie Waste-to-Energy Power Generation Project undertaken by China National Electric Engineering Corporation (CNEEC, currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of CMEC) was launched. The project is the first garbage power plant in Ethiopia and Africa, is the first move for Ethiopia to promote its green energy and low-carbon development, and provides new idea for urban development in Africa. Azeb Asnake, President of Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, says that it is a landmark project in Ethiopia and even in Africa.

　　

　　

　　

“Achieving common development and shared growth through joint consultation” is the basis and principle of the “Belt & Road” initiative and China-Africa economic and trade cooperation. As a global leading project contractor, CMEC always puts the wellbeing of the African people at the top position of its project development and construction, practices, and promotes and plays a leading role in its corporate social responsibilities in Africa.

　　

By carrying out a series of projects for improving people's livelihood, CMEC aims to help the African people live a happier life.

　　

As the largest oil producing country in Africa, Angola, however, has relatively poor power infrastructures. Since 2002, CMEC has undertaken a series of city power grid renovation, extension and power transmission & distribution projects in Angola, effectively alleviating the power shortage in the country. As the first large-scale thermal power generation project in Angola and the largest gas turbine power plant in Africa, the Angolan Soyo combined cycle power plant construction & installation project has given new and strong impetus to promote the economic development of Angola and improve the living standard of local people.

　　

Water use safety not only has a bearing on the health of local residents, but also is an important pillar of state, urban and social & economic development. CMEC has undertaken urban water supply and sewage treatment projects including the Angolan city water supply project, Huambo and Luanda water supply renovation projects, Ghillie drinking water treatment plant in the Republic of Congo, and the Zimbabwean water plant, protecting the safety of water use and bringing hopes for fundamentally solving the problem of providing the Africans with clean drinking water.

　　

CMEC has taken part in the construction of several key traffic arteries in Africa, undertaken the Luanda railway reconstruction project in Angola, the OBO and OLF road projects in the Republic of Congo, as well as the Abidjan-Grand Bassam Highway in Cote d'Ivoire, setting up a bridge of communication, facilitating local logistics, transport and economic development, and helping relevant countries achieve sustainable economic growth.

　　

By means of the local operation strategy of “Teach One to Fish”, CMEC makes the African people gain more knowledge and enhance their capabilities.

　　

CMEC has been attaching great importance to taking such measures as establishing local organizations, employing local people and carrying out local procurement, makes sustained efforts to promote localized operation, drives the development of upstream & downstream enterprises along the local supply chain, and gives an impetus to local economic and social progresses and prosperity. In the process of the construction of the Bafoussam Stadium and Limbe Stadium projects in Cameroon, CMEC employed over 1,500 locals and trained lots of highly-skilled workers, promoting local employment, greatly increasing the skill level of local workers, and driving the development of local relevant industries. In the process of the construction of the electric power project in Equatorial Guinea, CMEC not only created jobs for nearly 1,000 locals, but also organized a 15-month professional training related to electric power engineering in China for dozens of persons with an education level of senior high school or above designated by the Ministry of Mines, Industry and Energy of the country. Through the training, CMEC helped Equatorial Guinea set up a contingent of high-level professionals with relatively strong comprehensive strength and make them the backbone for the management of electric power projects.

　　

CMEC is zealous in public welfare activities and actively helps those in distress and difficulty, thereby promoting the people-to-people connectivity between the Chinese and the Africans.

　　

In 2017, CMEC provided assistance in the construction of a specialized hospital in Lusaka, Zambia. At the foundation-laying ceremony of the project, Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu thanked China National Complete Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of CMEC, for its active assistance in implementing the loan agreement on the hospital project, saying that the completion of the construction of the hospital will significantly increase the overall medical and public health level of Zambia and become the medical center of neighboring countries. In order to improve the educational conditions of the project area and the healthy conditions of drinking water for locals and assist in fighting the cholera in Soyo, CMEC made a donation to the government of Soyo city in building “September 17 School”, and donated 1,000 sets of home-use water purifying units to local governments. The governor of Angola’s Zaire Province, the Education Minister of Angola, and the Mayor of Soyo praised CMEC for its strong sense of responsibility. In addition, CMEC took an active part in the joint action for humanitarian assistance in Belinga and other areas in Gabon, provided free medical services for the people in need in remote areas of the Ogooue-Ivindo Province, and provided 6-day medical aid services and medicines to address diseases that are common in local places, such as cataract, infantile hernia, and malaria, etc.

　　

In 2010, CMEC won “China-Africa Friendship Contribution Award” in the activity hosted by the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association and China Radio International, and became one of Chinese enterprises that move the African people.

　　

“All efforts are not made for nothing, and difficulty is the nurse of greatness”. By driving development through making innovation and taking responsibilities, CMEC has become an important player on the stage of the economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa. In the new era, CMEC will continue to take benefiting the Africans its mission, connect the Chinese dream with the African dream, and create more excellent projects by upholding the principles of “achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration”.