China Datang to further tap B&R nations by expanding overseas

China Datang Corp, one of the largest power generation enterprises, will seek enhanced cooperation and solidify overseas expansion this year, in a move to further integrate into the Belt and Road Initiative, said its chairman.

Datang Chairman Chen Jinxing said the central State-owned company is planning to seize more opportunities to expand business in foreign markets, while consolidate the existing projects.

"We will continue to deepen the strategic cooperation with France-based EDF Group and US-based General Electric, as well as strengthen collaboration with domestic company and join forces in technological research," he said in a recent interview.

Chen said Datang will conduct more research into the deployment of projects in countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to achieve breakthroughs in high-quality projects in power supply, energy conservation and logistics sectors.

Chen said the initiative illustrates the Chinese philosophy of openness and sharing, and echoes the country's pledge about the building of a community with a shared future for humankind.

The Belt and Road Trade and Investment Forum, hosted by Chinese and international trade and commerce groups, took place in Beijing recently. Datang supported the event.

The forum, under the theme "Unleashing Potential for Shared Future" attracted more than 700 participants from 70 Belt and Road economies. Topics encompassed investment opportunities, trade and e-commerce and infrastructure construction as well as risk prevention and dispute settlement.

For years, Datang has always been staying at forefront of advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, Chen said. So far, the company set up 8 units focusing on international business, 28 overseas offices and departments. Its overseas assets totaled nearly 13 billion yuan ($20.67 billion), with business covering 16 Belt and Road economies. 

In 2017, Chinese enterprises signed 7,217 infrastructure construction and other commercial contracts with 61 economies involved in the initiative with a combined value of $144.32 billion, up by 14.5 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.