Contract templates urged for BRI projects

As Chinese enterprises accelerate their global expansion, Mo Dingge, a deputy to the National People's Congress, has highlighted the urgent need for "soft infrastructure" — specifically standardized contract templates — to accompany the nation's engineering prowess in economies involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

Mo, who is also chairman of China National Chemical Engineering Group Corp (CNCEC), emphasized during the ongoing two sessions in Beijing that while Chinese infrastructure capabilities are world-renowned, the legal frameworks supporting them abroad need strengthening.

"In the process of practicing the Belt and Road Initiative, we have noticed that due to the absence of our own international project contract models, Chinese enterprises often face challenges such as insufficient discourse power and limited bargaining capabilities," Mo said.

As a State-owned enterprise representing the "national team" in industrial engineering, CNCEC has expanded its footprint to over 80 countries and regions. By 2025, overseas business accounted for more than 30 percent of the group's operations, with cumulative contracts exceeding $150 billion. However, Mo noted that without a standardized "Chinese template" for international contracts, companies face increased operational risks.

To address this, Mo submitted a suggestion to the top legislature proposing the creation of specific contract templates tailored for BRI projects.

He urged the government to establish a support center to provide one-stop professional services, including risk assessment, negotiation support and dispute consultation. Furthermore, he called for cultivating a network of international legal and arbitration services to act as a "protective armor" for Chinese companies navigating complex global markets.

"We need to promote the 'going global' of our contracts alongside our technology, capital and standards," Mo said, adding that this would enhance the international recognition of China's engineering governance system.

Beyond the global stage, Mo shared his philosophy on the essence of the engineering industry, describing it as the art of "turning barrenness into prosperity".

He illustrated this with a vivid example from a recent ecological restoration project at the foot of the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi province. Three years ago, the site was a "rocky beach" and a collection of odorous ponds. Through an integrated protection and restoration project implemented by the group, the wasteland has been transformed into a "splendid garden". The project successfully revitalized 3.5 hectares of fertile rice paddies, 4.1 hectares of forest land, and converted polluted pits into 4.3 hectares of ecological ponds.

"This transformation from barren to prosperous relies on our increasingly powerful technological innovation capabilities," Mo said.

Reviewing the company's performance during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period, Mo noted that CNCEC achieved robust growth despite complex industry conditions. The compound annual growth rates for total assets, new contracts, revenue and total profit reached 12.8 percent, 10.5 percent, 11.9 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively.

This success was driven by a focus on solving "stranglehold" technical problems. The company has made significant breakthroughs in producing key chemical materials that were previously dependent on imports, such as adiponitrile — a crucial component for high-end nylon — and high-purity polysilicon used in the solar power industry.

Mo highlighted the company's innovative "Technology + Industry" business model, which has driven over 120 billion yuan ($16.6 billion) in engineering contracts and generated an industrial output value exceeding 33 billion yuan. Simultaneously, through deep reform actions, the group has optimized its structure by reducing 177 institutions, including nine secondary units, to boost efficiency.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), Mo outlined a strategy to cultivate a "second growth curve". He provided a candid analysis of the market: while the global chemical industry faces cyclical downward pressure and domestic demand is shifting from "quantity expansion" to "quality improvement", overseas markets and new sectors like green energy and urban renewal still offer immense potential.

"We must use our own certainty to cope with the uncertainty of the external environment, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global industrial development," Mo said.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn