State-owned China Harbor Engineering Co (CHEC), one of China's top port builders, sealed new contracts worth $5.2 billion last year, surpassing the target of $3.85 billion set by its parent company China Communications Construction Co (CCCC).

Its full-year revenues hit $2.5 billion last year, also surpassing its 2011 goal. The company's gross profit was $190 million.

The figures ensured CHEC met all its targets for the sixth consecutive year while setting major company records.

2011, the first year in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), got off to a flying start for CHEC.

Despite the complex and volatile international situation and the aftermath of the global financial crisis, CHEC stood firm as a leading port builder internationally and made significant headway in a series of business innovations, management improvements and culture building.

Key projects

In 2011, CHEC followed the three guidelines drawn up by CCCC in growing its business - "strengthen the foundation", "adjust the structure" and "go overseas".

To meet the first task, CHEC expanded market share in its traditional regional markets.

The Asia-Pacific is still its top market, accounting for almost half of the total value of new contracts.

New contracts in the region include reclamation work at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, construction of the Medan-Kualanamu Highway in Indonesia and building a container terminal at Colombo South Port in Sri Lanka.

CHEC also sharpened its advantage in traditional maritime work that includes navigation, dredging and port maintenance, which accounted for 60 percent of its new contracts last year.

To adjust its business structure, CHEC began to take on more projects financed with the involvement of contractors, including public-private partnerships and so called BOT - build-operate-transfer - approaches in foreign countries.

The company invested about 5 billion yuan ($792 million) in a comprehensive development project in Maoming, Guangdong province.

In response to the mission to go overseas, the company stepped up its effort in tapping new markets.

Social responsibility

CHEC sees social responsibility as an important part of its business.

It sponsored and initiated a wide array of programs to help poor students, protect the environment and relieve natural disasters in countries including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan and Thailand.

In 2011, the company issued a regulation to guide and administrate all its donations and sponsoring activities, making them more standard and professional.

More engagement by CHEC in the area is expected.

Liu Hailong contributed to the story.