The 7th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum Opens in Macao

By：MOFCOM Update：2016-06-08

On June 2, the 7th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum opened in Macao Special Administrative Region. Deputy China International Trade Representative Zhang Xiangchen attended the opening ceremony and made the key speech.

Zhang said that China always supports the infrastructure construction in the world and participates in it, and provides public products for the Asian-Pacific region and the world. Since the “Belt and Road” initiative was put forward, China has signed the “Belt and Road” cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries, and a batch of demonstration infrastructure cooperation projects are actively on the way. At the same time, the Chinese government attached great attention to the reciprocal cooperation with the other regions in the world. In 2015, the new contract signed by Chinese enterprises in African countries (contract projects) amounted to US$ 76.2 billion, with the completed turnover of US$ 54.8 billion; the newly signed contracts in Latin American and Caribbean countries (contract projects) amounted to US$ 18.2 billion with the completed turnover of US$ 16.4 billion.

Zhang pointed out the world countries have great demands for infrastructure at present, but all of them are facing the difficulties in raising construction capital. Supporting and encouraging these enterprises to innovate business cooperation patterns through the integration of industry and finance is always an important method which the governments advocate and promote. Currently, the Chinese government provides supports to the world infrastructure construction through establishing special concessional loan, building special funds and proposing to establish financial organizations, and encourages these enterprises to innovate financing modes. All these intend to break the bottleneck of the construction capital. Meanwhile, the Chinese contractors paid more attention to the promotion role that the integration of industry and finance plays for the investment business. The enterprises began to participate in the investment and construction of the overseas projects through the integration of industry and finance, and optimize overseas market and internationalization layout. The aim is to realize the adjustment of operation strategies and the transformation of development patterns. The Integration of industry and finance has become an important channel and method for the international contractors to realize the diversified and leapfrog development.

Zhang put forward three suggestions to promote the integration of industry and finance and promote the development of infrastructure market. Firstly, we should create a policy environment to encourage investment. Secondly, we should innovate financial products and the implementation models of projects. Thirdly, we should play the role of the bilateral financial organizations and multilateral cooperation mechanism.

Those who attended the forum included the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in Macao SAR Chen Sixi, the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR Leong Vai Tac, 46 ministerial officials from 36 countries and regions, and more than 1,400 representatives from over 600 units such as some domestic and overseas financial organizations, international associations of the related industries, contract engineering enterprises, consultation service organizations, and enterprises of engineering equipments and related service.