Strengthening regional connectivity

Zhang Zhiqiang, managing director of ABB China

A1 The BRI creates new opportunities for cooperation between Chinese and foreign enterprises. In the wake of China's enterprises to accelerate the pace of "going out" and actively participate in the overseas project construction, ABB has provided more than 400 Chinese enterprises with consultancy, design, engineering and various services in response to the BRI in more than 70 countries and regions around the world. The BRI has injected new momentum for China and the global economy and closed the gap between the East and the West, opening new space and opportunities for global collaboration.

A2 We are encouraged by China's efforts to open wider to the outside world and we are confident in China's bright future. As a pioneer of digital technologies, we introduced ABB Ability digital solutions and services to the Chinese market in 2017, and have helped customers in utilities, industry, transport and infrastructure to capitalize on the value of big data to strengthen productivity, groundbreaking innovation and core competitiveness. Digital means, together with the momentum of the BRI, are expected to help customers increase efficiency, improve energy efficiency and raise global competence.

A3 ABB's development has benefited from the trend of globalization and the rapid development of China's economy and trade. In 2018, ABB was awarded a major project by Ittihad International Investment Group through China Light International Engineering Co Ltd, the engineering, procurement and construction contractor. ABB provides the ABB Ability collaborative production management system to the project, realizing integration from factory to enterprise level and enabling analysis and support to management for more efficient production, lower cost of storage and personnel, improved maintenance and improved profitability.

A4 Nowadays, the BRI has come to maturity with many Chinese enterprises going abroad in the way of initial investment evolving into deep cooperation. As national and regional design and industry standards differ in different countries, ABB can help Chinese enterprises better control risks with rich technological expertise. Besides, ABB can provide localized consulting, design, engineering, manufacturing and services for Chinese companies' overseas EPC projects, helping them reduce project costs and engineering risks, as well as enhancing competitiveness in the global market.

A5 With a focus on energy infrastructure, industry and transport and infrastructure, the BRI will drive growth and trade and help improve the infrastructure of economies related to its routes. A considerable number of economies involved in the BRI are less developed in fields such as utilities, industry, transportation and infrastructure. They urgently need to improve productivity and energy efficiency in the fields of power grid, mining, steel, nonferrous metal, oil and gas industries.