Chinese automaker BAIC Group's cutting edge off-road vehicles production line took center stage in a presentation to correspondents from 30 countries - just one of a series of media events showcasing Beijing's high-end manufacturing industry being held in the run-up to the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, being held in the capital on Monday and Tuesday.

According to officials, from Aug 29 to Sept 2, a total of 10 press events were held by the summit's media center and the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, to highlight different sides to modern Beijing - including its technological and cultural innovation, high-speed rail development and the construction of its new airport.

BAIC Group, or Beijing Automotive Group Co Ltd, one of the five largest automobile manufacturers in China in terms of sales volume, started making offroaders in the 1960s and was the first SUV producer in the country, said Jiang Zili, its vice general manager.

Last year, BAIC achieved total sales of 2.51 million units and posted operating income of 470.34 billion yuan ($68.8 billion), ranking it 124 on the Fortune Global 500 list, said Jiang.

BAIC's exhibition hall presented its representative SUV lineup, such as the BJ212, China's first generation of light off-road vehicles, and the BJ40, Jiang said.

Reporters from China and abroad not only visited the assembly and welding workshop for the off-roaders, learning about the production process of the star product, but also watched a driving demo of the newly launched vehicles at close range.

The international media representatives also sat behind the wheel of the exhibition vehicles to get up close and personal with the off-roaders.

Besides African reporters, journalists from the United States, France, Brazil and other countries also expressed their enthusiasm for the technically advanced models, as well as for the development of Beijing's high-end manufacturing industry in general.

Jiang said that the BAIC production line has adopted more environmentally friendly methods and its quality is first class.

Adding to the fun, BAIC also staged an off-road driving simulation for the reporters to experience, featuring rough roads, muddy water and various obstacles. Correspondents from Africa expressed their interest in BAIC's investment in Africa and business activities on the continent.

Du Rong, deputy Party secretary of BAIC International Development Co, a wholly-funded subsidiary of BAIC Group, said the company set up a manufacturing plant in South Africa in 2016 with a total investment of $800 million.

Located in the city of Port Elizabeth, a shipping hub in South Africa, the plant is BAIC's first overseas vehicle manufacturing plant, which has laid a firm foundation for other similar international ventures to come.

"The plant's annual production capacity will be 50,000 vehicles by the end of 2019, and the annual capacity will be 100,000 after a two-phase plan is completed in the near future, " Du said.

The auto industry, a pillar industry in South Africa, currently accounts for around 7.5 percent of the country's GDP.

Du added that the plant would provide an important opportunity to deepen Sino-African cooperation and would also generate employment in South Africa. Equipped with an automated production line, the plant will offer both right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive vehicles for different African markets, Du said.

hanlu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 09/03/2018 page24)