Chinese enterprises investing overseas urged to benefit local people

RAYONG - China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Wednesday called for Chinese enterprises investing overseas to bring benefit to local people and pursue win-win cooperation.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks while visiting the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone, which is located in east Thailand's Rayong province.

It is of paramount importance to create job opportunities for local communities, Yu stressed at the largest industrial base in Southeast Asia for Chinese enterprises, which is developed by Holley Group (China) and Amata Group (Thailand).

During his visit, Yu was briefed about the development of the industrial zone and inspected workshops of several enterprises.

Yu said he had paid close attention to the going-global of Chinese private enterprises, especially that of manufacturing enterprises, and wished them to assume a leading role in the industrial zone.

With a total investment of more than $1.5 billion, the industrial zone has attracted 66 Chinese enterprises over the past decade, mostly being private enterprises and manufacturers of automobile and motorcycle parts, machinery and electronic products, as well as new energy and new materials, according to Wang Licheng, chairman of the board of Holley.

The industrial zone has created jobs for more than 1,000 Chinese nationals and 10,000 Thais, Wang said.

Mature industrial zones for Chinese enterprises overseas can also serve as a "carrier" of the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, is a trade and infrastructure network that includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road to connect Asia, Europe and Africa.