Yu Xuxin: bright prospects for POWERCHINA in Macedonia

In an interview with the press corps of POWERCHINA on July 22, Yu Xuxin, the Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Macedonia, said that Chinese enterprises should carry out active cooperation and avoid heavy competition in order to achieve win-win or multi-win outcomes.

During the interview, Yu introduced an overview of the Macedonian Economy and its investment and trade environment, bilateral economic and trade relations between China and Macedonia, as well as matters to which Chinese enterprises in Macedonia should pay attention regarding trade and investment. He said that Macedonia, located in the inland Balkans and at the intersection of the eighth and 10th corridors of Europe, is a hub for interconnection for Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and is also a key partner under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. The Premier of China and Prime Minister of Macedonia put forward specific infrastructure projects in the recent 16+1 summits, demonstrating the huge potential of cooperation between China and Balkan countries, including Macedonia. Two highway projects in Macedonia are currently under construction by POWERCHINA.

In reply to questions raised by reporters, Yu said that over the past two years, POWERCHINA has actively integrated into the local area, brought employment opportunities to the people and promoted the development of Macedonia's construction industry. POWERCHINA has struck a balance between "righteousness" and "interests" and formed a strong cooperation model featuring the coordination of the government, wide participation of enterprises, and the strong support of society. At the same time, POWERCHINA has actively integrated into the local community, and has acknowledged local customs and habits. The company has also employed large numbers of local workers, provided assistance to poor families, dug water wells for mountain villagers, and cared for empty nesters and left-behind children.

It is worth mentioning, said Yu, that the southern city of Tetovo in Macedonia was hit by a strong rainstorm last year, triggering large-scale landslides and cutting off some village roads from the outside world. POWERCHINA's KO project department immediately set up a rescue team and dispatched heavy machinery to the disaster area 90 km away. It was the first to reach the disaster area, and received widespread coverage from the Macedonian media. This act has enhanced the reputation of Chinese companies in Macedonia.

When asked about his expectations for Chinese enterprises in Macedonia, Yu stressed that Chinese enterprises must abide by the local and Chinese laws, and carry out fair and open cooperation with domestic and foreign enterprises to avoid heavy competition. The Economic Counselor's Office of the Embassy has set up a Wechat account for entrepreneurs in Macedonia, in a bid to provide the latest information for Chinese enterprises and act as a coordinator. It plays the role of a "ballast" and "propeller" in the economic and trade cooperation between Chinese and Macedonian enterprises.