Chairman Chen Xiaojia paid a courtesy call on President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique on September 2, 2018, who was in Beijing for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The two sides had an exchange of views on opportunities for future cooperation in social housing, infrastructure, agriculture and other fields. Mozambique's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Ambassador to China, Director of the Department of National Budget of the Ministry of Finance, Director of the National Road Administration and other officials as well as Tao Yang, President of the CITIC Construction and Hu Ping, Vice President of the CITIC Construction, were present at the meeting.
In the meeting, President Nyusi exchanged views with Chairman Chen Xiaojia on the financing plan, business model and price control of the social housing project, cooperation in agriculture and other topics that the Mozambican government concerns.
Chen Xiaojia first introduced the basic situation of CITIC Group Corporation and CITIC Construction. President Nyusi noted that Minister of Public Works, Housing and Water Resources of Mozambique has visited CITIC’s social housing project in Angola and reported to the President, saying that he was deeply impressed by the success of Angola’s social housing project. As a young country with many young people, Mozambique has an urgent need for affordable social housing. It is hoped that CITIC Construction will be able to deploy its strength and resources to replicate the successful experience of Angola to Mozambique. Mozambique needs to construct a large number of roads at present, which will offer a good opportunity for CITIC Construction to enter Mozambique, President Nyusi added.
In his presentation of achievements and experience of the CITIC Construction in agriculture, Chen Xiajia expressed that he, as Chairman of China Agricultural Association for International Exchange (CAAIE), was willing to collaborate with enterprises of agricultural sector of the CITIC Group Corporation and 106 member enterprises of the CAAIE to participate in agricultural infrastructure in Mozambique. Expressing appreciation for what CITIC Construction has done in agriculture, President Nyusi said that Mozambique has been focusing on developing its agriculture and infrastructure. President Xi Jinping and he have talked about enhancing agricultural cooperation between the two countries in their meetings, added President Nyusi. At present, food in Mozambique is still in short supply, and agricultural infrastructure including irrigation system needs improvement. Nonetheless, Mozambique boasts great potential in agricultural development with its fertile soil and abundant light and heat resources. Mozambican President welcomes the CITIC Construction to conduct cooperation and exchanges in agricultural development in Mozambique.
In closing, President Nyusi spoke highly of his meeting with the CITIC Construction, which is the most fruitful one among all meetings he had with Chinese enterprises thanks to both sides’ pursuit for practicality. He warmly invited Chen Xiajia and his delegation to visit Mozambique, and said that he will exchange with the CITIC Construction delegation on cooperation matters upon their arrival.