Chinese Dreamers EP04｜Building the Belt & Road

常伟才：一带一路上的建筑工匠

Building the Belt and Road

The tallest building in Africa, the first world-class Central Business District in Egypt, planned to be the new heart of the most populous country in the Arab world. During the past 4 years, this 1.9 million square-meter area has grown from a desert waste into a modern new capital, thanks to the hard work of 15,000 workers.

这是非洲第一高楼，埃及首个世界级CBD（中央商务区），也是埃及未来的新地标。4年来，这片190万平方米的土地，在15000名工人的辛勤耕耘下，从一片荒漠变成了一座全新的现代化都市。

 You can easily find the key member of the construction team - Chang Weicai from China.

这些建筑工程背后的核心人物是来自中国的常伟才。

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才  中建埃及分公司总经理

2016年1月21日，在国家主席习近平跟埃及总统塞西的两个国家元首的见证之下，我们签署了埃及新行政首都建设的一个一揽子合同。都是高端的公共建筑，有192万平方。在中资企业乃至于在国际承包系统是绝无仅有的。实际上在沙漠地区建设，做房建，应该说在某种程度上这也可以说叫第一次。我们引入了一些中国的成套的技术，包括在沙漠地区混凝土的成套技术，还有一个超高层建筑整体提升平台，也就中国说的造楼机的技术，还有一个超高层建筑钢结构从生产到安装，我们编制了一系列的成熟技术。

On January 21st, 2016, with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi looking on, we signed an agreement on building Egypt's new administrative capital. The 1.92 million-square-meter project full of high-end public facilities is the one and only in the history of Chinese firms' international contract projects. And to some extent, it's also the first time buildings like this have been constructed in a desert. We have introduced a full set of Chinese technologies, including concrete integral elevation platforms for ultra high-rise buildings, as well as steel work production and installation.

15年前我刚出国的时候我们到国外做项目，我们的优势并不是综合能力的优势，实际上在于成本的优势，还有劳动力的优势，一些大型的公共建筑，包括一些酒店类的项目，这种高端项目，（那时候）业主对我们还是不信任。我们现在的优势实际上是我们的综合管理水平、技术水平的优势、全球资源采购组织的优势。

When we began doing overseas projects 15 years ago, our advantages were in costs and labor. But for some high-end projects including large public facilities and hotels, the proprietors lacked confidence in us. Now our advantages have changed. We offer comprehensive management, technology and global resource procurement.

15 years ago Chang began to realize his dream with international construction work. But the journey was not easy at the beginning.

15年前，常伟才开始忙碌于海外的建筑工地，他的梦想也由此启程，但一切开始得并不容易。

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才中建埃及分公司总经理

我第一次出国的时候是2007年，我一出国接触的项目就是利比亚2万套住房项目。在项目非常顺利的时候，在2011年2月20号，我们的项目就遭受了一些武装分子的冲击的时候，我们是用了三天的时间，把15,000名（中建和其他中资企业的）员工到中国来，包括900多其他国家的员工从班加西全部撤出。当大家到了希腊、马耳他的时候，已经是彻底安全了的时候，应该说我们所有的员工发自肺腑地感谢中国政府。我们的一些工人就打出了"中国建筑感谢祖国"的一些标语。

I first went abroad in 2007, and my first foreign project was a 20,000-apartment housing project in Libya. Everything was running smoothly, until February 20th, 2011, when the project was hit by militants, so we had to evacuate. We spent 3 days getting all of our 15,000 workers out of Benghazi, including more than 900 third-country nationals. When they arrived in Greece and Malta safe and sound, they expressed sincere gratitude to Chinese government.

Bai Huifeng, Business Manager, Marketing Center, China State Construction Overseas Development

柏汇丰上海中建海外发展有限公司营销中心商务经理

我（当时）在项目上是作为分公司的商务经理。大家能够很不幸地经历了这一场磨难，但是也很有幸地能够平安的回到国内，万人万里大撤离，无一人伤亡。

I was the business manager on the project. We were very unfortunate to have gotten through that, and were very lucky to return safely. More than 10,000 people evacuated a huge distance, with nobody injured.

What impresses you most about Chang is how resilient he is after facing these kinds of problems. He seems never to have questioned his choice of a career.

常伟才最让人印象深刻的就是面对问题时的那股韧劲。他似乎从未质疑过自己的职业选择。

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才中建埃及分公司总经理

我们现在有很多工人实际上也曾经在利比亚干过，然后他们又继续，从利比亚又到了刚果，到了阿尔及利亚，又到了埃及。

Many of our workers now were working in Libya at that time. And they have kept working, in projects in the Republic of Congo, Algeria, and Egypt.

他们都说哪一天利比亚再复工他还要回去，非常有自信，他相信在关键时候，我们政府不会丢下他们不管。

They all say that if the project in Libya resumes operation, they would go back. They’re very confident that our government would never abandon them.

Every year, Chang would get about a month back in China, meeting with his colleagues in the Shanghai headquarters, though still away from his hometown in the northern province of Shandong. In the corner of his office in Shanghai there are several suitcases.

常伟才每年会回国待一个月，和他的同事在上海总部碰面，但这依旧离他的山东老家很远。在他上海的办公室的角落里，常备着几个行李箱。

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才中建埃及分公司总经理

我们一般回国的人员，我们在回去的时候都会给同事带很多的零食，最后我都会把它打包，开包以后我都把它放到这集装这些箱子里面。这些箱子都是我常备的。这箱子也有，随时可以随时走。

I usually bring a lot of Chinese snacks back to the construction sites. Our colleagues have spent a long time abroad, so it’s important. I usually unpack the snacks and put them into my luggage so I can go whenever I’m asked to.

Zhang Shixuan, Reporter

张诗璇记者

They are all builders, hundreds of thousands construction workers constructing the Belt and Road brick by brick. It has been almost a decade since Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. So far, China has signed more than 200 Belt and Road cooperation agreements with 150 countries and 32 international organizations. They are not just helpingcreate the buildings and the infrastructure, they are sharing friendships, experiences and - sometimes - business opportunities too.

他们都是建设者，为共建“一带一路”添砖加瓦。距离中国国家主席习近平提出“一带一路”倡议已近十年。迄今为止，中国已与150个国家、32个国际组织签署了200多项“一带一路”合作协议。建设者们不仅是在海外建造基础设施和大楼，也是在传播友谊、分享经验和商机。

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才中建埃及分公司总经理

这次我们开会又拿了一个“一带一路建设者”的一个素质和技能提升站。主要是当地人，说一带一路要共商共建共享。通过少量的中国工人来带的当地的工人来做。就是坚持属地化，因为属地化就是国际化，更加践行了我们习主席提的命运共同体的这个理念。我们现在就出现了很多中国师傅老外徒弟的一些故事。

This is the name plate for the new skill improvement station for Belt and Road builders that will soon establish in Egypt. The Belt and Road is expected promote a shared community with win-win cooperation, so we have to help nurture local workers with a small number of Chinese workers. Sticking to localization means internationalization, which also aligns with the concept of a community with a shared future put forward by president Xi Jinping. There are plenty of stories about Chinese tutors teaching foreign workers.

African Worker

非洲工人

我今年25岁，在CBD项目作油漆工，参加过中建设立的鲁班学院的一些培训班，通过和中国同事们合作相处，我的专业技能有所提升，我的工资也很不错。

I'm 25 years old, a painter at the CBD project. I've joined some training courses of Luban School established by the China State Construction. Working with Chinese colleagues, my professional techniques have improved and I'm getting good pay.

Zhou Jingfeng, President, Labor Union, China State Construction Overseas Development

周景锋上海中建海外发展有限公司党委副书记、工会主席

通过我们的鲁班学堂，通过我们现场的技术、通过开放日活动，带动了当地的一大批的公司，应该说从施工管理到技术都有很高的提高，包括他们的供应商，就是建材企业，包括他们当地的是排在第一二三的这种建筑企业，都和我们在一起合作。

Through our Luban School, our on-site technologies, and our activities, we have helped a batch of local companies, including building material suppliers enhance their construction management and technologies. Top 3 local construction firms have all been cooperating with us.

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才中建埃及分公司总经理

我们经常是干完这个国家的一个大型项目，我们可能又到了另外一个国家，你面对的是不同的业主，不同的国家的人。应该说我们成为一个别人了解中国的窗口，在某种程度上我们也相当于友谊的使者的时候，我感觉我们这种成就感很强。

Often when we finish a large project, we will go to another country, which means we may face different proprietors from different countries. We have become a window for the outside world to learn about China. To some extent, we are serving as an ambassador for friendship. And I feel very proud of that.

Chang Weicai, General Manager, China State Construction Overseas Development

常伟才中建埃及分公司总经理

应该说这10年以来吧，我觉得我们中资企业在海外接的项目都是越来越有影响力。我们已经具备了跟国际上的一流承包企业掰手腕的能力，也取得了外国工程师的信任。是我们千千万万个中国的工程师，成千上百个在国外的一些大型项目，大家的共同努力。现在下一步呢我们肯定第一方面要立足埃及、北非这个区域，跟当地企业的合作。在海外进行坚守与发展，是我们的使命、就使命感。

It was during the past decade that we have been competitive with the world’s first-class contractors, and have gained trust from foreign engineers. This is the result of the effort of tens of thousands of Chinese engineers. Next, we will deepen our development in Egypt, and northern Africa. Standing fast in overseas projects is our mission.

And as the mission continues, there seem like infinite new challenges and possibilities awaiting him, to build his own career, while making the Belt and Road a much more harmonious community for all.

随着使命的继续，还有无限的挑战和机遇在等着常伟才，等着他继续建设自己的事业，让“一带一路”建设走向和谐共通的未来。