Chinese shipbuilder eyes more co-op with Japan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-04-15 09:43

It is important to conduct further exchange and cooperation with Japanese colleagues to meet growing orders from domestic and overseas buyers, the chief of a leading Chinese shipbuilder said Wednesday.

"Known as one of the shipbuilding powers in the world, Japan still possesses rather strong potentiality in the field of shipbuilding technology and labor efficiency. To learn the strong points from the Japanese shipbuilders and strengthen cooperation with them are the common understanding of all the Chinese shipbuilders," said Chen Xiaojin, president of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), at the biennial Sea Japan International Maritime Exhibition and Conference.

With the rapid economic development in China, ship orders are filing in, Chen said, adding what concerned him most is how to meet the growing demand.

CSSC currently accounts for one-third of China's annual shipbuilding output of 6 million dead weight tonnage. Around half of CSSC's orders come from offshore buyers.

"Our most outstanding advantage is the relatively lower cost," said Wang Yiku, a senior company official, "But price hike of materials like steel is shedding profit margin."

Chen said China has to import a lot of ships every year, so the foremost tasks of Chinese shipbuilders are to meet the needs of economic development and some other services at home.

Subsidiaries of the group are cooperating with some major Japanese shipbuilders, such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Chen said.

Chen said the CSSC is seeking overseas cooperation, including Japan, in two shipbuilding base projects in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

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