BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE: DONGFENG MOTOR INTENSIFIES EXPANSION IN CENTRAL ASIA

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- China Dongfeng Motor announced it has continuously strengthened cooperation and exchanges with Central Asia, with sales of exported vehicles to the region and other countries increasing by 71 per cent year-on-year for the first five months of this year.

As a practitioner and promoter of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese automaker has also successfully embarked on a road featuring “upholding the beauty of each civilisation and the diversity of civilisation in the world”.

In a statement, the automaker said this was in response to a proposal from People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping in 2013 for an important initiative to jointly build the Silk Road Economic Belt in Kazakhstan, a key cooperative country in China's high-quality Belt and Road Initiative.

On July 1, the opening ceremony of Dongfeng Motor's dealer in Kazakhstan and the delivery ceremony of key customers were successfully held in Almaty along with the unveiling of flagship products such as DONGFENG GX, KL tractor and KC dump truck to the local market customers.

In the next three years, Dongfeng commercial vehicle plans to focus on tractors and achieve a market share of 20 per cent in Kazakhstan.

In addition, Dongfeng passenger cars and Voyah are also based on the market environment in Central Asia, gaining in-depth insight into consumer demand and formulating marketing strategies. It is estimated that by 2026, Voyah will fully complete its strategic layout in the Central Asian market and provide consumers with more quality products and services.

At the recently concluded eighth China-Eurasia Expo, Dongfeng Motor presented its overall strength with 10 representative models of commercial vehicles and passenger cars; expanded international business cooperation; and signed a batch order contract with dealers from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, among others.

Meanwhile, with the opening of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway, the transportation location advantage and hub role of Central Asia will be fully released and brought into play.

Dongfeng Motor will seize the new era and new opportunities, strive to develop the market layout of traditional fuel and new energy vehicles, constantly expand the area and scope of green cooperation with overseas partners under the framework of the "Green Silk Road", adding new momentum to the "Belt and Road" between China and Central Asia.

-- BERNAMA