China, Netherlands Join Hands on "Xinjiang Silk Road Lighting Project"

The Chinese and Netherlands governments signed a five-year agreement on the "Xinjiang Silk Road Lighting Project" Monday evening in Beijing which aims to solve the shortage problem in electricity supply long affecting the life and production of farmers and herdsman in outlying areas of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Present at the signing ceremony were many notables. They include Vice Chairman Tomur Dawamat (Uygur) of NPC Standing Committee, Ismail Amat (Uygur), state councilor, Wang Lequan, secretary of CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee, Li Zibin, vice director of the State Development and Planning Commission, Zhang Xin, president of Xinjiang New Energy Co. Ltd.., Netherlands ambassador to China, and representative of Shell Solar Energy Co.

"Xinjiang Silk Road Lighting Project" is the first item approved after the State Development and Planning Commission launched its "China Lighting Program" which aims to transmit electricity to outlying areas. The item is implemented by Xinjiang New Energy Co. Ltd. and Holland Shell Solar Energy Company. It is Shell's first cooperative item dealing with solar energy in China. An investment of US$250 billion is to be involved including a donation of US$15 million by the Netherlands government, and US$10 million locally raised in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Wang Lequan said Xinjiang and Netherlands see a bright prospect for cooperation in energy and other fields. Xinjiang will grasp the opportunity brought about by the mammoth western China development drive to create a favorable environment for investment so as to woo more foreign funds to boost the development and construction of Xinjiang.



By PD Online Staff Du Minghua


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