STORY: Friendship of power gird employees of China-Pakistan project under BRI
DATELINE: Sept. 6, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:54
LOCATION: JINAN, China
CATEGORY: ECONOMY/CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of projects of the CPEC
2. various of Zhao Hang working
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHAO HANG, Employee of State Grid Shandong Electric Extrahigh Voltage Company
4. various of Zhao Hang and the painting of his family portrait
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO HANG, Employee of State Grid Shandong Electric Extrahigh Voltage Company
6. various of Zhao Hang having a video call with his apprentice
7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MUHAMMAD ASHRAF,Operation Assistant Supervisor of Lahore Converter Station
8. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG JIAN, Operation Manager of Matiari Converter Station

STORYLINE:

A deep friendship has been formed between two employees of a China-Pakistan project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 

Zhao Hang, an employee of the State Grid Shandong Electric Extrahigh Voltage Company, was one of the first batch of operation and maintenance personnel for the Matiari-Lahore high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission project in Pakistan from 2020 to 2023. 

This project is under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): ZHAO HANG, Employee of State Grid Shandong Electric Extrahigh Voltage Company
"From 2020 to 2023, I went to Pakistan to help the operation and maintenance of the Matiari-Lahore transmission project. Our work is to transmit Pakistan's electricity from the south to the north. During the period I was abroad, I'd forged friendship with a lot of Pakistani employees."

After returning home, he placed a special "family portrait" on his desk.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): ZHAO HANG, Employee of State Grid Shandong Electric Extrahigh Voltage Company
"I was away from home during my time abroad, but my apprentice gave me this painting, and I felt not that lonely. Later, we spent various festivals in Pakistan together, and we Chinese also spent festivals together (with local employees). After returning home, although the distance is far, we still keep in touch."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): MUHAMMAD ASHRAF, Operation assistant supervisor of Lahore converter station 
"In a very short time, we have become a good friend with each other. I can understand it is very difficult to work without your family. That's why I gave him the painting."

The Matiari-Lahore transmission project, invested and constructed by the State Grid Corporation of China, started construction in Dec. 2018 and created around 7,000 local jobs.

It began commercial operation in Sept. 2021, transmitting up to 35 billion kWh annually to about 10 million households.

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): WANG JIAN, Operation manager of Matiari converter station
"Through the implementation of the CPEC, the two countries will further increase personnel exchanges in various industries, deepen mutual understanding and friendship between people of the two countries, and promote people-to-people bond."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Jinan, China.
(XHTV)