A special promotional event for Suizhou City took place in Wuhan today as part of the China-ECOWAS Economic and Trade Forum for Central China, where CLW and West Africa Export Cooperation took center stage. The meeting brought together Chinese and West African officials, business leaders, and trade delegates—all focused on one thing: building stronger economic ties.
On the Chinese side, Suizhou Mayor Liu Xiaoming, Deputy Mayor Chen Chuangen, and Chengli Motors General Manager Cheng Aluo attended. From the West African side, ECOWAS Chairman Chambers led a high-level delegation of government officials, chamber of commerce representatives, and entrepreneurs—over 200 people in total.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Liu laid out Suizhou’s vision. “We’re here to build a broader and stronger platform,” he said. “One that deepens the friendship between the people of Suizhou and West Africa and opens up real opportunities for trade and cooperation.” He made it clear: expanding ties with Africa isn’t just something Suizhou hopes to do—it’s something the city genuinely wants and a key part of its growth strategy. Liu highlighted four areas where he sees real potential: special-purpose vehicles, trade and investment, agriculture, and closer business-to-business ties. At the heart of this vision is CLW and West Africa Export Cooperation, a partnership already gaining momentum and driving real results.
Zhang Shuwen, Vice Chairman of the Suizhou CPPCC and Chairman of the City Federation of Industry and Commerce, followed up with a closer look at Suizhou’s special vehicle industry—a sector where the city has built serious strengths.
Then it was Cheng Aluo’s turn. As general manager of Hubei Chengli Motors, he gave the foreign delegates a clear picture of where his company stands. In 2007, Chengli produced 2,460 special-purpose vehicles, generating 230 million RMB in output value and 14 million RMB in taxes and profits. Exports hit 800 units, bringing in 5 million USD in foreign exchange. The company was named an Advanced Enterprise by the Zengdu District Government, a Foreign Trade Advanced Unit by the local commerce department, and a High-Tech Enterprise by the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology.
And the momentum kept going. In just the first half of 2008, Chengli rolled out over 2,200 vehicles, pulled in 220 million RMB in output value, and exported 7 million USD—while paying more than 2.8 million RMB in taxes.
“We’re confident about the African market,” Cheng said. And the numbers back him up.
Suizhou’s trade ties with Africa actually go back decades, to the 1980s. By 2007, the city was exporting more than 1,600 special vehicles to Africa—over 80% of its total special vehicle exports.
It’s a state-designated manufacturer of special-purpose vehicles and one of the bigger players in the game. Known for its “Chengliwei” brand and product codes “CLW” and “SNJ,” the company builds everything from landscaping trucks and fuel tankers to garbage compactors, vacuum trucks, dump trucks, refrigerated vans, semi-trailers, wreckers, truck-mounted cranes, aerial work platforms, cement mixers, and fire trucks. Over 100 models across eight major series. Chengli is also an official partner of Dongfeng and Jiefang—two of China’s biggest truck makers—and distributes their chassis as well.
With its own export license, Chengli has already put its vehicles on roads far beyond China. Now, with CLW and West Africa Export Cooperation in full swing, the company is ready to drive even further.
