On April 23, a delegation led by Chen Jianliang, Chairman of Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd., visited the Hong Kong office of CLNG. Sheng Shanxing, General Manager of CLNG, warmly welcomed Chairman Chen and his delegation. The two sides held in-depth discussions on industry development, strategic planning, fleet upgrades, and technological innovation. Jin Yanzi, Director of the Science and Technology Committee of Hudong-Zhonghua, along with Xin Tian and Shu Binglin, Deputy General Managers of CLNG, attended the meeting.

During the discussion, both sides reflected on the challenging early days we navigated together. From the maiden voyage of China's first LNG vessel, "Dapeng Sun," which broke foreign technological monopolies, to the current status as leading players in our respective fields, CLNG and Hudong-Zhonghua have stood together through twenty years of trials and triumphs. The joint efforts have written a remarkable chapter in the history of China's LNG shipping and shipbuilding industries — growing from nothing, from weak to strong. It was our shared sense of mission and determination to overcome challenges that led to China's "zero breakthrough" in LNG shipbuilding, marking the birthplace of a national strategic asset. Of CLNG's current fleet of 36 LNG vessels, 18 were built by Hudong-Zhonghua. This substantial "half of the fleet" stands as a testament to trust, a fruit of close collaboration, and a vivid reflection of a shared destiny and mutual achievement.

At a new starting point for industry upgrading, both companies are strategically aligned and share a common vision. Hudong-Zhonghua, in coordination with CLNG, is taking the 270,000 m³ QC-Max ultra-large LNG vessel as its flagship vessel to comprehensively establish a new track in ultra-large LNG transportation. Leveraging its world-class construction capabilities, Hudong-Zhonghua is leading the industry into the era of mega-carriers. By continuously expanding production capacity, strengthening technological R&D, and promoting the full domestic production of core equipment, Hudong-Zhonghua is fully committed to supporting the national strategy of enhancing China's self-reliant LNG shipping capacity. The upgrade of CLNG's fleet structure is highly aligned with the expansion of Hudong-Zhonghua's production capacity, pointing to vast potential for future cooperation.

This exchange not only serves as a deep gathering of minds among strategic partners, but also represents a pragmatic action to implement the national energy strategy and solidify the advantages of the industrial chain. Looking to the future, CLNG and Hudong-Zhonghua will work together with closer coordination and more innovative collaboration in areas such as vessel evolution, green shipping, and technological breakthroughs. Together, we will safeguard national energy transportation security and help China's LNG industry sail toward a broader and deeper blue ocean.