China wants S. Korean firms to help rebuild quake-hit Sichuan

SEOUL, Sept. 24 (Yonhap) -- The main Chinese envoy to South Korea said Wednesday
his government wants South Korean companies to participate in rebuilding the
country's southwest Sichuan province, which was devastated by a catastrophic
earthquake in May.
Chinese Ambassador Ning Fukui said his government will actively support South
Korean companies if they join the reconstruction efforts in the region.
About 90,000 people died or went missing in the Chinese province, which is
similar to South Korea in terms of size, and much of its roads, buildings and
other infrastructure were destroyed by the 8.0-magnitude quake.
"Reconstruction efforts in Sichuan province present huge opportunities for
investment and trade," the Chinese ambassador told some 100 business leaders at a
forum hosted by the Federation of Korean Industries, South Korea's largest
business lobby organization.
The forum was designed to present investment opportunities in Sichuan.
"I hope South Korean companies do not miss the chances for business hidden in
these reconstruction projects," Ning said through a translator.
Early this month, China's official Xinhua news agency reported the Sichuan
province will need a total of 1.67 trillion yuan, or US$245 billion, to fund
reconstruction projects.
China's central and provincial governments along with overseas donors have raised
less than a quarter of the funds needed, according to the Xinhua report.