Zhang Lei was a 2006 master’s degree student at Tianjin University. She is Deputy General Manager of the third division of State Grid, China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co., Ltd. Zhang is in charge of the business in Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey and the Middle East regions. 

Zhang has participated in the Matiari to Lahore ±660kV HVDC Transmission Line Project, and an upgrading project of Egyptian 500kv backbone network, which is the first project in Egypt that was put into operation under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative. 

Zhang pointed out that industry cooperation under the guidance of the Belt and Road Initiative is not only to drive China’s output capacity, equipment exports, or the all-round win-win cooperation between China and relevant countries, but also for historic economic reform and innovation around the world. However, it still takes a long time for local people to approve of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Take the project in Egypt as an example. The project provided a very good example of how local people could enjoy the benefits of productive cooperation and at the same time solve the local power shortage problem and create 7,000 jobs. It now appears that after three years of implementation, the locals have a greater understanding of this initiative, and give more and more support to China-Egypt cooperation.  

Her Message: I hope that my younger fellows grasp the opportunities of the times, and consolidate their international engineering expertise. I especially hope that students, especially girls, do not fear the work abroad, because professional managers on international project are scarce, and they are bound to have a promising future. 

 Editors: Yin Shiyu and Ross Colquhoun