Hebei province should become a leading example in international cooperation on production capacity, Premier Li Keqiang said on March 7 in a discussion with National People’s Congress deputies from the northern province.

Excess capacity does not mean outdated capacity that should be closed and most of Hebei’s production capacity can lead to quality products, Premier Li said, suggesting that the province channel its excess capacity to Central and West China as well as abroad.

Premier Li Keqiang joins a panel discussion with deputies to the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) from Hebei province during the third session of the 12th NPC in Beijing, March 7.[Photo by Wu Zhiyi/China Daily]

During his visit to Kazakhstan last winter, the Premier and Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov agreed on a deal worth $18 billion, in which China will export its production lines of steel, cement and plate glass to Kazakhstan to support the latter’s Bright Road development project.

“Exporting the production capacity of Hebei not only helps the importer improve its industries and create more jobs, but also helps Hebei upgrade its industries,” Premier Li said on March 7. “I talked to many departments, telling them to put Hebei on top of the list of China’s exporters of production capacity. To find a way to export Hebei’s excess but quality production capacity will allow the province to become a new leading example for the country.”

The Premier said he hopes Hebei will explore the international market bravely.

“Our exported capacity must meet environmental protection standards. We should be responsible for the people,” he said.