Lin Wanli, deputy Party secretary of CNR, is confident that the company will continue to remain buoyant: "Even though the economic downturn is still a problem for many countries, this has not had a knock-on effect to our workshops. We currently have a packed order book that will take us well into 2012."

With an export business that now encompasses nearly 50 countries and regions across the world, "Made by CNR" has become a powerful international brand. It is now firmly established as a preferred supplier throughout the Middle East, Southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Australia, Africa, and Latin America.

As well as its success in internal restructuring and export sales, CNR has also considerably expanded its overseas research and production facilities. This has seen it launch joint venture operations in both Iran and Mexico. This expansion has further enhanced CNR's reputation as a world-class manufacturer of railway transport equipment.

Commenting on the company's transformation in recent years, Sun Yongcai, chief engineer of CNR, said: "CNR is a hugely competitive player in the international market for railway transportation equipment. It now has state-of-the-art R&D, design, manufacture, maintenance and after-sales facilities."

(China Daily July 21, 2009)