The Expansion of Chinese Construction Companies in the Global Market

Abstract

Chinese contractors are increasingly playing a significant role in the global construction market. This thesis provides a comprehensive study of the global expansion of Chinese construction companies as a result of Chinese open-door policies, by describing their developments from 1950 to 2008, highlighting their achievements, and identifying the main constraints preventing them from playing a more effective and efficient role in the global construction market. The development of Chinese construction companies in the global market was divided into three periods: the first period from 1950 to 1978, the second period from 1979 to 2001, and the third period from 2002 to 2008. In each period, the autonomy of Chinese construction companies, along with their achievements and problems were studied. Besides, the new business environment after accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the analyses on Chinese foreign economic cooperation and on the top Chinese contractors (Top CC) using the data since 1979 were conducted. The results of this thesis can help the U.S. construction companies become more familiar with the Chinese construction companies and therefore more competitive in the global construction market.