Wei Zhenxin, graduated in 2004 with dual Bachelor's Degree from Wuhan University of Technology, is currently head of International Business Department, China Railway Nine Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. (CRNBE),?a subsidiary of CREC,?and also project manager of Project Department for the Padma Bridge Project in Bangladesh. Since his career started over ten years ago, Wei has been dedicated to the projects in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar, contributing greatly to the Company's business expansion abroad and to become an overseas pioneer of the Belt and Road.

Bangladesh is located within the scope of the Belt and Road. It has a long-standing friendship with China since the two countries established a diplomatic relation 42 years ago. The Padma Bridge, seated in the south part of Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, is 6,150m long in total. It is a key transport hub that connects the southwest area of Bangladesh with its northern and eastern parts, and also the first rail-road bridge of the country, with additional functions including electric power conveyance, gas pipelines, etc. Reputed as a “Dream Bridge”, and “Sino-Bangladesh Friendship Bridge”, it was also mentioned by General Secretary Xi Jinping for many times as a highlighted Belt and Road Project.

“Make the greatest efforts” is what Wei Zhenxin has always been telling himself. Never backed down against difficulties, he climbed over one mountain after another, conquering all the hardships with such "stubbornness". The Bangladeshi Padma Bridge project ("the Bridge" or "the Project" hereinafter) is confronted with great difficulties in construction due to complicated geological and climate conditions such as high-temperature, flood, lightning, fog, squall line wind, surges, and torrential wash-out. It has been called by the local people “Padma River Monsters” and considered by the Western countries as a zone very inappropriate for bridge construction. In the flood season in 2015, people on the construction site experienced a terrifying moment when they woke up but saw the dam collapsing, site being devastated, and flood waves within 10m from the construction site. The Project needs to meet world's top design and construction requirements against such backdrop. CRNBE has undertaken the manufacturing and after-sales services of 160,000t steel pipe piles and the reconstruction of large-scale machineries and equipment. Wei and his team made reasonable plans, doing designs and tests again and again to put all-out efforts into the work. From June 2014 when the manufacturing of steel pipe piles was started, to the completion of the final design drawings, four years and seven months have passed, after ceaseless rounds of testing, surveying and verification for improving the design.

Though impressive to others, the Project means repeated ordeals for Wei. The changes in steel pipe pile design greatly increased the difficulty of construction and workload. Instead of being scared away, Wei promptly adjusted the method on his welding techniques and work experience for years. By updating the site planning, technical preparation, mold design, resources allocation, material procurement, re-staffing and properly organizing production, he once again tackled the huge problem. The construction was in full swing in the Spring Festival of 2019. The production capacity was greatly improved, with manufacturing and construction of the nearly 40,000t steel pipe piles needed for the main bridge completed prior to the flood season. Due to their outstanding performance in the Project, the Employer expressed the intention to grant another 50,000+ tons steel structure project to CRNBE, further promoting the Company's steady expansion in the overseas market.

Before assuming the PM of Padma Bridge, Wei has been involved in the construction of Sungai Johor Bridge in Malaysia, and bridge projects in Vietnam and Burma; he has also participated in the survey, research and marketing of various foreign projects in Mali, Nepal, Laos, Philippines and Kenya. By enriching his life with project experiences, Wei created glories for China and attracted attention of the world.
Wei feels sorry for his family for his absence from home during the days he worked in Bangladesh. “I feel so sorry that I can't accompany my family, especially the kids. Fortunately I have a good wife, who understands me and take care of the family so that I can keep my mind on the work”, said Wei.??

On April 16 2017, Wei's wife gave birth to their second child, and Wei was entitled to a family leave to stay with her. But he went back to the construction site in a hurry when his baby was less than one-month old. He said, “The project means a lot to the corporate image and national image. I should contribute more to it. I believe that my wife and kids can understand me.” Back to the construction site, he immediately plunged himself into the work. Only at night when all was still, he had time to watch the baby's video. The baby's lovely movements would always arouse his homesickness and even moved him to tears.
In traditional Chinese festivals like the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival, Wei cared for the employees by organizing celebrative activities for them. The local Bangladeshi colleagues were also invited to the activities to share happiness together.

In his spare time, Wei has been learning theoretic and practical knowledge by reading and consulting with experts. To better communicate in Bangladesh, he also learned English. Wei participated in many training programs to improve his construction and management skills together with his colleagues, with the aim to grow into qualified and excellent professionals. Thanks to his guidance, the young colleagues in the Project Department grew quickly and became the backbone of the company.
For Wei Zhenxin, fifteen years is merely a fleeting instant as he devoted himself to the bridge construction cause with due responsibilities and missions. From China to foreign countries, he contributed significantly to push "Made in China" and Chinese equipment "going global". In future, Wei Zhenxin will continue to uphold CRNBE's tenet and seize opportunities in the new journey of Sino-Bangladesh joint construction under the Belt and Road Initiative, forging ahead to pursue dreams of the new era and an overseas pioneer.

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