China picks Canadian solar firm for Belt and Road projects

Toronto-based SkyPower, which develops utility-scale solar-energy projects, announced on Friday that it had partnered with China’s state-owned Huayang Economic and Trade Group.
Huayang tapped SkyPower to develop, build and operate large solar projects in strategic markets. The partnership promises to bring new, clean energy and hundreds of thousands of jobs to dozens of countries. SkyPower said in a press release. 
The objective is to advance Chinese President Xi Jinping’s vision of eliminating barriers in countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.
“SkyPower is proud to be part of President Xi’s visionary policy of opening up economic and trade routes across the Belt and Road regions, stimulating substantial employment and ensuring economic growth and security along the Road,” said Kerry Adler, the Canadian firm’s president and chief executive. 
“This partnership clearly demonstrates how Canadian and Chinese companies can work hand in hand to leverage each country’s respective skills and capabilities to help address and tackle climate change and the other 16 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which are critical to humanity and future generations to come.”
Huayang chief executive Weiwen Cheng noted that the partnership meets the objective of Chinese companies seeking partners “to advance important initiatives like climate change”. 
“I believe this unique partnership with SkyPower, which has the greatest integrity and the highest calibre and professionalism, will result in numerous successful renewable-energy projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. 
“Huayang intends to use this partnership to help promote trade and requisite financing, which will undoubtedly bring great benefits to the people of these countries. Huayang intends to set up a multibillion-dollar special-purpose fund to achieve this.”
The agreement was signed on June 7 at SkyPower’s global headquarters in Toronto and represents the first partnership of its kind.