Vaughn Barber, head of China Outbound at KPMG Advisory (China) Ltd, said that Chinese overseas contracting enterprises lack clear strategies for overseas investment and business upgrading.

"The most important challenge for China's overseas contractors is image. They are also less developed in risk control and resource integration after mergers and acquisitions. In addition, bigger participation of private enterprises in the country's overseas contracting business would help enhance localization," Barber said.

Stephen Hammond, the UK's parliamentary undersecretary of state for transport, called for closer links between Chinese and UK infrastructure firms to identify opportunities for collaboration and explore emerging markets.

"Together, we know just what it takes-with China's far-reaching presence and longstanding expertise in construction and the UK's expertise in infrastructure investment, to achieve better outcomes in building large-scale projects on the continent," Hammond said.

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