Roar - SPC

ROAR 2013 Issue 3 page 12
ROAR 2013 Issue 3 page 13
Emirati and Chinese
Cultural Bridge Forum
By Wang Na, PetroChina International (Middle East) Company Limited
In a bid to promote mutual understanding between Emirati and
Chinese, staff from PetroChina International (Middle East) Company
Limited (PCME) attended a forum themed “Open Doors, Open
Minds” at the Shaikh Mohammad Centre for Cultural Understanding
(SMCCU) on 15 May 2013.
Various traditional Emirati cultural customs and practices were
introduced in detail. Topics like how Bedouins conduct a meeting
and how Chinese build long-term professional relationships with
Emirati partners were fully elaborated over the discussions.
Secondment in SRC
By Lau Ching San, Supply & Planning, Refining
It came to me as a surprise when I was informed that I would spend
my next six months in SRC (Singapore Refinery Company) as a
secondee with the Commercial Department. The main role of the
Commercial Department revolves around the commercial aspects
of SRC that seek to derive maximum economic value from the
optimisation of plant operations with alignment in the interest of the
shareholders.
During my first week, I was introduced to their Injury and Incident
Free orientation programme, where a safety mindset is inculcated
into every working staff. This is in line with SRC’s safety slogan
“Everyone deserves to go home safely”, and it has left a deep and
lasting impression on me.
I soon realised that SRC adopts a learning culture within the
organisation in which knowledge and information sharing is part of
their working lifestyle. It encourages the staff to constantly engage
each other and improve communication and working relationships
through better understanding of the role and work performed by each
member of staff.
I also noticed that SRC’s Commercial Department conducts
weekly communication sessions between the management and staff.
This provides an avenue for the management team to disseminate
important messages and for the staff to highlight any immediate
concerns. Coincidently, CDU Complex Turnaround happened to fall
during March to April and I was pleasantly surprised when they told
me to suit up in Personal Protective Equipment and follow a senior
staff member for a tour of the plant. I was deeply impressed with
the dedication and effort put in by all the staff involved, regardless
of those out in the field or within the planning container rooms, to
ensure that the turnaround proceeded in a timely and safe manner.
I was also exposed to the vibrant post-work activities offered to the
staff, ranging from Tai Chi, and parenting talks to sports activities
such as softball, table tennis, archery, dragon boating, etc. It
was a wonderful way to improve interaction between the various
departments as well as for the newcomers to introduce themselves.
The secondment has not only allowed me to build upon established
working relationships with SRC staff members, it has also deepened
my understanding of SRC’s work processes, concerns and the
challenges faced. I believe that, in time, this will further enhance our
communication and work performance in the future.
Mr Wu Qiunan, Deputy General Manager of PCME, attended the
panel discussion and shared his views about the similarities and
differences between Emiratis and Chinese in relation to paving
a way for better business relationships in the future. About 30
representatives from the Dubai government and Chinese companies
attended this forum.
Vietnam Office Update
By Wu Jian, PetroChina International (Vietnam) Office
Dragon Boat Festival
To celebrate Duanwu Festival (“ ”, also known as Dragon
Boat Festival), our colleagues from PetroChina International
(Vietnam) Office attended the Mountain Climbing Event organised
by China Business Association, Ho Chi Minh City Branch, on 15
June, which included a series of activities ranging from a mountain
climbing competition to outdoor expedition and dining. Most of the
event participants came from the Chinese enterprises based in Ho
Chi Minh City. This event has not only widened the network with
various agencies but also strengthened employees’ engagement and
team bonding.
Learning Session
A learning session on the labour laws of Vietnam was conducted by
the reputable Ha Hai and Partners Law Firm at our Vietnam Office
on 18 June. During this session, topics including the features of the
new labour laws of Vietnam, the regulations of document preparation
for foreigners in Vietnam, and the immigration regulations for
Chinese nationalities were highlighted.
Through the knowledge of relevant laws and regulations gained
through this learning session, our work efficiency will definitely
be increased.