CCECC developed from the earlier Foreign Aid Department of the Ministry of Railways, building on its experience in executing the biggest foreign-aid project of China, the TAZARA Railway.

It is now a large-scale state-owned enterprise undertaking international project contracting and economic cooperation functions.

Its range of business extends from international contracting for railway construction to other forms of civil engineering design and consultancy, real estate development, trading, industrial investment and hotel management.

The business activities of CCECC have expanded to over 40 countries and regions where more than 20 overseas offices or subsidiaries have been established.

With its excellent performance and high quality in services, CCECC has been listed among the world's top 255 international contractors for many years and ranked consecutively among the first 70 in recent years by the Engineering News Record "ENR".