CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT

OF CASH FLOWS

For the year ended 31 December 2024
(All amounts in RMB millions)

Year ended 31 December

2024

2023

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash generated from operations

94,435

106,022

Interest received

1,981

2,105

Interest paid

(1,797)

(1,906)

Income tax paid

(5,217)

(3,830)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

89,402

102,391

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment, right-of-use assets and other assets

(75,740)

(79,375)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and other assets

1,976

1,388

Acquisition of financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss (“FVPL”)

(1,062)

(1,230)

Proceeds from disposal of financial assets measured at FVPL

1,316

1,707

Acquisition of debt securities measured at FVOCI (recycling)

(6,020)

(22,980)

Proceeds from disposal of debt securities measured at FVOCI (recycling)

22,330

17,397

Decrease/(increase) in other financial assets measured at amortised cost

15

(5,424)

Dividends received from financial assets measured at FVOCI (non-recycling)

156

159

Acquisition of interest in associates

(65)

(776)

Acquisition of interest in joint ventures

(87)

(5)

Acquisition of a subsidiary

(4)

Proceeds from disposal of associates and joint ventures

400

Dividends received from associates

1,772

1,246

Dividends received from a joint venture

360

150

Placement of bank deposits and restricted deposits

(42,219)

(11,015)

Release of short-term bank deposits and restricted deposits

13,016

12,815

Lending by Unicom Group Finance Company Limited (“Finance Company”) to a related party

(8,400)

(5,700)

Repayment of loans from a related party to Finance Company

8,000

5,700

Net cash outflow from investing activities

(84,656)

(85,543)

Year ended 31 December

Note

2024

2023

Cash flows from financing activities

Capital contributions from non-controlling interests

22

386

Proceeds from bank loans

947

711

Loans from related parties

546

583

Repayment of short-term bank loans

(680)

(330)

Repayment of long-term bank loans

(440)

(385)

Repayment of commercial papers

(5,000)

Repayment of related party loans

(913)

Capital element of lease rentals paid

(12,887)

(12,103)

Dividends paid to equity shareholders of the Company

(11,683)

(9,546)

Net deposits with Finance Company

999

949

(Increase)/decrease in statutory reserve deposits placed by Finance Company

(874)

1,542

Repayment of other obligations

(14)

(409)

Net cash outflow from financing activities

(24,064)

(24,515)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(19,318)

(7,667)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

47,733

55,297

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rate

65

103

Total cash and cash equivalents, end of year

29

28,480

47,733

Analysis of the balances of cash and cash equivalents:

Cash balances

Bank balances

28,480

47,733

28,480

47,733

The notes on pages 102 to 209 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The reconciliation of profit before income tax to cash generated from operations is as follows:

Year ended 31 December

2024

2023

Profit before income tax

25,254

22,945

Adjustments for:

Depreciation and amortisation

83,392

84,847

Interest income

(1,981)

(2,105)

Finance costs

1,733

1,956

(Gain)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(2,827)

1,181

Impairment losses under expected credit loss (“ECL”) model and write-down of inventories

7,275

6,356

Dividends from financial assets measured at FVOCI (non-recycling)

(156)

(159)

Gains on disposal of financial assets measured at FVPL

(17)

(14)

Gains on disposal of financial assets measured at FVOCI (recycling)

(1)

(1)

Dividends from financial assets at FVPL

(10)

(2)

Investment income from debt securities measured at FVOCI (recycling)

(385)

(424)

Investment income from debt securities measured at amortised cost

(23)

Fair value gains on financial assets measured at FVPL

(49)

(114)

Share of net profit of associates

(2,592)

(2,519)

Share of net profit of joint ventures

(1,481)

(1,803)

Expenses for restricted shares of A Share Company granted to the Group’s employees

247

282

Changes in working capital:

Increase in accounts receivable

(27,132)

(18,212)

Decrease/(increase) in contract assets

14

(28)

Increase in contract costs

(7,400)

(8,498)

Increase in inventories

(377)

(94)

(Increase)/decrease in restricted deposits

(70)

278

Decrease/(increase) in other assets

266

(199)

Increase in prepayments and other current assets

(1,294)

(193)

Increase in amounts due from ultimate holding company

(80)

(4)

Increase in amounts due from related parties

(802)

(123)

Increase in amounts due from domestic carriers

(2,119)

(323)

Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

20,870

12,124

Increase in other taxes payable

435

515

Decrease in advances from customers

(76)

(100)

Increase in contract liabilities

573

1,465

(Decrease)/increase in deferred revenue

(870)

1,464

Increase/(decrease) in other obligations

55

(49)

(Decrease)/increase in amounts due to ultimate holding company

(39)

25

Increase in amounts due to related parties

2,902

6,714

Increase in amounts due to domestic carriers

1,200

834

Cash generated from operations

94,435

106,022

The notes on pages 102 to 209 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.