FINANCIAL REPORT

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

for the year ended 31 December 2022 (Amounts in millions)

2022

2021

Notes

RMB

RMB

(restated)

Net cash from operating activities

(a)

136,432

137,533

Cash flows used in investing activities

Capital expenditure

(89,705)

(84,848)

Purchase of investments

(175)

(206)

Payments for right-of-use assets

(1,807)

(327)

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

1,422

1,637

Proceeds from disposal of right-of-use assets

142

82

Proceeds from disposal of investments

200

52

Net cash inflow from disposal of subsidiaries

3,764

Payments for equity instruments at fair value through
other comprehensive income

(15)

(211)

Purchase of short-term bank deposits

(2,537)

(9,251)

Maturity of short-term bank deposits

1,750

11,020

Short-term loans granted to China Telecom Group by Finance Company

(b)

(8,105)

(2,000)

China Telecom Group’s repayments of short-term loans granted by Finance Company

(b)

2,034

Net cash used in investing activities

(96,796)

(80,288)

Cash flows used in financing activities

Proceeds from A Shares Offering, net of issuing expenses

47,516

Repayments of principal of lease liabilities

(15,897)

(14,035)

Proceeds from bank and other loans

3,692

38,922

Repayments of bank and other loans

(9,615)

(74,486)

Payment of dividends

(26,537)

(8,439)

Distribution to non-controlling interests

(90)

(112)

Payment for the acquisition of non-controlling interests

(1)

Contribution from non-controlling interests

3,675

100

Net deposits with Finance Company

(b)

4,411

3,190

Increase in statutory deposit reserves placed by
Finance Company

(b)

(541)

(177)

(Consideration paid)/Contribution from shareholders for
entity combination under common control

(3)

3

Net cash used in financing activities

(40,906)

(7,518)

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(1,270)

49,727

Cash and cash equivalents as at 1 January

73,284

23,684

Effect of changes in foreign exchange rate

451

(127)

Cash and cash equivalents as at 31 December

72,465

73,284

(a) Reconciliation of profit before taxation to net cash from operating activities

2022

2021

RMB

RMB

(restated)

Profit before taxation

35,714

33,865

Adjustment for:

Depreciation and amortisation

96,932

92,966

Impairment losses for financial assets, net of reversal

2,340

1,819

Write-down of inventories, net of reversal

(61)

69

Investment income and others

(243)

(2,244)

Share of profits of associates and joint ventures

(2,051)

(1,966)

Interest income

(1,808)

(1,104)

Net interest expense

1,881

2,404

Net foreign exchange gain and others

(66)

(7)

Net loss on retirement and disposal of long-lived assets and others

6,158

6,095

138,796

131,897

Increase in accounts receivable

(3,842)

(3,327)

Increase in contract assets

(2,185)

(318)

Decrease/(Increase) in inventories

370

(595)

Increase in prepayments and other current assets

(4,302)

(2,031)

Increase in restricted cash

(496)

(85)

Increase in other assets

(449)

(2,047)

Increase in accounts payable

9,683

4,225

Increase in accrued expenses and other payables

4,293

7,009

(Decrease)/Increase in contract liabilities

(3,165)

7,140

Cash generated from operations

138,703

141,868

Interest received

1,754

1,045

Interest paid

(1,993)

(2,522)

Investment income received

1,208

860

Income tax paid

(3,240)

(3,718)

Net cash from operating activities

136,432

137,533

(b) “Finance Company” refers to China Telecom Group Finance Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Company established on 8 January 2019, which provides capital and financial management services to the member units of China Telecommunications Corporation, the parent and ultimate holding company of the Company. These transactions are conducted on normal commercial terms or better.

(c) Significant non-cash transactions

For the year ended 31 December 2022 and 2021, the Group did not have significant non-cash investing and financing activities, except for the additions of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities (including increases in right-of-use assets and lease liabilities arising from the Company’s entering into Commercial Pricing Agreement and Service Agreement with China Tower Corporation Limited (“China Tower”) this year, which was accounted for as lease modification, further information is set out in Note 43(b)).

The notes on pages 193 to 287 form part of these consolidated financial statements.