Recently, the smart Burkina Faso project, which was financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and jointly undertaken by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and China Communications Construction Group Co., Ltd., officially started. This has laid a solid foundation for the follow-up cooperation between China and Burundi, and also marks the high-level friendly cooperation between China and Burundi to a new level.

It is reported that this project is the first Chinese government preferential loan project implemented in Burundi since the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Burundi in 2018. It was financed by the Export-Import Bank of China and jointly constructed by Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. and China Communications Construction Group Co., Ltd. Including the three modules of national backbone network, metropolitan area access network and safe city, the construction content involves the addition of 650KM optical fiber backbone network, 150KM metropolitan area access network, and 300 pole stations with a total of 900 cameras, 16 eLTE base stations and 700 A handheld terminal will be built in the capital Ouagadougou and the second largest city Bobo-Dioulasso to build a unified monitoring, alarm, command and dispatch platform with a construction period of 18 months. After the project is completed, it will not only further improve the information and communication infrastructure of the country and promote the digital transformation of the country, but also help create a stable development environment and promote the economic and social development of the country.

Li Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Burkina Faso, said that Smart Burkina Faso is a landmark project discussed and implemented by China and Burkina Faso. The official start of construction shows that the high-level friendly cooperation between the two countries has once again reached a new level. The project is of great significance to the economic and social development of Burundi. It will not only help accelerate the demand for digital transformation in the context of the epidemic, but also inject new impetus into narrowing and filling the digital divide. Play an important and active role in the stability and development of the environment. China has advantages in technology, capital and talents in high-tech fields such as 5G, big data, and artificial intelligence. As a selfless promoter of high and new technology, China supports the development of cooperation with Africa in emerging fields including the digital economy, promotes the development of African countries with science and technology, and brings tangible benefits to African people under the concept of a China-Africa community with a shared future.

Keywords: One Belt One Road, overseas projects, engineering news

After the completion of the Smart Burkina Faso project, it will be handed over to Burkina Faso to be completely independently managed. In addition, the world is currently facing the epidemic of the century. While effectively preventing and controlling the epidemic, China firmly supports Burundi's development demands and actively promotes the progress of the project. The final implementation of the project will surely become a new starting point for deepening cooperation. China is willing to work with Burundi to promote the in-depth alignment of the "14th Five-Year Plan for China's National Economic and Social Development and 2035 Long-Term Goals" with Burundi's "National Development Guidelines", and strive to achieve coordinated development between the two countries and better benefit the people's livelihood. Editor/Tian Zengpeng