At 10 a.m. on June 25, 2025, the sun was already scorching in the Safin district of Biombo province, Guinea-Bissau. Aibaka Dembo Sila strove removed the wooden baffle, and dozens of well-ironed sportswear swayed gently in the breeze. Standing in front of the store, the 42-year-old clothing store owner stares at the brand-new two-way six-lane highway in front of him, and cars drive smoothly by. "A few months ago, such a scene would have been unimaginable. In the past, the traffic conditions were very poor, the trucks could not get out, and the customers did not want to come in, so the business was very difficult. Silas turned to reporters.

At this moment, 8 kilometers away, the starting point of the Bissau-Safin section of the China-aided coastal highway in West Africa is ushering in the morning rush hour. Motorcycles, minibuses, and pickup trucks carrying agricultural products drive in an orderly manner on the wide road.

As one of the least developed countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau has long been plagued by poor infrastructure. The Safin Highway, which was officially handed over in June this year, has a total length of 8.2 kilometers and is built according to the standards of China's urban trunk roads, with a design speed of 60 kilometers per hour, making it the highest-grade modern highway in Guinea-Bissau at present. The highway was built with the assistance of the Chinese government, China Communications Construction Group and Longjian Road and Bridge Co., Ltd.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on June 16, President Embalo stressed that the Safin Highway project built with China's assistance has changed the face of the capital Bissau, providing a solid guarantee for efficient road transportation, helping to promote local economic and social development and improve people's living standards.

Sidney Méndez, a Guinean-Bissau Foreign Ministry official, said that during the 2017 rainy season, his family lived in Safin district and suffered a serious car accident on the old road, which caused the car to roll in a mud puddle, and the scars on his body are still visible. Now, with the opening of new roads, commuting times have been reduced by two-thirds, changing not only the efficiency of travel, but also the quality of life.

Maria Isabel Armando, a resident of Safin district, is deeply impressed: "It is now very convenient to go to the hospital when you are sick or for your children to go to school. "At noon, Syrah's clothing stores and restaurants along the street are bustling." The road will have a significant economic impact and dramatically improve people's lives. Serifo Tavel Camara, a veteran Guinean-Bissau journalist, said.

The Safin Highway is also the result of China's technology and management experience taking root in the fertile soil of Guinea-Bissau. Yan Xipeng, project manager of Longjian Road and Bridge Co., Ltd., the contractor of the project, said that many local traders have grown into skilled workers during the road construction, which not only improves the living conditions of their families, but also reserves human resources for the long-term development of the local area. As night falls, the street lights in the middle of the Safin Highway come on. This avenue is like a string of bright pearls, illuminating the smooth road to a better life for several people.(This article is from the official website of Seetao www.seetao.com. Reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited. Please indicate Seetao.com + original link when reprinting) Seetao.com Strategy Column Editor/Sun Fengjuan