This is a magical land, Africa, inspiring the endless yearning of the people. China and Africa are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, but the distance has never blocked the desire for exchanges between the two sides. Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Silk Road has gradually formed, and Chinese silk fabrics have been exported to Central Asia, West Asia and Europe, and then crossed the sea to Africa. There is also a sea road. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has gone through hardships and sailed westward through South Asia and the Middle East, and reached the east coast of Africa. During the Ming Dynasty, Zheng He's fleet wrote a grand chapter for the friendly exchanges between China and African countries.

After a lapse of thousands of years, the historical exchanges of land and sea have evolved into comprehensive cooperation and common development under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. In the past five years, African countries have highly recognized the cooperation concept of the Belt and Road Initiative, actively promoted various innovations, and strived to make up for the shortcomings of the foundation. The joint construction of the Belt and Road has not only become a link for China-Africa cooperation, but also allows more than 50 African countries to move towards the mission of the century and common dream.

Roads pass, Baiyexing

Senegal is located in the westernmost part of Western Africa and is known as the "gateway to West Africa". 75 kilometers east of Dakar, the capital of the country, a Jies-Tuba highway constructed by China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd. is under construction. Hundreds of machinery and equipment are busy working on the construction site, and labor chants are bursting. .

Construction of this highway started in 2016 and will connect two important cities in the country, Thies and Touba. It is designed as a fully enclosed two-way four-lane road with a length of about 113 kilometers. This project is the largest single project in the economic and trade cooperation between China and Serbia, and it is also the largest single infrastructure construction project since Senegal’s independence. After completion, it will greatly promote the development of the country’s transportation and bring the “Chinese speed” to the highest level in West Africa. West end.

For Senegal, the key areas of cooperation mentioned in the Belt and Road Initiative are highly compatible with its "Senegal Revitalization Plan". The construction of highways will help promote the construction of Senegal's interconnection.

Zhang Jianguo, general manager of the Senegal branch of China Road and Bridge, said that the implementation of the project has brought many benefits to the economic development along the route. For example, all construction materials are purchased locally. "The area along the expressway is rich in peanuts and fruits. After the expressway is completed, they will be easily transported."

The highway not only facilitates the travel of residents along the route, but also brings personal development opportunities to the locals. After the start of the project, the Chinese company organized technical training for local employees, offered Chinese classes, and selected outstanding overseas employees every year and subsidized them to visit the company headquarters in China.

Raba Thiam is an outstanding local female employee working on the project. She told reporters that since she started working in Luqiao, China, she has started to live independently and is enough to support herself and no longer rely on her parents. Thiam said that China Road and Bridge welcomes female employees to join, "I hope that more Senegalese women will join the company, and use their own strength to strive for women's equal status in society with men."

The road leads to prosperity. Domestic and transnational transportation has become a common challenge faced by African countries. In the five years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, infrastructure construction represented by "roads" has continued to extend to the African continent, effectively promoting the process of regional integration in Africa. Namibian President Geingob said: "When you set foot on the land of Africa, you will see many investment projects from Chinese companies. They help African countries build roads, railways, airports and ports."

As of 2019, China has built more than 5,000 kilometers of railways and highways for African countries with assistance and financing, and has also trained more than 160,000 talents for Africa. In recent years, a series of large-scale projects undertaken by Chinese companies have been completed, including the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway in Kenya, the Yaji Railway that connects Ethiopia and Djibouti, the Benguela Railway in Angola, and other projects...The African "four vertical and six horizontal" railways that China has participated in construction Substantial progress has been made in the Internet, the “Three Vertical and Six Horizontal” road networks, and the African Aviation Development Plan, which have made positive contributions to the interconnection and economic development of African countries.

Teach people to fish, help grow

Rwanda, known as the "country of a thousand hills", is a central and eastern African country that has signed a memorandum of understanding with China to jointly build the Belt and Road Initiative. The leader in the technology education industry in this country has a unique perspective on the Belt and Road Initiative.

At the foot of Rwanda's mighty Virunga volcanoes, there is Musanze Vocational and Technical School, the largest vocational and technical school in the northern province of Rwanda aided by the Chinese government. The school offers five professional education courses in agriculture and food processing, civil engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, hotel management and irrigation and water conservancy engineering. It also provides 10 short-term training courses in woodworking, cooking, household electrical installations and welding.

The principal of the school and the chairman of the Musanze City Council, Emile Abaisenga, studied in China. He said that there is a shortage of technical personnel in Rwanda, and the school provides the professions that Rwanda needs very much, which is a priority development area for Rwanda. "The school has cultivated technical talents for Rwanda and helped the country fill the talent gap."

Abhaisenga also said that the school attaches great importance to practice in education, and half of the curriculum is used for student practice. If China’s One Belt One Road Initiative brings more projects to Rwanda, it means that school students will have the opportunity to obtain in different projects. More practical positions, learn and grow in practice.

Musanze Vocational and Technical School had only 170 students at the beginning of its establishment in 2015. After just three years, the number of students has increased significantly, and there are already about 1,200 students. In June 2020, the governments of China and Rwanda signed the implementation agreement for the expansion project of Musanze Vocational and Technical School. The Chinese government will continue to build administrative office buildings, comprehensive teaching buildings, student dormitories and other functional rooms and auxiliary facilities for the school, as well as provide necessary Equipment and materials to further enhance the comprehensive strength of the school.

Marcel Nilimishgo, 26, is a third-year student in irrigation and water conservancy engineering. He is assisting his classmates in the school workshop to complete the graduation project. His own graduation project has been completed. It is a concrete gravity dam designed for the Oriental Province of Rwanda to solve the local water shortage problem in the dry season.

"Agriculture is the foundation of the daily life of the Rwandan people. Rwanda's agricultural modernization needs to be achieved through irrigation, so we decided to design this dam, hoping to realize the modernization of Rwanda's agriculture through irrigation." Nilimishigo said.

Promote development and benefit people's livelihood

"Blue sea and blue sky", "Pearl of the Indian Ocean", when it comes to Mauritius, the island country of eastern Africa, these words will always pop out of your mind. However, like other small island countries, the supply of fresh water is also a concern for Mauritians.

The sun is rising, and the Bagatelle Dam, about 22 kilometers southeast of the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, ushered in the most fascinating moment of the day. The morning light slanted on the water, sparkling. The project was undertaken by China Three Gorges Corporation, China Water Resources and Electric Power Co., Ltd., and was completed on June 30, 2020.

Marie-Noelle Mutu is a pediatrician, and her family of five lives not far from the dam. Before the dam was built, residents only had access to tap water for a few hours in the morning, and the Mutu family had to wake up early to use water every day. In order to reserve water for a day, they will turn on all the taps at home. However, due to the low water pressure, the bucket at home still cannot be full.

"Now that the dam is completed, we can finally live a better life. With the coming of summer, we can even take a shower." Mutu said.

Statistics show that the beneficiary area of the dam project covers approximately 20% of Mauritius, and the beneficiary population accounts for more than 30% of the country's total population. The completion of the dam will completely change the severe water shortage in Port Louis and surrounding areas during the dry season and realize all-weather water supply. When inspecting the dam project, Former Mauritian President Fakim said: "Thank you Chinese friends for building this great dam for us. It will save thousands of Mauritians from worrying about drinking water."

The project will also play an important role in further improving the living standards of local people and promoting local economic development, especially the development of tourism and other industries.

5 kilometers away from the Mutu family is the Coromandel Industrial Zone in Mauritius. Here Jean A-Lim runs a factory that makes Chinese dumplings. The factory ships about 10,000 dumplings per day, but in the past, unstable water supply caused the factory to purchase water from private companies, which increased production costs.

"With dams to store water, we no longer have to worry about water problems," Alim repeatedly thanked China for helping to build the Bagatelle Dam. "The dam will provide help to local families and businesses, and it will also boost our economy. increase".

Mauritian Prime Minister Jagnarth stated that the Belt and Road Initiative is integrated into the vision of many countries. Mauritius welcomes the Belt and Road Initiative and is willing to deepen mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation with China. Editor/Sang Xiaomei