Xinhua Commentary: Infrastructure cooperation opens up a new path for Africa's development - Part 1 of a series of comments on China-Africa cooperation that is genuine, friendly and sincere
2024-08-22
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Xinhua News Agency, Lome, August 21 (Reporter Sun Yi) Since the beginning of this year, China and Africa have reaped great rewards in infrastructure cooperation. All units of Uganda's Karuma Hydropower Station have achieved the goal of power generation and grid connection, the first phase of the Lagos Light Rail Red Line Project in Nigeria has been opened to traffic, and the main construction of Kenya's Swak Dam has been completed... The achievements of China-Africa infrastructure cooperation are all over Africa, a continent full of hope, which has improved the level of infrastructure and connectivity, improved the conditions for economic and social development, promoted Africa's industrialization, modernization and integration, and opened up new veins for Africa's development.
Energy facilities help Africa's green development. China has helped African countries build a large number of clean energy projects. In Kenya, the Garissa Photovoltaic Power Station, the largest photovoltaic power station in East Africa built by Chinese companies, has an annual power generation of more than 76 million kWh, which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 64,000 tons per year; the Kaleta Hydropower Station built in Guinea has greatly alleviated the power shortage in the capital Conakry and surrounding areas. The actual rendering of the hydropower station is printed on the back of the 20,000 Guinean franc banknote. China actively promotes a number of green energy technologies, products and experiences such as hydropower, wind power, solar energy and geothermal energy to "go global". One hydropower station, wind power station and photovoltaic power station after another have been built from scratch, helping more and more African countries participating in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" to realize the dream of green and low-carbon development. Moses Masika Wetangula, Speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya, said that green development is an inevitable choice for Africa to achieve sustainable development. China has always been a reliable partner of Kenya, and China's support is crucial to Africa's development.
This is a drone photo of the Garissa Photovoltaic Power Station in Kenya taken on February 15, 2019. In Garissa County in northeastern Kenya, the Garissa Photovoltaic Power Station, the largest photovoltaic power station in East Africa built by a Chinese company, has effectively solved the local power shortage problem, continuously provided clean electricity to local people, and injected green momentum into Kenya's development. Xinhua News AgencyTransportation construction accelerates the flow of resource factors in Africa. "If you want to be rich, build roads first." This "golden rule" of China's development continues to be confirmed in Africa. In Kenya, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, known as the "Road of Happiness", has greatly improved the transportation efficiency of port materials to the hinterland of East Africa, greatly reduced logistics costs, and accelerated the development of trade along the line; the Lesotho Mose Highway project was completed and handed over in June this year, and it is expected that the travel time of the entire line will be shortened from 4 hours to 1.5 hours; the Abuja Metro in Nigeria, which was built by Chinese companies, held a commercial operation launch ceremony in May this year, which will greatly ease the traffic congestion pressure in the Nigerian capital and inject new vitality into local economic development. Nigerian President Tinubu said that the operation of the Abuja Metro is "the result of cooperation, dedication, progress and vision."
Industrial park cooperation promotes Africa's industrialization process. China-Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, Senegal Diam Nyadjo Industrial Park, Nigeria Lekki Free Trade Zone, China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone... The industrial parks in which China participates in investment are the epitome of the deepening cooperation and quality upgrading of China-Africa industrial infrastructure. They play the role of "building nests to attract phoenixes" in attracting investment to African countries and promoting the accelerated development of "Made in Africa". Investment, technology and operational experience from China provide rich nutrients for the industrialization process and development and revitalization of the global South. David Bahati, Minister of State for Industry at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperation of Uganda, said that the industrial parks operated by Chinese companies and investors in Uganda use local resources to develop manufacturing, helping China-Africa industrialization cooperation to continuously reach new levels, which echoes the goals of the African Union's Agenda 2063. "I hope these industrial parks can breed more local African brands and let "Made in Africa" go to the world!"
Port construction creates new trade opportunities in Africa. In recent years, the first phase of the Kribi Deepwater Port in Cameroon, which was built and operated by Chinese companies, has been officially put into use and started to welcome and send off large ships of 10,000 tons, providing new development opportunities for neighboring landlocked countries such as the Central African Republic and Chad. The foundation stone of the Kilwa Fishing Port project, the first modern large-scale fishing port in Tanzania built by Chinese companies, was laid. As the flagship project of the Tanzanian government's third five-year plan, it is expected to become an important tool to activate its growth points in the new economic field. Raymond Tavares, regional representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization for Central Africa, said that the Kribi Deepwater Port has played a vital role in promoting infrastructure construction, employment, trade and investment in Cameroon, accelerating Cameroon's economic and social development. Participating in the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" is an important part of Africa's industrialization and sustainable development.
On April 5, workers worked in a factory workshop at the Central Uganda Industrial Park in Mbale, Uganda. Since its launch in March 2018, this national industrial park in Uganda has attracted more than 40 companies to settle in, creating more than 5,000 jobs for the local area. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li YahuiInfrastructure construction is the cornerstone of Africa's development, and improving infrastructure is the common expectation and urgent desire of African countries. Under the mechanism of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Chinese companies have added and upgraded more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, nearly 1,000 bridges, and nearly 100 ports in Africa, and built power supply and communication networks for many countries, making important contributions to promoting connectivity on the African continent.
If China-Africa cooperation flourishes, South-South cooperation will flourish. If China and Africa develop well, the world will be better. China-Africa cooperation in the new era is the only way for China and Africa to achieve common development. It will lay a more solid material foundation for building a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, and will also inject strong impetus into promoting the collective rise of developing countries and pushing the international balance of power towards a more balanced direction.
