Chinese-built Railways Improve Transport in Africa

Xinhua | 2017-12-28 16:51:48
Editor: huaxia

Aerial photo taken on May 12, 2017 shows the Mazeras Bridge of the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway in Kenya. China in May 2014 signed a deal to build the rail link worth 3.8 billion dollars between Kenya's Mombasa and Nairobi. Around 480 km long, the project's passenger service was launched in mid-2017. The project, which marks the first phase of a line that is expected to cover a distance of about 2,935 km and eventually connect Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, will facilitate transportation and boost trade in the eastern African region. It features passenger trains with a speed of 120 km per hour and freight trains designed to move at 80 km per hour. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

NAIROBI, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- China has been playing a crucial part in improving Africa's transport over the years, giving a much-needed boost to the continent's efforts to achieve regional integration.

The most remarkable of the Chinese contribution perhaps has been the construction by professional Chinese companies of numerous railways that now criss-cross the continent.

Data from the Chinese government shows that China, through aid and financing support, has helped build or are building more than 6,200 kilometers of railways in Africa.

Quite a few railways, such as the Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway in Kenya and Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, have become Africa's new flagship projects that will better connect nations in East Africa.