China to cooperate with Africa on building infrastructure networks

BEIJING - China on Monday said that it will work with Africa on the construction of three major infrastructure networks, namely high speed railway, aviation and road highways.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei made the remarks when commenting on a Chinese-built rail project in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday.

Ethiopia on Sunday inaugurated the rail project, the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit (AA-LRT). The 475 million US dollars project was constructed by China Railway Group (CREC).

The electrified AA-LRT is the first light railway on the African continent with two lines that run a total 34 km.

The AA-LRT project will transport about 60,000 passengers a day, said Ethiopian Minister of Transport Workneh Gebeyehu.

The AA-LRT project has adopted Chinese standards and technology and was built with financing support of China, said Hong, adding that it was the first urban rail transit project built and operated by Chinese companies in Africa.

China, as a sincere friend and development partner of Africa, will continue to uphold principles of "sincerity, real results, amity and good faith" in its cooperation with Africa, so as to achieve common development, said Hong.