Backgrounder: China's major railway construction projects in Africa, Latin America

BEIJING - After rapid development over past decades, China's railway industry has made great progress in both technology and the various railway services, and has taken solid steps in developing international markets by undertaking large construction projects abroad.

The following are some of the major railway construction projects undertaken by China's railway industry in Africa and Latin America.

Tanzania-Zambia railway

In the 1960s-1970s, the Chinese government sent thousands of engineers and construction workers to help build the railroad linking Tanzania and Zambia after both had shaken off their colonial rulers.

The construction of the 1,860-km broad gauge Tanzania-Zambia railway, which was called a "road of friendship" by local people, started in October 1970 in Tanzania and Zambia, and was completed in June 1975, taking four years and eight months to complete.

Some 50,000 Chinese traveled thousands of miles to help with the construction efforts and 65 of them lost lives in the process.

Apart from personnel support, the Chinese government also provided funds, equipment and materials for the maintenance and upgrading of the railroad.

The Tanzania-Zambia railway has become one of the main trunk lines in southeastern Africa, and a key link connecting railroads in countries of the region.

East African railway network

China in May 2014 signed a deal to build a rail link worth $3.8 billion between Kenya's Mombasa and Nairobi, which is actually the first phase of a line that will eventually connect Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Under the deal, Exim Bank of China will provide 90 percent of the cost to replace the decades-old British colonial-era line with a 609.3 km standard-gauge link, while Kenya will fund the balance of 10 percent.

The Chinese-built Standard Gauge Railway project is intended to facilitate transportation and boost trade in the eastern Africa region.

It is expected to cover a distance of about 2,935 km, featuring passenger trains with a speed of 120 km per hour and freight trains designed to move at 80 km per hour.