Overseas netizens have raised their thumbs on two major events China has done in Africa in recent days.

It is reported that on August 2, 2019, a handover ceremony was held at the new container terminal of the Wolves Bay Port, which was constructed by Chinese enterprises in Namibia, a southwestern African country.

"For this moment, Namibians have been waiting for a long time," said a local worker at the ceremony in full dress.

Fire boats use water columns to erect "gates" to celebrate the completion of the new container terminal in Walvis Bay, Namibia (photo source: Xinhua News Agency)

Walvis Bay is the only deep-water port in Namibia, located on the coastline of Midwest Namibia. It is also Namibia's main import and export, commercial and trade center. However, owing to the draught restriction in Walvis Bay, medium-sized container ships were only allowed to berth at ports in the past. Container handling capacity is far from the international logistics hub.

Walvis Bay Port

An important part of Namibia's national development plan is the construction of the Walvis Bay Port. The project has also become one of the largest projects in the country since independence in 1990.

The container terminal, which is built in China's harbour, has chosen to be built on 40 hectares of land reclaimed from the sea.

Five years ago, it was still a sea.

According to the project manager of Chinese enterprises, the port construction process is full of challenges. The local special diatomite geology, together with the high porosity and low density of the formation, has a greater risk of subsidence. More than 100 experts from 30 countries formed a team to tackle key problems collectively and overcome many difficult problems such as diatomite.

The completion of the new wharf has increased the container handling capacity of Walvis Bay from 350,000 to 750,000 containers per year.

New container terminal in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Container unloading by arriving vessels

In the words of Namibian President Genkob, the completion of the new container terminal is a milestone. "The port of Walvis Bay will be transformed from a major fishing port to a logistics hub in the international market".

Namibian President Genkob addressed the completion ceremony

Not long ago, Zimbabwean President Mnangaguwa also praised the fact that the Bay of Walvis has opened up a broader prospect for promoting trade between African countries during his visit to Namibia.

At the same time as the large wharf was completed, in Algeria, North Africa, part of the North-South Expressway built by China Architecture Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "China Architecture") was opened to traffic.Since 2013, Chinese companies have undertaken a number of highway construction projects in Algeria, including the North-South Highway in Algeria.

This road is the main traffic artery running north-south through Algeria. Highly difficult projects such as the longest distance, the largest volume tunnel and the highest pier in the North-South Expressway Project are all undertaken by Chinese companies.

Algeria's North-South Expressway (Image Source: Xinhua News Agency)

Among them, the 53 km project of the North-South Expressway crosses the Atlas Mountains in the north of Atlas, which is the most difficult section of the expressway construction.

It consists of 4.8 kilometers of tunnels and 40 bridges.

The opening of the North-South Expressway can radiate more than ten provinces and cities around it. It can connect the economically developed provinces in northern Algeria with the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria, and expand the market to sub-Saharan countries.

In the process of road construction, Chinese buildings adopt green construction technology to protect the ecological environment and achieve harmony with the environment, resources and society.

For example, in order to protect the living environment of Algeria's national treasure tailless monkey, the project optimizes the route of tunneling to avoid the tailless monkey's habitat, so that it is not disturbed and destroyed.

The Chinese company has also taken the initiative to cooperate with local construction companies. Promoting China's advanced construction and management technology has promoted the development of local construction industry.

T2 Tunnel Running-through Ceremony of North-South Expressway in Algeria

Overseas netizens praised the two "difficult" projects that Chinese enterprises helped Africa.

"Western countries are more talkative, while China is less talkative and more active."

"China will lift the third world countries out of poverty."

Many African netizens also said: China is a true friend!

"Just like China, you can unite other countries as teammates."

"All efforts are worthwhile. This is the beginning of a new life for the Namibian people."

(Editor: Zhao Jing)