The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway, also known as the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, has just celebrated its fifth anniversary of operation. The railway, built by Chinese contractors, has played an important role in promoting regional integration and prosperity.
Senior officials from the Ethiopian and Djiboutian governments, the Chinese diplomatic community in Ethiopia and the management contractors of the 752 km transnational railway attended the event at Lebu Railway Station in Addis Ababa's suburb.
Ethiopian Finance Minister Ahmed Shide hailed the crucial role played by the railways in streamlining Ethiopia's export-import trade and promoting people-to-people ties between the two neighboring countries. He also noted that the railroad has shown significant growth in operations, maintenance and capacity building.The railway's operational capacity in freight transport has grown by 100 percent and reaches 1.9 million tons of freight per year.
The electrified railroad has significantly reduced the travel time for freight transport from more than three days to less than 20 hours and reduced costs by at least a third. As a landlocked country on the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia has access to international sea trade via the ports of neighboring countries. The Ethiopia-Djibouti trade corridor is the main gateway for Ethiopia, through which about 90 percent of imports and exports pass.
The railway is an example of the ever-blossoming Sino-African relations. The Sino-Africa partnership has stood the test of time and proven its resilience, marking a brighter and stronger future. Djiboutian Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment Hassan Houmed Ibrahim noted that the railway has produced highly committed and motivated young engineers and technicians from both countries.
The railway is of multiple importance to both countries as it promotes regional economic and social integration, facilitates trade and industrial development, and provides employment and business opportunities for the citizens of both countries. Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan hailed the railway as "a way of peace, a way of development, a way of hope and a way of prosperity."He expressed his confidence that with close cooperation between all relevant parties in China, Ethiopia and Djibouti, the railway still has huge untapped potential.
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