Xiplomacy: Best wishes from Congo to China as new academic year starts

"CHINA IS SINCERE IN HELPING US"

The No 1 National Highway is another project featured on the special envelope. Built by a Chinese company, the 536-km highway connects Pointe-Noire, the country's economic center and second-largest city on the Atlantic coast, and Brazzaville, the capital.

Since its opening in March 2016, over 90 percent of the country's vital imports and exports have been transported via this road. Additionally, the substantial reduction in transport time and costs has led to the spontaneous development of small markets along the route, bringing increased income for local residents.

Sassou Nguesso hailed the road as a historic achievement, saying the Chinese builders "have fulfilled the dream of generations of Congolese people, and China is sincere in helping us develop our economy."

"The No 1 National Highway has set the highest construction standards among Africa, and people from other countries have come to learn from us," said Oscar Otoka, representative of the Ministry of Regional Planning, Infrastructure and Road Maintenance of the Republic of the Congo.

The highway significantly boosted the local economy and connected Cameroon and the Central African Republic, which could play a crucial role in the development of the sub-region of Africa, said Otoka.

Apart from the highway, a number of China-funded infrastructure projects have been completed in the country in recent years, such as an iconic bridge named after the Independence Day in the Republic of the Congo, and the Sino-Congolese Bank for Africa. These projects have injected new impetus into the development and modernization of the African country while opening up new chapters of bilateral friendship.

The ongoing cooperation between China and the Republic of the Congo was further celebrated in February when President Xi exchanged congratulations with Sassou Nguesso on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations, underscoring the enduring friendship and shared vision for future development.

In recent years, the frequent exchanges between the two countries, the continuous deepening of political mutual trust, and the steady progress of practical cooperation have brought tangible benefits to the people of both countries, which is a vivid reflection of the spirit of friendly cooperation between China and Africa, Xi said.

For his part, Sassou Nguesso expressed that over the 60 years of diplomatic relations, the people of both countries have always been united and friendly, upholding common aspirations for peace, justice, and prosperity. This has propelled the rapid development of the comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership between the Republic of the Congo and China.