Chinese-built road modernization project for DR Congo breaks ground

Alexis Gisaro Muvuni, minister of State for Infrastructure and Public Works of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drives a wheel loader to launch a rehabilitation and modernization project of the Mbuji Mayi-Nguba road, part of the N1 National Road, in Nguba, province of Lualaba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on July 10, 2024. A ground-breaking ceremony for a rehabilitation and modernization project on the N1 National Road in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was held Wednesday in the village of Nguba as part of the China-DRC "resource for projects" cooperation package. (Xinhua/Shi Yu)

KOLWEZI, DR Congo, July 10 (Xinhua) -- A ground-breaking ceremony for a rehabilitation and modernization project on the N1 National Road in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was held Wednesday in the village of Nguba, southeastern province of Lualaba, as part of the China-DRC "resource for projects" cooperation package.

During the ceremony, Alexis Gisaro Muvuni, minister of State for Infrastructure and Public Works, driving a wheel loader, personally launched the rehabilitation and modernization project of the Mbuji Mayi-Nguba road, part of the N1 National Road, an artery linking Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, and Lubumbashi, the country's economic hub.

"Where the road goes, development follows," said Muvuni, commending the solid techniques and professionalism demonstrated by the Chinese side. Numerous recently launched infrastructure projects under the cooperation package, including the ring roads project in Kinshasa, are set to make great contributions to the local communities.

This project, with a length of about 900 km, demonstrates Sino-Congolese friendship while opening up new prospects for China-DRC cooperation, said Pang Long, general director of the Sino-Congolese Infrastructure Company, representing the Chinese side of the cooperation package. He also promised close collaboration with the Congolese side so that this high-quality project would be completed as soon as possible and benefit the people of the DRC.

An amendment to the China-DRC cooperation package of "resource for projects" was signed in March 2024 between a group of Chinese companies and the DRC government, which will provide an investment of some 7 billion U.S. dollars mainly intended for the DRC infrastructure construction and the SICOMINES, a joint venture created in 2008 by the DRC public mining company and the group of Chinese companies.

Alexis Gisaro Muvuni, minister of State for Infrastructure and Public Works of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaks at a ground-breaking ceremony for a rehabilitation and modernization project of the Mbuji Mayi-Nguba road, part of the N1 National Road, in Nguba, province of Lualaba, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on July 10, 2024. A ground-breaking ceremony for a rehabilitation and modernization project on the N1 National Road in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was held Wednesday in the village of Nguba as part of the China-DRC "resource for projects" cooperation package. (Xinhua/Shi Yu)