China-aided riverside project handed over to Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The China-aided Addis Ababa Riverside Green Development Project Phase II, which consists of facilities including a well-designed science museum and a children's playground, has been officially handed over to the Ethiopian government.

Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan said during the handover ceremony held Monday that the project will promote the development of science and technology, and be a preferred choice for conferences, gatherings, weddings and children's activities.

During the project's construction, the Chinese side, guided by the Global Development Initiative and the "Nine Programs" on China-Africa cooperation, has carried forward the spirit of workmanship in pursuit of excellence, overcome difficulties and challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and completed all tasks successfully.

"The completion and handover of the project is another vivid manifestation of the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership between our two countries, and demonstrates the profound friendship between China and Ethiopia," the Chinese ambassador said.

Noting that the current China-Ethiopia relations are at a high level, Zhao stressed the two countries' cooperation across various fields "is a pace-setter for China-Africa cooperation."

"We will take this opportunity and motivation to make great efforts to deliver other China-aided projects on the ground," he said.

The construction of this China-aided project started in May 2020 with a total investment of about 60 million U.S. dollars. The completion of the project is said to fully demonstrate the high level of Chinese design and construction and the great potential for cooperation between the two countries.

The Ethiopian government expects the project to advance and lead the development of science and technology. As an integral part of the Ethiopian government's city beautification agenda, the project is also expected to greatly improve the surrounding living environment of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with important social, tourism and commercial value.

Addis Ababa Deputy Mayor Jantirar Abay emphasized that the successful completion of the project was another milestone achieved with the help of the ever-expanding China-Ethiopia ties.

"This is a special project to be constructed at the center and at the downtown of Addis Ababa. For this project, a lot of experts, professionals, engineers, and planners were involved to complete it timely," Abay said. "We thank the Chinese government for giving a chance to Addis Ababa, especially for this grand project."

He also commended the Chinese government and companies for effectively undertaking similar development projects in the East African country. "We also signed different agreements between different companies of China. So we appreciate the Chinese government for doing that and the companies of China for their effort and their commitment to timely complete these all projects," Abay said.