BRI contributes to China-Africa anti-pandemic cooperation: white paper

Officials from Namibian Ministry of Works and Transport and China Gezhouba Group Corporation in Namibia break ground for the project of the rehabilitation and upgrading of the railway line between Walvis Bay and Arandis in Arandis, western Namibia, on Nov. 30, 2020. (Photo by Sun Yumo/Xinhua)

China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative has shown great resilience and vitality since the outbreak of COVID-19, helping anti-pandemic cooperation between the two sides, said a white paper released Friday.

According to the white paper titled "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals," more than 1,100 China-Africa joint programs have continued, and nearly 100,000 Chinese technicians and workers have remained at their posts during the pandemic.

Under the combined efforts of the two sides, a number of major projects have been completed or seen progress, said the white paper.

Also, the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway have increased transport capacity in the face of adversity, making an important contribution to local efforts to fight COVID-19, safeguard lives, and rebuild the economy, the white paper noted.■