Cote d'Ivoire has inaugurated the Akwaba interchange, a major infrastructure project designed to enhance connectivity between the city, its port, industrial zones, and the country's main international airport.
The newly-renovated interchange aims to alleviate chronic congestion in a key economic zone, connecting the capital to the port, industrial areas, and Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport.
Built by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) at a cost of 51 million U.S. dollars, the project is expected to alleviate the severe congestion in a highly active economic zone.
"Thanks to this project, we now have a highly active economic zone that is being de-congested to improve its attractiveness. Today, a large portion of our population lives in Greater Abidjan and its immediate surroundings. In this context, strategic investments made in the road sector, particularly motorways, expressways and interchanges, effectively and actively contribute to improving the economic and social conditions of the population," Vice President of Cote d'Ivoire Tiemoko Meyliet Kone said at the inauguration ceremony.
The Akwaba interchange comprises three separate structures: a main bridge, a secondary bridge and a three-lane roundabout.
The inauguration of the interchange was attended by the Chinese Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire Wu Jie, religious authorities, the transporters' union and members of the government.
The project has been widely praised by local residents and stakeholders.
"Before this project was inaugurated, we suffered a lot. It was difficult to get around and it took us at least two hours to go to Adjamé market to buy our goods. But today, all that is a thing of the past. This interchange will bring more to the transport sector, but also to travelers going to the airport. It will also benefit traders and the national economy," said Belem Tidiane, an economic operator.
In recent years, Chinese infrastructure projects, including roads, bridges, hydroelectric dams, and stadiums, have significantly transformed Abidjan and other cities across Côte d'Ivoire.
"I really don't know what to say about all the infrastructure China has built in addition to this interchange. I pray that nothing separates China from our country," said Miriam Coulibaly, a resident.
"China never betrays its partners. Thank you, China. We and China will always be united," said Traore Dosso Mamadou, a driver.
The Akwaba interchange is the third of its kind on the Houphouët Boigny boulevard, with a fourth currently under construction by the same Chinese company.
Abidjan unveils major traffic project constructed by Chinese contractor
The 10th China-Russia Expo opened on Sunday in Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang in northeast China, highlighting the resilience, vitality and mutual benefits of China-Russia economic ties.
Held from May 17 to 21, this year's expo covers a floor space of 55,000 square meters, with more than 1,500 companies from 46 countries and regions taking part. Nearly 300 Russian companies are attending, while over 5,000 buyers are expected.
Since 2014, the event has attracted more than 7,200 Chinese and Russian companies and over a million visitors.
The China-Russia Expo is the largest comprehensive exhibition platform between the two countries.
President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin each sent congratulatory letters to the event, encouraging all sectors from both countries to seize the opportunity, make full use of their geographical proximity and economic complementarity, and further expand all-round practical cooperation.
"Leaders of the two countries have signed agreements to deepen practical cooperation, which we fully support. Russia and China stand side by side for common development, benefiting young people and all people. Such cooperation is timely and far-reaching. We are here in Harbin for the China-Russia Expo, coming from Russia's Sakha Republic. Our region is dominated by agriculture. We are seeking advanced farming technologies including irrigation equipment and harvesters. We hope to reach deals in the coming days to boost local development," said Vasiliy Petrovich Alexeev, head of Ust-Aidan Region of the Russian Federation.
"We are greatly inspired by the congratulatory letters from the heads of state of China and Russia. We will keep building targeted and efficient cooperation platforms, and smooth channels for sub-national exchanges between China and Russia," said Chen Shijun, president of Heilongjiang Council for the Promotion of International Trade.
China-Russia trade volume has surpassed 200 billion U.S. dollars for three consecutive years. China has been Russia's largest trading partner for 16 years running.
In the first quarter of this year, bilateral trade volume hit 60 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year increase of more than 14 percent.
This year's Expo features eight major exhibition zones. Beyond the exhibition halls, Russian delegations have also conducted field visits to Chinese companies. A delegation from the Republic of Buryatia visited one of northeast China's largest building materials distribution centers to explore potential areas of cooperation.
"Regular China-Russia economic and trade events continuously bring fresh cooperation opportunities for both sides. This field trip to Xilong Building Materials Market has helped us explore more practical directions and modes for bilateral cooperation," said Alexei Tsydenov, head of the Republic of Buryatia of the Russian Federation.
"Relying on Buryatia's abundant mineral resources and sound logistics conditions, we plan to build industrial parks focusing on home building materials, mineral resources and energy sectors in Russia. We will introduce advanced Chinese technologies and management models to drive coordinated industrial upgrading between the two countries," said Wu Jinrong, vice president of Harbin Xilong International Trade and Logistics Park.
From everyday consumer goods to advanced helicopters, and from mineral resources to intelligent robotics, China-Russia cooperation now spans a wide range of sectors. Economic ties and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries continue to advance toward higher-quality development and broader prospects.
China-Russia Expo promotes trust, cooperation, mutual benefit
