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Port portal for Sino-African pragmatic cooperation

By Wang Yingwu | China Daily Global | Updated: 2019-09-20 08:38

The construction at Kribi has opened up new possibilities for Cameroon and other countries and turned around the region's economy

On March 2, 2018, the Kribi Deepwater Port of Cameroon welcomed the first merchant ship from Hong Kong. As of July 31,2019, the container throughput, or amount of material or items passing through the port, had exceeded 200,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit.

Both container and multi-purpose terminal throughput and market share have increased, with various taxes and fees exceeding $100 million. The dream of Cameroon's people for more than 30 years has finally become a reality thanks to pragmatic cooperation between China and Cameroon.

Located in the southwestern part of the Republic of Cameroon, Kribi, on the edge of the Gulf of Guinea, is a beautiful coastal city. Since 1980, the Cameroon government hoped to build a deepwater port there and give full play to the natural and regional advantages of its natural harbor while evading the shallow water problem at the country's only existing then port at Douala. Large ships cannot be docked there, and even cargo unloading efficiency is low.

Port portal for Sino-African pragmatic cooperation

Cameroon had first pinned its hopes to build a deepwater port on the West, but no Western country, business or financial institution responded positively, forcing it to put the plan on hold.

Then came the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006.It helped deepen pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa in various fields. And Cameroon once again began hoping the Kribi deepwater port was possible.

In April 2007, the China Harbor Engineering Corporation was invited to send a delegation to Kribi. CHEC submitted the Kribi deepwater port construction and financing plan to the Cameroon government in 2008.

After various consultative meetings with CHEC and Chinese financial institutions, the Cameroon government was eventually convinced of China's strong engineering and technical strength and mature financing solutions.

The first phase of the Kribi Deepwater Port project officially got off in June 2011.

A 50,000 metric ton container terminal and a 40,000-ton multi-purpose terminal were built and completed in June 2014, making an important contribution to the local economy's development.

The project attaches great importance to localization, employs a large number of local people to participate in the project's construction and has trained a large number of technical talents. These talents have become an important force in Cameroon's construction.

The project has greatly improved infrastructure conditions in Cameroon, its independent development capability and strategic position in the region's economy.

The deepwater port's 16-meter depth allows for large ships to be docked directly at Kribi. Cargo handling efficiency has improved while costs have greatly reduced.

In fact, the project has opened up new ports for Cameroon and countries in the region and improved the transportation and logistics environment. It has created favorable conditions for Cameroon to realize its development goal of becoming an emerging country in 2035 and for the economic and social development of Central Africa as a whole.

The project has directly and indirectly created a large number of entrepreneurial and employment opportunities for the Kribi area, contributing to its prosperity. It has also contributed a large amount of tax, thus providing financial support for the next step of implementing the Port-surrounding Comprehensive Development Zone.

The project has also created a new form of China-Africa cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. After completion of the project's first phase, CHEC obtained port franchise rights together with a French company, a first step towards transforming from an engineering contractor to an operator.

This has helped accumulate useful experience for the next step of China-Africa cooperation to improve quality and efficiency, and realize transformation and upgrading.

The Kribi Deepwater Port is a new flag for cooperation between China and Cameroon, even Central Africa. Chinese companies are also involved in major infrastructure projects including roads, ports, hydropower stations, power lines, water plants, communications, and social housing in Cameroon.

In the course of the cooperation, China has adhered to the concept of justice and to the principle of equality, mutual benefits and win-win cooperation. China has actively responded to the reasonable demands of Cameroon, providing its assistance in financing and technology.

The China-Cameroon cooperation was achieved thanks to the concern and support of leaders in both countries. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests.

Cameroon President Paul Biya has said on many occasions that cooperation between the two countries is a model for international cooperation with Cameroon. China is Cameroon's top and most important strategic partner.

Last year, President Biya visited China twice. The two heads of state agreed to give full play to the advantages of deep friendship and great potential for cooperation between the two countries and push China-Cameroon relations to a higher level.

The vigorous development of China-Cameroon cooperation has also benefited from the continuous improvement of China's overall national strength. China has become the world's second largest economy, the top country in manufacturing and trade, and is approaching the center of the world stage like never before. It is committed to achieving peaceful development, and is also open to African countries taking the China Development Express.

Cameroon hopes to strengthen cooperation with China to achieve its national development goals. In future, China is willing to work with Cameroon and other African countries and jointly build up the Belt and Road area to maintain a closer China and Africa community.

At present, Chinese companies are actively planning to implement the second phase of the Kribi Deepwater Port project, and plan to promote the comprehensive development of the port area. It is believed that with the continuous enrichment of cooperation between China and Cameroon, Kribi will enjoy a more brilliant tomorrow. And also better promote the social and economic development of Cameroon.

The author is China's ambassador to Cameroon. The author contributed this article to China Watch, a think tank powered by China Daily. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

(China Daily Global 09/20/2019 page13)

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