At the end of the civil war in 2002, there were only three railways left in Angola. The Mossanmedes Railway was built in the 1950s and was severely damaged during the war. It was basically abandoned and paralyzed, along with stations, railroad tracks, bridges and the signal system was also completely destroyed. Surrounding landmines made the situation even more complicated. With daunting repairing work to do, Tianjin private enterprise Opalway came to Angola in 2007.

Life-threatening landmines [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

After five years of construction, Chinese railway builders made it through landmines, mountains, swamp wetlands and tropical rain forests. In 2012, the Mossanmedes Railway completed a track with a total length of 1003 km. The railway achieved full-scale trial operation with a design speed of 100 kilometers per hour in the same year, the fastest railway in Angola.When the railway was opened, the smooth passenger and cargo transportation completely changed the lives of Angolans.

Mossandez Railway [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

Because of the success of the Mossandez Railway,the Angolan government entrusted Tianjin Opalway with another Luanda New Airport railway branch line and Luanda station project with total investment of more than $400 million.

The Luanda new airport railway branch line runs 15 km long, which will become a hub connecting the urban area of Luanda and the new airport, facilitating Luanda's economic development. Opalway also offers more than 500 jobs, a meaningful number considering the country's unemployment rate of 60 percent.

The Luanda Station Project is a key transportation hub connecting Bungo Station to Luanda New International Airport, with intermediate Bungo Station, Musseques Station, Viana Station, Baia Station, Kapalanga Station. These stations will greatly enhance the transportation capacity of Bungo to Luanda New International Airport, further improve the railway transportation system in Luanda and promote economic and social development.

Train changes Angola people' lives. [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

In 2019, the 15-km long-distance railway line of Luanda New Airport and six multi-functional modern stations with transportation, catering, finance and commerce will be completed. A railway, a station that connects Angola's past and future, brings development and hope to this country that has suffered from war.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Angola on January 12, 1983, China's accumulated loans to Angola have exceeded US$60 billion. As the largest trading partner and the largest source of financing in Angola, China has made a difference in Angola people' lives in terms of infrastructure service, education, agricultural production and water conservancy. On the road to development and rejuvenation, China and Angola support each other and cooperate sincerely to form a friendship with the same breath and mutual destiny.

Angola's children [Photo/enorth.com.cn]

With the international support of the Belt and Road Initiative, Angola's development will be further promoted. Angolan President Lorenzo said in an interview with the Chinese media, "The Belt and Road Initiative is very good because it unites the people and culture of different countries. Angola can certainly benefit from it. We also hope to contribute our strength." The relevant departments of the Angolan government are actively studying the development opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative to Angola, combining China-Angolan cooperation with China-Africa cooperation.