Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo (L) and Chinese Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau Guo Ce attend the official foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Chinese-funded 14-km highway in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Jan. 22, 2021. (Chinese Embassy to Guinea-Bissau/Handout via Xinhua)
BISSAU, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- Guinea-Bissau's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo presided over the official foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of a Chinese-funded 14-km highway that will link Bissau to the suburb of Safim.
The ceremony took place at the large roundabout of Osvaldo Vieira International Airport in Bissau, with the participation of members of the government, deputies, the diplomatic corps accredited in the country.
In his speech, Embalo thanked the Chinese government for this great contribution.
"China has just shown once again that it is accompanying us in our process of socio-economic development of the country," Embalo said.
For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Guinea-Bissau Guo Ce underlined the importance of the construction of this highway between Bissau and Safim, which will facilitate the life of the inhabitants and especially the socio-economic development in the country.
Guo stressed that this project is the fruit of good relations between Beijing and Bissau who have decided to cooperate more in different fields.
Guinea-Bissau's Minister of Public Works, Habitation and Urban Planning, Fidelis Forbs, warmly welcomed the support of China for the financing of this major project, which will improve the lives and facilate trade between Bissau and the rest of the country.
The construction will begin in March and will last two years, he added.
China has already carried out several major projects in Guinea-Bissau, where it participated in the construction of various infrastructures, including the government building, housing for ex-combatants, the National Stadium and the military hospital. Enditem
