China and Ethiopia have consistently deepened cooperation in recent years under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A series of joint infrastructure projects have greatly contributed to Ethiopia’s economic and social development.
Building the Largest Aviation Hub in East Africa
The job of constructing a new headquarters for Ethiopian Airlines, undertaken by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited, was taken up in December 2023.
Wang Peng, the project’s executive manager, said it has so far generated more than 500 jobs for Ethiopians, while a number of Chinese management and technical personnel are involved in its implementation. The headquarters is expected to be completed in August 2026.
Not far from the construction site, a striking steel-structure terminal building stands out under the blue sky — a key feature of the expansion project at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Built by China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC), the modern terminal has become a symbol of Sino-Ethiopian collaboration.
“Since completion, the airport’s annual passenger throughput has increased from 7 million to 30 million”, said Tian Zhenke, CCCC’s airport project manager.
“The third phase of the airport expansion is now operational, further helping Ethiopia to build the largest aviation hub in East Africa.”
A Road of Peace, Development and Hope
The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, with a total length of 752.7 kilometers, connects Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with the capital of Djibouti. It is the first standard-gauge, electrified cross-border railway in East Africa.
While Western experts deemed the project a near-impossible feat due to the challenging terrain, Chinese engineers from CCECC and China Railway Engineering Co., Ltd’s subsidiary China Railway Erju Company Limited tackled the task with determination. They completed track-laying in just 13 months between May 2014 and June 2015.
The railway project created over 55,000 jobs in Ethiopia and Djibouti and resulted in the training of more than 3,000 professional railway technicians. In addition, 107 local train drivers were trained in three batches.
The railway line has greatly enhanced connectivity between Ethiopia and Djibouti, injecting strong momentum into both countries’ economic and social development. Speaker of Ethiopia’s House of Peoples’ Representatives Tagesse Chaffo has described the railway as a model for high-quality BRI cooperation.
Tangible Support from China
The headquarters of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), located in the southern suburbs of Addis Ababa, is the first modern office and laboratory complex in Africa, with well-equipped facilities.
The headquarters project of the Africa CDC (Phase 1) was constructed by CCECC, with a total construction area of nearly 23,600 square meters. It includes two office buildings and two laboratory buildings, with spaces for administrative offices, emergency response centers, an information center, biological laboratories and apartments for members of staff. The project began construction in December 2020 and was completed in early 2023.
Similarly, the African Union Conference Center and Office Complex, delivered as part of the eight initiatives announced by China during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2006, reflects the depth of this partnership.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
