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Title: China repairs the subway, and it turns out to be "blown up"! The West is jealous and smeared, and the truth is distressing
Hello everyone! As a military international relations blogger, today I would like to share with you a true and thought-provoking story of how China's construction of the light rail caused a high-profile international storm in Africa.
The protagonist of the story is a light rail built by China in Ethiopia, which has become the center of an international confrontation. Let's uncover this fascinating history together.
Background leads to:
One day, on a whim, I imagined a city in an African country where the busy crowds and traffic during the day became silent after nightfall, and the nightlife was almost impassable due to the lack of an efficient public transportation system. This is Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, a vibrant but congested city.
The question begs: So the question is, what should we do when we are faced with such a situation? We need to find a solution. Coincidentally, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 to provide preferential loan policies to countries along the Belt and Road. Seeing this opportunity, Addis Ababa approached China and asked for a light rail to solve the traffic problem.
Story details depicted:
China responded to the call, and the Addis Ababa LRT project was launched. 4.The $7.5 billion fund, 85% of which is provided by the Export-Import Bank of China, is based on Chinese standards, design and equipment, and is operated by Chinese companies. The light rail is 31 kilometers long, operating at 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., with a train every 15 minutes during peak hours and 20 minutes at the rest of the time, with an average daily passenger flow of 10450,000 times, the highest daily passenger flow in history reached 1850,000 people. And the fare is amazingly cheap, ranging from 1 to 3 of the local buses.
Discuss the effects of the light rail:
As a result, after the opening of the light rail, Addis Ababa's night economy was instantly activated, and the opening hours of shops and restaurants were extended, boosting the city's GDP. This success story has aroused the envy of neighboring countries, and even when the leaders of African countries meet, they will come to visit this light rail and praise it.
Raise the opposite point of view:
However, just as this light rail has become one of the successful representatives of China's aid to Africa, some ** in Western countries have begun to express critical voices, claiming that the light rail is too congested and ineffective, and even mentioning that the coverage is insufficient, covering only a small part of the city.
Rebuttal: These criticisms seem too harsh in China's eyes. The congestion of the light rail is not due to poor construction, but because of the large local population, and the public transport system has always been inadequate. This is just further evidence of the urgent need to build light rail. As for the lack of coverage, how can a large city have only one light rail? Today, the "North-South Line" and "East-West Line" we have built have been put into operation, and there are plans to add new lines in the future.
Concrete case demonstration:
Let's look at the specific figures for light rail, which transported more than 29 million passengers and earned $3 million in revenue from July 8, 2018 to April 27, 2019. How would these huge numbers be apportioned to ground transportation without light rail? Local congestion will only increase.
Deep Thinking: Finally, let's think a little deeper, why do some people have a negative attitude towards China's infrastructure in Africa? Perhaps, this is because European and American countries are worried about China's rise, and they do not want to see China's help in Africa succeed. On the contrary, they prefer to see African countries unable to develop and fall into poverty, and still maintain control over them.
Conclusion: In this world, every country should have an equal opportunity to develop, and China's efforts in Africa should not be smeared without any basis. Infrastructure construction is not only a light rail, but also an improvement of people's quality of life and a promotion of the city's economy. Let us work together to understand and respect the efforts of every country in international affairs and work together for world peace and prosperity.