When you hear that a construction project is losing more than $4 billion, your first reaction might be, "This company is finished." However, the story of Chinese companies building high-speed rail in Saudi Arabia gives a completely different ending.
Saudi Arabia tendered for the construction of a high-speed railway from Mecca to Medina.
Saudi Arabia, an oil powerhouse, relies heavily on foreign aid in the field of infrastructure. In order to meet the demand of more than 10 million Muslims on pilgrimage every year, Saudi Arabia** decided to build a high-speed railway connecting the holy city of Mecca and Medina to relieve the traffic pressure during the pilgrimage. As a result, Saudi Arabia invested $60 billion to bid for this project globally.
However, the conditions for the construction of this high-speed rail line can be described as extremely harsh. The vast majority of the line needs to cross desert terrain, and the maximum temperature during the day can reach as high as 55°C, and the sand and dust kicked up by the desert wind are pervasive, which will seriously affect the construction progress.
To make matters worse, there are almost no freshwater resources along the route, making it extremely difficult for people to survive. Given that the line spans multiple shifting dunes, the tracks can easily get engulfed in the sand if the foundation is not properly treated. It can be said that the construction of high-speed rail in such a harsh natural environment is unprecedentedly difficult.
In 2009, engineers and technicians from many European and American countries came to Saudi Arabia for on-site investigation, but they all shook their heads and left due to the harsh environment, not daring to take over this astronomical project. Faced with such a difficult task, Western countries have retreated.
China bravely undertakes the task of building high-speed rail.
At a time when no one dared to take the project, China bravely stood up and promised to complete the project. Internationally, China is seen as an "infrastructure madman", and it has no mercy in building dams and bridges. But this time the Chinese are also dumbfounded - the terrain in Saudi Arabia is ten times worse than in China's arid regions! However, in the face of difficulties, the Chinese never flinched.
Tens of thousands of Chinese builders have come to Saudi Arabia to work during the day in scorching heat and bring in large quantities of boulders from the desert to reinforce the roadbed. Saudi Arabia has provided sufficient manpower and resource support, such as the construction of a 40-meter-high sand control platform in areas prone to sandstorms and the timely supply of fresh water, to ensure that the progress of the project will not be affected.
With the joint efforts of both sides, the Maimai high-speed railway that crosses the desert was finally completed and opened to traffic in 2018. The King of Saudi Arabia came to experience it himself and was full of praise for the quality of China's projects. But to China's sadness, the entire project has lost a whopping $4 billion!
As soon as this news came out, many countries gloated and ridiculed China for being too busy and unable to do what it could. Upon hearing the news of the project's huge losses, the Saudi King showed astonishing generosity and generosity. He immediately donated the five-year operation rights of the high-speed rail to China to help Chinese companies recoup their costs.
Not only that, but he also signed a preferential oil purchase agreement of up to $10 billion with China, and Chinese companies turned losses into profits in an instant. In the end, the Saudi king handed over the new construction project worth $170 billion to China.
The Saudi king's series of measures have knocked out the countries that previously ridiculed China. It turns out that Saudi Arabia is repaying China's integrity and dedication with practical actions. Despite the arduous construction process, China kept its promise and completed the high-speed railway on schedule. Because of this, China has won the trust and friendship of Saudi Arabia.
It can be said that although Chinese companies are losing money in the short term, in the long run, this cooperation has brought the relationship between the two countries to unprecedented heights. Chinese enterprises have proved China's strong infrastructure strength and superb technology with practical actions, which have impressed the world. Saudi Arabia has also seen China's unimaginable perseverance and integrity, which has further strengthened the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Conclusion: This incident fully shows that honesty is the most important thing. China has accomplished the seemingly impossible task with a sincere work attitude, and finally reaped unexpected friendship and cooperation. It is believed that in the future, under the Belt and Road Initiative, China will establish such mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperative relations with more countries.
The dedication of Chinese companies in Saudi Arabia's high-speed rail project is rare in history. It is this kind of craftsman attitude who is not afraid of hardships and dangers and strives for perfection that has won the respect and friendship of the other party. In the mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, the two sides go beyond the calculation of interests and reach the height of transcendence.
This spirit will certainly promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and also let the world witness the Chinese nation's tenacious struggle and down-to-earth work.