The Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway will soon open to traffic, according to the China Railway Group. As the first electric railway in Africa, it will play a significant role in rejuvenating the local economy.

However, the project did not always run so smoothly. During the design and early construction phases, the Chinese standards were met with suspicion. It was only after extensive communication and shoulder-to-shoulder work that the locals were finally convinced.

"The Ethiopians were skeptical about Chinese standards at the beginning, because their reference was European and American standards. They gradually accepted our standards after we invited them to China to see the railways we have already built," explained Long Zongming, who is responsible for the planning of Sebta-Mieso section of the railway.

The adoption of Chinese standards was not simply a matter of copying China's railway. Instead, the standards were adjusted and tailored to suit local conditions.

At first, the Ethiopian side said they wanted to build a railway with designed speed of 160 kilometers/hour. After careful study, Chinese engineers suggested that the design should comply with local economic conditions, and a design speed of 120 kilometers/hour was ultimately adopted, with the potential for an increase to 160 kilometers/hour at a later date. The design has since been lauded by the owner of the railway, and China's railway engineers and construction workers won respect from the local people.

From the Tanzania-Zambia railway to China's long-standing aid to Africa, bilateral cooperation between the two countries has clearly transcended the political and trade arenas to become a full-fledged, mutually beneficial partnership.