STORY: Chinese-built water projects benefiting people in Angola
DATELINE: Sept. 8, 2023
LENGTH: 00:04:21
LOCATION: Beijing/Luanda
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of people buying water from water trucks
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Portuguese): RUZE, Madunbu district resident, Cabinda, Angola
3. various of the construction of water supply projects
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GU JIANLING, Project manager, Cabinda water supply project
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): GABRIEL, Project director, Cabinda water supply project
6. SOUNDBITE 4 (Portuguese): MARIA, Resident from Cabinda, Angola
7. SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LI CHONGYANG, General manager, China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited (CRCC)
8. SOUNDBITE 6 (Portuguese): MONGELA, Resident from Cunene, Angola
9. SOUNDBITE 7 (Portuguese): MONGELA, Resident from Cunene, Angola
10. SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): LI XUNFENG, General manager of Angola office, Power Construction Corporation of China


STORYLINE:

For many years, residents from many areas of Angola have suffered from water shortages due to a lack of water infrastructure. Most residents rely on local water delivery trucks for daily water usage needs.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Portuguese): RUZE, Madunbu district resident, Cabinda, Angola
"There are so many people here. Almost all of them have water problems. Because most areas here do not have access to tap water, residents can only rely on water trucks for water supply, and people have to buy water from water trucks. Residents who live in remote areas face even more water difficulties."

In June 2022, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) completed the construction of the Cabinda water supply project in Angola.

It helps solve the local water usage problem and allows many villagers to use tap water for the first time.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): GU JIANLING, Project manager, Cabinda water supply project
"Our Cabinda water supply project is mainly located in the province of Cabinda, covering the cities of Cabinda and Landana. The two cities' drinking water system used to have sanitary and safety problems, and couldn't meet the needs of residents."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): GABRIEL, Project director, Cabinda water supply project
"After the completion of the project by CRCC, a complete drinking water supply system was established in the local area, realizing drinking water supply to households. Thumbs up for CRCC, thumbs up for China!"

SOUNDBITE 4 (Portuguese): MARIA, Resident from Cabinda, Angola
"We are very happy today, because now we have access to tap water. Thank you for coming here to help us solve our drinking water problem. Thank you, CRCC. "

SOUNDBITE 5 (Chinese): LI CHONGYANG, General manager, China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited (CRCC)
"With the completion of this project, we can deliver about 50,000 cubic meters of water every day, which can solve the problem of clean water transportation for more than 92% of the residents of Cabinda. This covers about 110,000 households and 600,000 residents."

In the province of Kunene, Angola, the dry season lasts up to nine months every year, and the severe drought brings immense woes to the local residents.

SOUNDBITE 6 (Portuguese): MONGELA, Resident from Cunene, Angola
"We used to struggle because of the drought. Having no water, we needed to walk long distances to get water from puddles. Our cattle and sheep died of thirst, and people suffered greatly."

The drought relief project in Cunene Province, a key livelihood project undertaken by Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina), was put into use in April 2022. The infrastructure project has played a key role in the local people's fight against drought.

SOUNDBITE 7 (Portuguese): MONGELA, Resident from Cunene, Angola
"The situation is much better now. The drought relief project has kept the drought away from us. The local people, cattle and sheep now have plenty of drinking water. Without the drought, we feel very happy now. We are so grateful for this life-saving project that keeps us out of drought."

SOUNDBITE 8 (Chinese): LI XUNFENG, General manager of Angola office, Power Construction Corporation of China
"We have built 150 kilometers of diversion canal. Along the canal we have set up 30 ponds for water supply and 90 public watering places. This project can benefit over 230,000 people in the local area, and also meet the needs of watering about 250,000 livestock."

In the 10 years since the Belt and Road Initiative was put forward, Chinese builders have helped African countries build water conservancy, drought relief and water supply facilities, so that more and more African people can gain easy access to clean and reliable water.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing/Luanda.
(XHTV)