The Opening Ceremony of the Juba-Terekaka Section of the Juba-Rumbek Road Project in South Sudan was Held

On December 12th, the opening ceremony of the Juba-Terekaka section of the Juba-Rumbek Road Project in South Sudan took place. Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, Ma Qiang, was invited to attend the event. He joined President Kiir in cutting the ribbon for the newly opened road segment and delivered speeches. Nearly twenty senior officials from South Sudan, including Vice President Taban, Minister of Roads and Bridges Mayiik, Governor of Central Equatoria State Emmanuel, as well as embassy’s Commercial Counselor Mu Jianjun and Chairman of Shandong High Speed Road & Bridge International Engineering Co., Ltd. attended the ceremony. Xinhua News Agency, South Sudan National TV, and other mainstream South Sudanese media outlets reported on the opening ceremony.

Despite various challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, adverse local weather conditions, and financial issues, the Company managed to overcome these obstacles. In June of this year, the completion and delivery of the 63-kilometer Juba-Terekaka road section greatly improved the mobility and trade transportation for the people in the tribes and communities along the route. This accomplishment has contributed to the economic development of the hinterland region of South Sudan.

In his speech, President Kiir expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its substantial support towards the infrastructure development in South Sudan. He also commended the Company for successfully completing and delivering the initial road section with high quality. President Kiir noted that the opening of this road segment fulfills the government’s commitment to the people and plays a crucial role in promoting economic and social development while improving the lives of the citizens.

Ambassador Ma Qiang stated that the Juba-Rumbek Road Upgrading Project is a significant achievement resulting from the meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Kiir during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. This project represents a flagship initiative of the South Sudanese government’s priority to develop national infrastructure and stands as a new symbol of the profound friendship between China and South Sudan. The completion and opening of the first road segment is a gift from Chinese companies to the people of South Sudan, contributing to their improved quality of life. Ambassador Ma expressed the hope for the timely completion of the entire road project.