Highway crosses country, bridges nations

Connecting hearts

This highway not only connects regions, it also connects hearts, and is a symbol of what can be achieved when people from different backgrounds work together on a common purpose.

According to Ji, about 3,800 workers were involved in the project — around 3,500 of them from Algeria. After training and working with Chinese colleagues, the Algerians gained valuable hands-on experience, and 90 percent are now able to operate construction equipment.

Djillali Abache is one of those who closely worked with Ji over the past few years, and he has learned to speak Chinese.

"I felt the respect of my Chinese colleague when I worked with them, and I appreciate their efforts," he said.

He says he is proud to have witnessed the completion of the 84-km project, which is the result of the hard work and dedication of Algerians and Chinese, and that the highway will help revitalize Algeria's economy and strengthen the relationship between the two brotherly countries.

"This will not be the last project that I work on, and I hope that there will be more cooperation projects in the future, and I will always be by your side to complete them," he added.

Lydia Benchalel, an environmental engineer who worked on the project in the East sector before joining the final section, said that her Chinese colleagues had showed respect for the customs and traditions of Algeria, and demonstrated calm and efficient management skills.

The engineer said that being part of the team was an inspiring experience and added that "collaborating with CITIC allow me to witness their efforts to deal with challenges, and fulfill their commitment".

Earlier this summer, an unprecedented 40 days of heavy rain swept across the region, wreaking havoc on plans to finish by the end of June. Roads became quagmires, and construction schedules were thrown into disarray.

The team was worried whether they could finish before the deadline.

When the rain stopped in mid-June, progress accelerated as all the workers descended upon the site.

Everyone worked overtime under the scorching sun, and not a word of complaint was heard, Ji said.

In late June, and just days before the deadline, the Eid al-Adha festival, a significant religious holiday during which Algerian workers are traditionally entitled to a minimum of three days off, began.

Given the urgency of the project, one-third of the Algerian employees rushed back to work, which surprised Ji. He said that he was deeply moved by their dedication.

"I think we influenced each other as we worked together," he said.

CITIC's commitment to quality, adherence to timelines, and respect for customs and religion demonstrates the strength of international cooperation, and the transformative power of collective effort, Deputy General Manager of CITIC Construction Algeria Qi Shujie said.