Communication | Looking forward to seeing a broader world - China's aid project helps the people of Solomon Islands connect with the world
2024-07-09
Passing through palm forests and increasingly sparse cottages, just 30 kilometers away from the capital of the Solomon Islands, Honiara, is the ancient tropical rainforest. Here, near several once isolated villages, towering metal towers are building modern networks to connect more locals with the world. These towers belong to China's assistance to the Solomon Islands national broadband network project. This project is one of the iconic cooperation projects between the two countries, jointly implemented by China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd. and Huawei Technology Co., Ltd. According to the plan, 161 3G/4G wireless communication base stations will be built on 35 major islands in 9 provinces of the Solomon Islands. The project started construction in August 2023, with a duration of 3 years. The first telecommunications tower was connected in March of this year in Sali Village, Guadalcanal Province. In Sali Village, 20-year-old Bruce Kuva excitedly showcased his new phone to reporters. This was bought by my brothers and sisters who pooled money for me. Tomorrow, I will go buy a phone card and see a more charming world. In the Solomon Islands, infrastructure is relatively backward, and people's contact with the outside world is limited. The implementation of China's aid to broadband network projects has filled local residents with expectations for their future lives. "In the Russell Islands where a base station was to be built, a local teacher excitedly said to me, 'I really hope you can build the base station as soon as possible!'" Huawei project leader Zhao Xin told reporters that the teacher wanted to expose students to more new knowledge, so she bought a mobile phone. But there was almost no signal on the island, and she had to walk a long way to find a place with weak signals to receive information. "She told me that on the day the base station is opened, please send her the first message and she will treasure it." In the Guadalcanal Province of the Solomon Islands, local villagers are transporting materials needed for China's aid broadband network project (taken on April 19th, mobile phone photo). It is not easy for Xinhua News Agency to make this touching expectation a reality. "The island with the farthest station is about 1100 kilometers away from the capital in a straight line, and can only be reached by boat, which takes at least half a month to travel back and forth." Wang Xingya, General Manager of China Port Engineering (Solomon Islands) Co., Ltd., told reporters, "The location is remote, with high temperatures and rain, rampant mosquitoes and insects, and scarce resources... Many islands do not have proper docks, and ships transporting components are difficult to dock. Dozens of local villagers stand in rows at sea, passing supplies to the shore one by one with their hands. The base station is always at a high place, and the last kilometer can only be carried by villagers' shoulders..." Despite the many difficulties, Chinese employees understand the significance of the project and have added a sense of mission in their work. According to Wang Xingya, in addition to connecting more areas of the Solomon Islands to the internet, they also trained a group of communication engineering professionals for the local area during the project construction process, creating more than 3000 job opportunities. Growing from a recent college graduate to an indispensable project manager, the gratitude of the local youth, Fillsworth Avi, is beyond words. Chinese personnel and local workers worked together to establish communication channels to help develop the economy here, and we have also grown in this process. Thank you for China's assistance. After the completion of the project, the information and communication level of the Solomon Islands will be greatly improved, providing new opportunities for practical cooperation between the two countries. Cai Weiming, Chinese Ambassador to Solomon Islands, said in an interview with reporters recently that "this information heaven road over the islands" will promote the flow of feelings and information, make the distribution of development opportunities more balanced, and show the moving prospect of jointly building the "the Belt and Road". "Before, I had to walk two or three kilometers towards the capital to get a signal." 34 year old Ben Dabhauu told reporters. He is a worker at the palm plantation in Sali Village, and his son is currently working as a security guard at the base station. "The locals are all happy about the construction of the base station. I hope my descendants can see a broader world outside this palm forest." (Xinhua News Agency)
Edit：Yi Jing Responsible editor：Li Nian
Source：XinhuaNet
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