My visit to Chongqing, China is indeed one of my memorable exploits as far my existence on earth and practice as a journalist is concerned.
I’m therefore eternal grateful to All-China Journalists Association (ACJA) for the opportunity to have a feel of what seemed imaginary to me on the TV screens each time I had the time to watch exploits of the Chinese in science and Technology.
The experience so far being a participant at the 2024 Belt and Road Journalists Forum has wiped out the stress from the tortuous journey of flying for over seventeen hours from Abuja, Nigeria to Chongqing China.
That the Chinese people are hospitable is an understatement. From the airport in Chongqing to our hotel at Wyndham Hotel, Chongqing, it was all royal reception.
The guided tour so far has revealed that China, despite her exploits and achievements is still a work in progress. The mountainous region of Chongqing has been successful subdued by the Chinese and put to serve the people and made liveable for them.
The rail transport system in China is undoubtedly one of the best in the world. The Chinese rail transportation is one that linked the economic hub of Asia and Europe.
A visit to the China-Europe Railway Express in Chongqing and the boat Ride showing the rail linkages between China and major seaports in Europe and Asia was a testament to the fact that technology and commerce remained exclusive preserve of the Chinese for now.
Not done with how trains have been used to move cargoes and containers to ports in other continents, we were also given the opportunity of riding in a speed train that took us to Yunyang, a district in Chongqing.
The train coaches are beautiful and noiseless compared to what I know of train transport in Africa. African governments owe it a duty to their people to cash on the cooperation and trade agreements between them and China to modernise the train transport if the continent is desirous of moving forward.
The development, I saw in China is not a manner from heaven. It’s a product of conserted efforts ,well planned and well executed economic blueprints that yielded results.
The transportation system and the infrastructure in it are perfect. The artistic and beautiful road networks in all the regions I have traveled are amazing. Even roads to the country sides and farms are smooth and devoid of potholes as we used to know in Africa.
The Chinese engineers put their skills to test as the mountains are chopped to create roads or roads that spanned several kilometers are constructed through the mountains to link other areas.
Traveling in the roads that looked like holes inside the mountains was made pleasurable and less risky as the roads a heavily illuminated.
The above, suggest to us that China has long captured the problems of public power supply. These roads and other high rising buildings which of course are the common features of Chinese cities and even countrysides wouldn’t have been possible without adequate and all day power supply.
In the three hotels I have had the privilege of staying so far, my least floor number is 9, one 19 and the other 20. Every facility in these hotels is automated and needs electricity to operate. This goes to show why China can’t afford one minute power outage.
Certainly, I can’t exhaustively account for all my experiences in the this first memoir since the programme is still ongoing but it’s suffice to say that the rest of the world, Africa mostly need a lot to learn from the Chinese model.
Detailed account of my exploits soon….
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