Saudi Arabia, a hub connecting Asia, Africa and Europe, is one of the first countries that have responded positively to China's Belt and Road Initiative.[Special coverage]
Hoping to diversify its heavily oil-dependent economy, the Middle East nation is open and cooperative to explore business opportunities and reap win-win fruits.
Currently, there are more than 100 major Chinese companies in Saudi Arabia involved in various projects related to roads, maritime ports, bridges, accommodations, railway, power stations, communications and other national projects.
Those companies bring huge benefits to Saudi Arabia and help expand its cooperation with China under the Belt and Road Initiative.
SAFETY AT RAINY SEASON
In Jeddah, the largest city in the west of the Kingdom, there is a 37 km long Flood Water Channel that crosses the city in three phases, in which the rain and flood water that fall from the high areas gather around the city in a cheerful scene with the bird flocking on both sides. Meters away, there is a busy highway.
Ma Chifeng, Director of Jeddah City Project for Flood Drainage run by Chinese Communication Construction Group (CCCG), told Xinhua that "The rain water that falls from the nearby mountains of Mecca and the high areas in Jeddah go through this flood drainage channel and then to the Red Sea."
"It might be an ordinary channel in another area, but it isn't the same in Saudi Arabia and it has special importance and came after painful lessons," Ma added.
In November 2009, Jeddah, the second largest city in Saudi Arabia, witnessed a wave of unprecedented rainstorms that killed more than 120 people. And in 2011, 10 people were killed by the storm.
Due to the lacks of comprehensive rain and flood drainage system, whenever heavy rain fall, floods come down from the nearby mountain areas to cross the natural waterways toward Jeddah.
Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ordered the Jeddah government to act fast for an appropriate flood water control system that is capable of tackling heavy floods.
In July 2013, CCCG won the tender to build the 500 million U.S. dollar project. After nine months, the project was completed.
In November 2014, the city witnessed two rainstorms with no tragic accidents happened.
As acknowledgement of the success, the Jeddah Municipality sent an appreciation letter to the Chinese company for its work.
