ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR) have signed a five-year technical consultancy agreement, effective from January 2026.

The agreement, signed on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital, aims to boost the efficiency and sustainable operation of the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway over the next five years.

Speaking at the event, EDR Chief Executive Officer Takele Uma said that as per the agreement, CCECC will provide critical technical expertise as Ethiopia continues to embark on extensive projects, including highways, railways, and port development.

"Our collaboration with CCECC and its rich experience in Ethiopia will help enhance the nation's railway network," Uma said, highlighting CCECC's commitment to linking the railway to key industrial parks along the route.

Li Qingyong, chief executive officer of CCECC Ethiopia, said CCECC will offer key technical services, including rigorous quality evaluations and training, to enhance local workforce capabilities.

"The objective is to empower Ethiopian technicians to independently manage and operate the railway infrastructure," Li said.

The 752-km Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, also known as the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, is Africa's first electrified trans-boundary rail line.

Jointly constructed by China Railway Engineering Corporation and CCECC, it was inaugurated in 2018 as a Belt and Road Initiative project, greatly reducing the travel time between Ethiopia and Djibouti. ■