A Chinese-built water supply project was officially handed over to the Angolan government in Cabinda Province on Monday and is predicted to benefit more than 600,000 people in the country.
Built by China Railway 20th Bureau Group Corporation Limited (CR20) since 2017, the Cabinda water supply project is the largest livelihood project invested by Angola in the province and represents the most advanced, intelligent, and modern water supply system in the country.
For many years, residents of Cabinda Province suffered from water shortage due to a lack of infrastructure, with most of them relying on water delivery trucks for daily usage.
Now, the project is expected to help solve the local water shortage problem and allowed many villagers to directly access tap water for the first time, said Yuan Xuefeng, the operation and maintenance manager of Cabinda water supply project.
"After being approved and delivered, the project can benefit 90 percent of the residential areas in Cabinda Province and meet the water needs of 600,000 people, greatly improving local residents' plight of water scarcity and poor water quality," explained Yuan.
The water supply project is comprised of 74 centralized points, with the capacity to supply 50,000 cubic meters of water per day. Throughout its construction period, over 1,000 employment opportunities were generated by the construction company for individuals in Cabinda Province.
China-aided water supply project in Angola completed
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, said on Monday that Tehran will use all available means and resources to respond to Israeli attacks on military targets in Iran.
Speaking at a press conference in Tehran, the Iranian capital, Baghaei stated that Iran's response would be "clear and decisive."
"Iran's response to any aggression is clear and decisive. Over the past year, we have repeatedly emphasized that the (Middle East) region is facing issues, such as Israel's acts of genocide in Gaza and its ongoing aggression against Lebanon. As long as this situation persists, there is a risk of escalation and expansion of conflict in the region," he explained.
Iran also condemned the U.S. military presence in the Middle East, describing it as a threat to regional stability amid rising tensions.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed on Saturday that B-52 bombers had arrived in the Middle East. It is the first time that B-52s have deployed to a base in the region since 2019 and widely seen as deterrence against potential Iranian retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on its territory last month.
"As long as the region faces the presence of foreign troops, especially those of the United States, it will continue to suffer from problems and tension. However, this will not affect Iran's resolve and determination to defend itself. Furthermore, it should now be clearer than ever to countries in the region that they need to support each other to promote the resolution of regional issues and safeguard security and stability in the region," he said.
Baghaei also emphasized that Iran will continue to firmly support the Palestinian people and appreciates any efforts by the international community to end Israel's criminal actions.
Iran vows 'clear and decisive' response to Israel’s attacks
