The Peruvian capital of Lima will soon see the completion of a major flood control project built by a Chinese company.
It does not rain frequently in Lima, but the Huaycoloro River overflowed in 2017 due to unusual heavy precipitation, affecting 30,000 families living along the river.
The 10.5-kilometer flood control project built by China International Water and Electric Corp. is set to be completed in January 2025.
"Extreme weather like El Nino can lead to flash floods and other natural disasters, So, such a project was launched," said Liu Hongmin, project manager with China International Water and Electric Corp.
The company has completed nearly 20 projects in Peru in fields including hydropower, flood control, road, bridge, power transmission and mining.
Peru is hosting APEC 2024, with the APEC Economic Leaders' Week underway in Lima.
The week will conclude with the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting on Nov 15-16.
"The APEC meeting is an important event for our country, and we look forward to all countries, including our good friend China, to come and invest. Investment drives infrastructure construction, infrastructure construction generates more jobs, and employment brings about increases in income, foreign exchange and the development of tourism," said Hernan Yaipen Arestegui, Peruvian Minister of Authority of National Infrastructure.
China builds flood control project in Lima
Construction of Peru's Andes National Highway, undertaken by a Chinese firm, has surpassed the 100-kilometer mark of asphalt paving, halfway through the country's largest mountainous infrastructure project, which is set to open next year.
Stretching 236.6 kilometers, the highway traverses the high-altitude Andes Mountains, with 90 percent of its route being at least 3,000 meters above the sea level, posing significant safety challenges due to steep cliffs.
"The construction team has extensively utilized China's most advanced concrete mixing equipment and automated asphalt production machines, ensuring both the progress and quality of the project," said Zhang Baolin, project manager with China Railway 20th Bureau.
The highway runs through Huánuco province, where the local economy relies heavily on agriculture. The new highway is expected to significantly improve transportation for local products like potatoes and corn. Before the vision becomes a reality, the construction of the project has already created over 2,000 jobs for families along the route.
"The Andes Mountains are one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. During our three years of construction, we have cultivated and planted over 40,000 saplings and restored 18 hectares of vegetation, integrating our green construction philosophy into the project," said Dai Ruibin, engineering director of the project.
Upon completion, the Andes National Highway will connect the mountainous regions to the Pan-American Highway, reducing travel time between Huánuco and Yarowilca from over 10 hours to under three hours, benefiting roughly 270,000 residents in over 240 towns along the route.
Construction advances on Peru's Andes highway
