I was just reading this article from Ha’aretz about some of China’s major infrastructure projects in Israel, including the Carmel Tunnel. Interesting stuff, for example, a partial list of some of China’s more recent and more prominent projects:
“China’s presence in Israel as an infrastructure builder is new,” says Samuels. “In the past, China used to export mainly cheap labor to Israel. But in recent years Chinese companies have been realizing huge projects, including power stations, airports and railroads. A Chinese company built the subway in Tehran in the past decade. The CCECC is now building a 1,300-kilometer railroad along the entire length of Nigeria. Previously it won an $8-billion infrastructure tender in Algeria.”
Next time I take the tube in Tehran…I am going to be worried, very worried. No, but in all honesty, all this comes at a bit of a surprise because I had mostly heard of Chinese projects in Africa and the Middle East—but mostly relating to oil. Of course, the projects in West Africa and Sudan (in relation to Darfur crisis) have received the most press. But would have thought, huh—the subway in Tehran.
1 response so far ↓
1 msittig // Aug 9, 2008 at 3:30 pm
China still uses foreign technology for subway cars (domestic cars coming online this year, I think), but their underground construction tech is not bad. Tongji’s 地下建筑与工程系 is talking about doing some crazy stuff for the Expo, and all those new subway lines and tunnels under the Huanpu are being done by local companies… http://www.stec.net/
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