Chinese envoy inspects holy sites metro

MAKKAH: As the movement of the holy sites metro in Makkah was modified this year to meet the requirement of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, Chinese Ambassador Li Chengwen inspected the project Sunday to review the changes.
Li said he met with the China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) to ensure a safe, accurate operation for Haj.
“This project is clearly facilitating Haj and is considered a monument to the Saudi-Chinese cooperation that we must sustain and keep it running perfectly. We also must continue providing better services to pilgrims,” Li said.
The ambassador said the holy sites railway has broken some international records. The time between each train station is 17 seconds and each train is 300 meters long. Added to that is the fact that the railway is 18 km long, is not straight but rather consists of curves, upslopes and downslopes. It is very difficult to drive the train, but with joint efforts by both sides, the crews managed to overcome these difficulties, according to officials.
The ambassador said other projects under construction in Saudi Arabia by Chinese companies include King Khalid University in Abha, a cement factory and an oil refinery with annual capacity of 20 million tons.
“This increased cooperation between the two countries is a normal result of the developed relations,” Li said. “China is the second largest economy in the world and is keen to increase its cooperation with all countries especially the friends, not only in economic relations but also in technology. Saudi Arabia is also keen to increase the cooperation with China.”
Li said his country is encouraging Chinese companies to help the Kingdom in achieving its ambition of diversifying industry.
According to CRCC, holy sites Metro is the first engineering, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance project as well as the first mega project executed by a Chinese enterprise in the world as the general contractor to have obtained the safety certificate issued by European Railway Verification Authority.
Makkah Metro is designed to be the most intensely used in capacity and the most complex operation mode, also regarded to be the fastest to build and operate in the highest outdoor temperature in the world.
It was on Feb. 10, 2009, when the contract was signed by China Railway Construction Corporation Limited and Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in the presences of both Chinese President Hu Jintao and King Abdullah.