By: Henrietta Avollah Afful
Lhasa, Xizang, China — China and African countries have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening railway cooperation, technological transfer and human capital development through the African Railway Talent Qinghai-Xizang Tour, an exchange programme aimed at sharing China’s expertise in high-altitude railway construction and operations.
The programme was part of activities marking the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. It brought together African railway professionals and diplomats to experience at first-hand, the operations of the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, regarded as one of the world’s greatest engineering achievements.
The delegation launched the programme in Lhasa before travelling along the Qinghai-Xizang Railway to Xining in Qinghai Province to study railway management, ecological conservation, technological innovation and the role of modern rail transport in regional development.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Yang Wanming, described railways as vital arteries for economic development and enduring symbols of China-Africa friendship.
He said the programme reflects the commitment by China and African leaders to deepen cooperation under the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges while strengthening partnerships in railway planning, construction, operations, technology transfer and standards development.
Mr Yang noted that China-Africa railway cooperation has evolved significantly over the past five decades, citing landmark projects including the TAZARA Railway, the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway, the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway and the Abuja-Kaduna Railway, which he said, have enhanced trade, tourism and regional connectivity across the continent.
He said China stands ready to share its experience from the Qinghai-Xizang Railway, particularly in planning, design, operations and environmental management, while expanding technical training, joint research and exchanges between railway institutions in China and Africa.
Mr Yang added that beyond infrastructure, railways serve as important platform for cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between people, describing the initiative as another step towards building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.
Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of Qinghai Province, Ying Xiouli, described the Qinghai-Xizang Railway as a global engineering miracle that has transformed economic and social development across the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau.
She said the railway has become an important driver of industrial growth, ecological conservation, tourism and regional integration, while serving as a bridge for international cultural exchanges.
Ms Ying invited African participants to explore Qinghai Province and learn from China’s experience in railway development, expressing optimism that the exchange would deepen cooperation in railway technology, talent development and people-to-people relations.
Representing the African delegation, Zambia’s Director of Transport in the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, Engineer Nkumbe Siame, described the TAZARA Railway as one of the strongest symbols of China-Africa friendship.
He noted that 2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the railway, which has played a significant role in promoting trade, agriculture and regional connectivity between Southern and Eastern Africa.
Engineer Siame welcomed the ongoing TAZARA revitalisation project, saying it would improve railway efficiency, facilitate regional trade and further strengthen cooperation between China and Africa.
He also welcomed China’s continued support for Africa’s transport infrastructure development and said African countries were eager to learn from China’s experience in railway planning, engineering, innovation, safety and environmental management.
“Africa looks forward to learning from China’s experience in railway planning, engineering, innovation, safety management, environmental management and operational excellence,” he said, adding that the exchange would further strengthen cooperation aimed at driving economic growth, regional integration and sustainable development across the continent.
For his part, Ethiopian envoy, Ambassador Tefera Derbew Yimam called for deeper China-Africa railway cooperation through knowledge transfer and capacity building.
He described the study visit as an opportunity for African railway experts to learn from one of the world’s most challenging railway engineering projects.
He highlighted the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway as Africa’s first transnational electrified railway and the first overseas railway built entirely to Chinese standards across the full industrial chain.
He said the railway has significantly improved transport by reducing travel time between Addis Ababa and Djibouti from three days by road to just over 10 hours. He noted that the railway has trained more than 55,000 railway technicians, demonstrating the value of China-Africa cooperation in skills development.
Ambassador Tefera Derbew Yimam said technologies used on the Qinghai–Xizang Railway, including permafrost protection and ecological conservation measures, could provide valuable lessons for railway construction in Africa’s highland regions.
He described railways as “a bond of friendship and a bridge for development” and called for stronger China-Africa cooperation to support the growth of Africa’s railway sector.
“We look forward to deepening continuous technical exchange so that Ethiopian railway professionals and African railway professionals can independently manage and operate their own railway infrastructure.”
The African Railway Talent Qinghai-Xizang Tour forms part of broader efforts to strengthen China-Africa cooperation through knowledge sharing, professional exchanges and practical collaboration in strategic sectors, with railway development identified as a key driver of Africa’s economic transformation.
Following the opening ceremony on Wednesday June 24th, 2026, delegates boarded the Qinghai-Xizang Railway for the approximately 21-hour journey from Lhasa to Xining, gaining first-hand experience of the operation of the world’s highest railway while observing it engineering, safety and environmental protection systems.
As the train climbed above 5000 meters, delegates observered the railway’s oxygen enriched coaches, wildlife corridors and permafrost protection systems, which have enabled year-round operations across the Qinghai-Tibet plateau.
