2017年CRI Interview: Priorities for Africa's infrastructure construction

 

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, third from left, watches a cargo¹ train carrying port containers begin its opening run from Mombasa to Nairobi, Kenya, May 30, 2017. [Photo:AP]

The newly launched Standard Gauge² Railways linking Kenya's port city Mombasa with its capital Nairobi has raised discussions on the basic infrastructure³ construction needs of the African continent.

The railway, a 480 km line which kicked off passenger service on June 1, is currently operating with scheduled passenger trains running on a daily basis.

Built to "Chinese standards, with Chinese techniques, Chinese facilities and Chinese management", it's expected to provide a massive boost to the socio-economic development of the whole region.

International media are now examining the effective ways to help local economies through more infrastructure projects.

It is widely believed policymakers have not successfully defined the political and economic approaches to enable Africa to realize its development potentials.

For more, CRI's Zhou Jingnan is joined by David Shinn,Former U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia and Burkino, Former Director for East African Affairs at the State Department, deputy Chief of U.S. missions in Sudan, Cameron and Mauritania,and professor in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

1 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

2 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。