The Huaxi Group Company and Haishan International Construction Company from China's Sichuan Province on Thursday kicked off the first-stage construction of the social housing project in the Camama district of southern Luanda, one of the largest housing projects in the African country.

The commencing ceremony was attended by Angola's Minister of Public Construction Francisoco Higino Lopes Carneiro, local government officials, leaders from the two Chinese companies and Chinese Ambassador to Luanda Zhang Bolun.

Dozens of young boys and girls from local communities danced at the event to celebrate the commencement of first stage of the project, which includes the construction of roads, water and power supplies, telecommunication centers, houses, schools and other public facilities.

The investment in the first stage of the project amounted to some US$174 million and is expected to be financed by a loan from China's Development Bank.

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Zhang Bolun said the Chinese government is fully committed to supporting Chinese companies to take part in the reconstruction process of Angolan.

He encouraged workers from the Huaxi and Haishan companies to adhere to the construction schedules and standards, and to submit a satisfactory answer sheet to the reconstruction of Angola

The Huaxi Group Company and Haishan International, well-know construction companies from China's Sichuan province, have taken part in the infrustrural construction works in Kenya, Tanzania, Pakistan, Fiji, and yet this is the first time that the two companies cooperated in Angola.

They signed a treaty in April 2008 to set up a single entity in Angola to manage and undertake the first-stage construction of the Camama housing project.

(Xinhua News Agency December 18, 2009)