During the Mid-Autumn Festival, as families across the motherland gather together under the bright, moonlit skies, employees of Wuhan Jinhuasheng Railway Locomotive Co., Ltd.'s Liberia branch are working side by side with their African partners on the front lines of construction at the Bangfeng Station on the Liberia-Bong Mines Railway. This National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival double holiday finds them choosing dedication over reunion, bravely tackling challenges with unwavering determination. From groundbreaking on October 2nd to completion on October 15th—spanning just over ten days—they successfully completed the expansion and renovation of Bangfeng Station, ensuring that the "Belt and Road" initiative's vital railway artery continues to extend steadily and reach farther across the African continent.

At 12:45 on October 15, Train No. 52044 departed smoothly from Bangfeng Station, marking the successful completion of this major station expansion and renovation project. As a critical hub for Liberia's Bang Mine Project, the renovation of Bangfeng Station directly impacts the efficiency of mineral product transportation. The total length of the station tracks has been increased from 260 meters to 600 meters, adding an additional 340 meters of effective track space. This enhancement has boosted the train formation capacity from 21 cars to 42 cars, effectively doubling the loading efficiency. This improvement not only ensures robust support for the annual transportation of 1.5 million tons of mineral products but also lays a solid foundation for future growth, enabling the station to handle up to 3 million and even 6 million tons of cargo annually. Ultimately, this transformation will inject significant momentum into the local industrial development, driving sustained economic growth in the region.

During the dual holidays, the African construction site was far from festive leisure—it was instead marked by the urgent race against time to meet project deadlines. Though family members were absent, the camaraderie and mutual support among colleagues provided a heartwarming sense of solidarity. Under the overall coordination of Zhang Xin, Manager of the Liberia branch, the project team formed an "integrated task force" comprising five Chinese employees and more than 20 local Liberian workers, working around the clock in rotating shifts. The five Chinese staff members shared accommodation in just two simple prefabricated cabins, walking daily to other mining sites to join their colleagues for meals. Despite the challenging conditions, they remained undeterred. Meanwhile, the local employees willingly shared their deep knowledge of the terrain and actively assisted with communication and coordination, proving themselves indispensable assets to the successful execution of the project.

Liu Wenjun, the project leader of the expansion initiative, wears multiple hats—acting as the overall commander who coordinates the entire operation, serving as a liaison to seamlessly connect all parties involved, and also stepping up as a frontline combatant. He takes the lead in directing and monitoring construction progress, efficiently coordinating resources from various stakeholders, while consistently working alongside frontline employees. Together with his team, he has successfully tackled challenges such as material shortages and tight deadlines, ensuring that the project progresses safely and efficiently.

Facing a series of challenging construction issues one after another, China-Africa partners joined hands to break the deadlock: When coordinating the 400-ton crane became stuck in an impasse, project member Liu Boyu led local colleagues to visit nearby construction sites, engaging in repeated communication and negotiations to unlock critical bottlenecks. During periods of tool and equipment shortages, everyone pooled their ideas to repurpose old machinery and even craft simple, makeshift tools. From securing and reinforcing sleepers and rails, to leveling the turnout areas, to laying and evenly distributing over 200 cubic meters of ballast and installing and fine-tuning nighttime lighting—every step, including dismantling, lifting, cutting, bundling, moving, assembling, tamping, and track alignment—reflected the seamless collaboration and mutual trust between Chinese and African workers. Meanwhile, the team simultaneously completed the replenishment of ballast in the port area and addressed track instability issues, ensuring that both renovation and maintenance efforts were carried out with equal strength and precision.

On the night of October 6, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Liberia was bathed in a serene moonlight—yet it couldn’t illuminate the path home for the employees, who remained tirelessly busy alongside the railway tracks. Sweat soaked their work uniforms, and their hands had already developed thin calluses from relentless labor. At dawn, a message of encouragement arrived as scheduled from Hu Guangjin, Chairman and General Manager of the company: "Brothers, you’ve worked hard! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival—stay safe, and we’ll be waiting for your triumphant return!" These brief words flowed like a warm current, deeply touching everyone’s hearts. Li Jinming, a track worker, looked up at the foreign moon and shared with his colleagues nearby: "Before I set off, I told my parents that this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival would be celebrated in Africa. But now, being here with my brothers, laying tracks for the Belt and Road Initiative railway—it’s precisely this unique and meaningful reunion night that makes everything even more special."

From the start of construction to its successful completion, the entire capacity expansion and renovation project achieved zero safety incidents. This highly efficient and high-quality outcome is attributable not only to the unwavering dedication of Chinese employees but also to the collaborative efforts of our China-Africa partners. Wuhan Jinhuasheng Railway Locomotive Co., Ltd. has demonstrated, through concrete actions, the technological strength and sense of responsibility that define Chinese enterprises. Meanwhile, countless heartwarming moments of cooperation have further strengthened the bonds of the Belt and Road Initiative, making the story of joint consultation, joint development, and shared benefits even more inspiring across the African continent.