Since the resumption of diplomatic relations in January this year, cooperation between China and Nauru has developed rapidly. China actively supports Chinese enterprises in investing in Nauru, deepens cooperation with Nauru in infrastructure construction, transportation and other fields under the framework of jointly building the "Belt and Road," and helps Nauru continuously strengthen its endogenous driving force for development.

　　During a recent interview trip to Nauru, our reporter saw that a series of projects undertaken by Chinese enterprises, including wharf upgrading and renovation, photovoltaic power generation and energy storage systems, are being steadily advanced. Nauruans interviewed by our reporter said that these projects have brought advanced technology and many job opportunities to the local area and promoted Nauru's economic and social development.

　　With warm sunshine and gentle sea breezes, driving about 2 kilometers north along the coast from Nauru International Airport, one can see the Aiwo Port Wharf Upgrading and Renovation Project (hereinafter referred to as the "Aiwo Port Wharf Project"), a key national project of Nauru undertaken by China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd.

　　The Aiwo Port Wharf Project includes harbor basin dredging, a new wharf, seawater desalination, and a new container yard, among other components. At present, works such as the new wharf and fuel pipelines have been completed one after another, ending the history in which Nauru's import and export goods had to be transferred by sea and fuel tankers could not dock directly to unload oil. The entire project is expected to be fully completed in 2025.

　　Project manager Zhou Jundong told our reporter that with the smooth opening of Aiwo Port in September 2022, the unloading time for cargo ships entering Nauru has been reduced from 14 days to 5 days. "Almost all of the daily necessities of the Nauruan people depend on imports. The operation of the wharf has greatly reduced cargo transportation costs and provided a reliable guarantee for the lives of the Nauruan people," Zhou Jundong said.

　　Last September, the upgraded and renovated fuel pipeline project, 756.22 meters long, was delivered. Since then, imported fuel needed by Nauru can be directly received and unloaded ashore from the sea through the pipeline. On March 6 this year, the **transportation artery connecting the Aiwo Port area and the outside area—the approximately 630-meter-long off-site road of the Aiwo Port Wharf Project—was smoothly opened to traffic, further enhancing connectivity and freight capacity among important hubs such as the port area and the off-site container storage area.

　　Nauru, with a land area of 21.1 square kilometers, is the world's smallest island country, and its marine biological resources are an important guarantee for its survival and development. Chinese enterprises have always attached importance to environmental protection during the construction of the Aiwo Port Wharf Project.

　　In the approximately 48,000-square-meter construction area of the Aiwo Port Wharf Project, species such as sea cucumbers, moray eels, sea urchins, conches, sea crabs and corals inhabit the area. To protect these marine organisms, the project department contacted multiple departments including the Nauru National Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority, the Department of Commerce and Environment, and the Port Authority, and established a special marine life protection team led by the project department to conduct grouped surveys and inspections along the coast, ultimately designating a new area 50 to 400 meters from the construction zone as the "new home" for marine organisms.

　　Under the coordination and organization of Nauru government departments, the special marine life protection team recruited more than 80 local residents and organized staff in advance to carry out pre-relocation training to ensure the safe relocation of marine animals.

　　In the sunlight, rows of photovoltaic panels are neatly arranged. The **photovoltaic power generation and energy storage system project undertaken by China Harbour in Nauru is expected to be installed and completed within this year. This is the largest photovoltaic power generation project in Nauru to date. It is reported that the project will increase the share of renewable energy generation in Nauru from 3% to 47%. Local employee John Scott said: "The project not only improves power supply and reduces power generation costs, but also helps protect the environment."

　　The photovoltaic power generation and energy storage system project has brought more greenery to the local area. The project site previously had many large pits due to long-term phosphate mining, and vegetation had also been damaged. To make reasonable use of the limited site, the project construction team filled the large pits with aggregate and installed photovoltaic panels. During the interview, the reporter saw that green grass had already grown under many photovoltaic panels (see the photo above, taken by our reporter Chen Xiaowei).

　　During the construction of the Aiwo Port Wharf Project, about 20% of the employees were local. Sylvester Gairua, 27, is one of them.

　　Originally a domestic worker, Gairua has learned from scratch alongside Chinese colleagues since joining the project team, gradually mastering professional knowledge and skills related to multiple technical trades such as rebar work and concrete work, and has also learned Chinese. "My income has more than doubled compared with before, and I can take better care of my family. Chinese enterprises have injected new vitality into Nauru's economic development and opened a new door for my career development," Gairua said.

　　During project construction, China Harbour actively leveraged its own advantages and took the initiative to fulfill its social responsibilities. Nauru lacks freshwater, and residents' drinking water basically relies on seawater desalination. Last September, a new pump house built by China Harbour replaced the old, long-neglected pump house. "Now the supply of domestic water is more stable, and the water quality is better," said Mark Hiram, manager of the Nauru Public Utilities Corporation.

　　Wang Xuguang, counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Nauru, said in an interview with our reporter that China and Nauru have obvious complementary advantages in various fields and huge cooperation potential. Mutual respect and common development have always been the underlying tone of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Pacific island countries. China-Nauru practical cooperation will surely inject new impetus into the development and revitalization of both countries and lay a solid foundation for the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.