Under the nourishment of the automatic sprinkler system, a lush green beet thrives against the sun. Deep in the vast desert in the western part of Minya Province, Egypt, amid the barrenness of yellow sand and gravel, the oases developed by Chinese enterprises are bringing new hope for local people to live and develop.

"You know, in this desert, irrigation water is hard to come by." Ahmed Banner, manager of the Egyptian Canal Sugar Factory Company, said cheerfully looking at the well-growing beets, with the help of Chinese companies, Ming Large swathes of desert in Alberta are being transformed into fertile land. "What was once barren has become an oasis of life and has created enormous economic value for us."

What brings hope to the local people is the desert drilling project co-operated by China and Egypt. The arable land area of Egypt accounts for about 3.7% of the total land area. In order to expand the area of farmland and change the situation of relying heavily on imports of food, in 2015, Egypt proposed a "million feddan" (1 feddan equals 4,200 square meters) land reclamation plan. To reclaim the land, water conservancy irrigation is the key. Four years ago, the Chinese company Zhongman Oil Egypt Branch undertook the task of drilling 300 wells in the desert. Li Wei, general manager of the company, said that the Chinese side has completed the drilling of 154 wells, and the water output of a single well can reach up to 1,000 cubic meters per hour. 30% of the land transformed with well water has been put into use.

A drilling tower more than 30 meters high stands majestically, drawing a unique skyline under the blue sky. Workers were busy and orderly on the tower. As the rumbling drilling rig continued to deepen, driven by the pump, a large amount of well water spewed out. These complex operations, which used to be done by Chinese technicians, are now basically done independently by local employees.

"Our Chinese colleagues have taught us the most professional well drilling techniques." Wearing red overalls and a white helmet, Mohammed, the site operations manager, looked particularly energetic. At present, the project has nearly 300 Egyptian employees, and the localization ratio is as high as 96%. After each employee is hired, he will receive systematic training and then be assigned to the well team to participate in the operation. "Once there is a difficulty that cannot be solved, the Chinese technicians will immediately follow and solve it in time," Mohammed said.

"The impossible has become possible, only Chinese companies have done it!" said Ross Greer, the project owner and head of the UAE Gulf Group. , water output and other requirements, they all shook their heads, thinking that these ideas were "too naive to be realized at all". "However, our goals were finally achieved. The wells produced more water than we expected, and the Chinese side's work is commendable."

"Every time I see such a scene and hear such affirmation, I feel that all the efforts are worth it." Recalling the hardships of construction in the desert, Zhong Xuelang, the Chinese operation manager, expressed a lot of emotion. Drilling in the desert, in addition to the high temperature in summer, the most terrifying thing is the sandstorm. The sandstorm in the desert came without warning. Sometimes everyone was busy on the derrick, and the scene suddenly filled with yellow sand, and the strong wind mixed with sand particles hit the face and hurt. At the end of the day, people often have sand in their hair, nostrils, ears, shoes and even work clothes. Keywords: One Belt One Road, One Belt One Road News, One Belt One Road Project

Osama Ka, Governor of Minya Province, said that water conservancy irrigation has always been a key issue related to Egypt's national economy and people's livelihood. The successful drilling of water wells in the desert provides a guarantee for the continuous advancement of the "Million Feddan" land reclamation plan. More deserts become fertile fields." "Our sugar factory is about to be completed and put into operation. In the near future, our products will be placed on the table of Chinese consumers along the Belt and Road." Banner is full of expectations.Editor/XuNing