$5.87 billion

Cutting ribbons

Xi also joined Denis Sassou Nguesso, the Congolese president, in cutting the ribbon to open the Sino-Congo Friendship Hospital.

“It was a historic moment,” said Martine Beatrice Ponggui, the hospital’s president. “It was a great privilege for us that the two presidents came to our hospital. The scene will stay long in the memory.”

She said the Congolese people have every reason to believe that through cooperation with China they will gain access to better medical services.

Zhou Enyin, who was technology director for China State Construction Engineering Corp at the time, was also at the ceremony. “It was my first time to experience such a grand occasion,” he said. “Everyone was excited.”

After leaving the hospital, Xi visited Ngouabi University and attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its grand library, which was funded and constructed by China.

Ngouabi University is the only public university in the Republic of Congo. The library has more than 10,000 books and CDs about China, allowing locals to learn more about Chinese culture.

“Xi’s presence at the ceremony indicates that education is a key issue for developing countries and that China wants to support education in our country,” said Bruno Itoua, minister of higher education.