Chinese Government provides $13,860,000 grant for Ring Road Highway Upgrade Project

On September 21, 2017, the Chinese Government and the Government of Niue signed an agreement to undertake a feasibility study of the Ring Road Highway Upgrade Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) subsequently provided a $13,860,000 grant to the Government of Niue for the Ring Road Highway Upgrade Project. The purpose of the project, which is considered to be part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is to repair and restore the ring road around the island. The project design plan includes 134 new streetlights, 46.1 kilometers of slurry sealed road, around 2 kilometers of safety barriers, 2.7 kilometers of new footpaths from Alofi to Airport, 92 new safety designs, village traffic calming using speed bumps, and lane narrowing. China Railway First Bureau Group Co., Ltd. is the contractor responsible for implementation. The first shipment of road equipment had arrived on the island in July 2019. The design of the project was finalized on September 21, 2019. Then, in October 2019, the Government of Niue’s Project Management Coordination Unit (PMCU) confirmed that China Railway First Bureau Group Co., Ltd. had been allocated land at Kaimiti for accommodation, project office and recreation areas. As of December 2020, the project was still undergoing implementation. A pre-launch ceremony for the project was held in November of 2022.

Additional details

This project is also known as the Niue Road Rehabilitation Project. The Chinese project title is 纽环岛公路升级项目 or 援纽埃环岛公路升级项目. Some sources suggest that this project also involves a wharf upgrading component. However, this issue requires further investigation. Niue established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on December 12, 2007. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Niue and China followed a number of discussions between the two sides. In 2004, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sent a telegram to Niue Prime Minister (PM) Young Vivian to convey his sympathy regarding a windstorm that battered Niue. In April 2006, Premier Wen met with PM Young Vivian during the conference of “China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development & Cooperation Forum” held in Fiji. Niue PM Young Vivian and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing, held discussions in Wellington on August 1, 2006. In June 2007, Niue PM Young Vivian visited China.

Number of official sources

5

Number of total sources

25