Lead-in: Ethiopia is located in northeastern Africa and has enjoyed generations of friendship with China. In recent years, with the growing demand for infrastructure construction in Ethiopia and the increasing investment by China and other countries in Ethiopia, building materials production plants for cement, concrete, glass, ceramics, and other products have emerged rapidly. At the same time, quality control of building materials products and construction projects, as well as the training of technical personnel, urgently need to be addressed. As a Fortune Global 500 enterprise integrating building materials production, engineering construction, technology R&D, and quality inspection and supervision, China National Building Materials Group actively practices its responsibilities as a central government-owned enterprise while continuously expanding overseas markets. Its subsidiary CNBM Smart Industry Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Smart Industry) established the China-Ethiopia Building Materials Science Laboratory earlier this year in cooperation with Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, focusing on building materials inspection and scientific research services. The inspection and certification segment within China National Building Materials Group—China Building Materials Test and Certification Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as CTC)—also actively responded to the Group's call, fully leveraged its own advantages, and initiated discussions with Smart Industry and relevant Ethiopian parties on cooperation regarding the China-Ethiopia Building Materials Science Laboratory.

From October 24 to October 26, 2017, Qin Xianming, Deputy General Manager of CTC; Wang Xiao, Deputy Director of the Investment and Enterprise Management Department of CTC; and Liu Xiaotong, Engineer of CTC, conducted on-site research in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.

On the first day of the research visit, the team visited the China-Ethiopia Building Materials Science Laboratory located on the campus of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University and held in-depth exchanges with CNBM Import and Export Corporation, CNBM International Equipment Co., Ltd., and Smart Industry.

On October 25, accompanied by Li Weifeng, General Manager of the Ethiopia/Northeast Africa Region of CNBM International Equipment Co., Ltd., and Ms. Zhang Meifang of Smart Industry, the research team visited the Ethiopian Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Science and Technology. Dr. Alemu, State Minister of Industry, expressed support for the construction of the laboratory and expressed the hope that the laboratory could better serve Ethiopia's construction and extend its services to other African countries. Mr. Samuel, Director of the Policy Research Office, stated that Ethiopia's building materials industry is in a new stage of attracting foreign investment and revitalizing development, that inspection and certification services will have great potential, and that more support would be provided to the laboratory at the policy level. Mr. Shumete, State Minister of Science and Technology and the principal government official responsible for the laboratory construction project, stated that the administrative resources of the Ministry of Science and Technology would be actively mobilized to continue to vigorously support the construction and development of the laboratory.

On October 26, the research team exchanged views with Mr. Negede, the official in charge of the Standards and Accreditation Office of the Ethiopian Ministry of Science and Technology, and gained a further understanding of the process for obtaining testing qualifications and laboratory competence accreditation.

During the research visit, the team also visited the Soil Mechanics Laboratory of Addis Ababa Science and Technology University and the laboratory of the Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, one of Ethiopia's largest state-owned testing institutions. Dr. Fitsum, Professor of Engineering at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, provided the research team with a large amount of valuable information on Ethiopia's engineering quality management system, standards documents, and laboratory qualification application process. Mr. Adbi, head of the laboratory of the Ethiopian Construction Design and Supervision Works Corporation, introduced in detail the acquisition of engineering testing qualifications, the quality system, the implemented standards system, and the overall level of laboratories in Ethiopia.

Through this research visit, the research team gained a deeper understanding of Ethiopia's market conditions, current economic development, relevant implemented policies, laboratory levels, and development directions. The construction and stable operation of the China-Ethiopia Building Materials Science Laboratory will play an important role in improving the quality of Ethiopian construction projects, training technical personnel, and raising the level of scientific research in engineering disciplines. It is also crucial for CTC to develop overseas markets and enhance its international influence.

Stay true to the original aspiration and keep the mission firmly in mind. CTC will resolutely respond to the national Belt and Road Initiative and to the development strategy of China National Building Materials Group, assist friendly countries in their construction, demonstrate the responsibility of a major central government-owned enterprise, and at the same time strive to improve its own level and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. CTC will make unremitting efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, secure a great victory for socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.