China-Myanmar pipelines: 'Paukphaw' route
- By Zhang Lulu
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 9, 2017
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U Hla Tun is a Made Island resident. [Photo by Zhang Lulu/China.org.cn] |
'Paukphaw' relationship
"China and Myanmar are long-time friends; and this is reflected in them being the only countries in the world to use the word 'paukphaw' to describe their relationship," Jiang continued, referring to the Burmese word that means "fraternity."
Tun Lin, a 26-year-old Burmese driver at SEAP, certainly knows the word inside out. He began work on April 3, 2014, a day he can vividly remember. Besides driving, the youngster is keen to learn from his Chinese colleagues everything ranging from the Chinese language to technology.
He learned the water-cleaning technology from Chinese co-workers in 2015 and when he finds a problem with the machinery, he will proactively refer it to maintenance staff. He was recognized as one of the company's "Outstanding Staff" in 2015.
For 37-year-old Zayar Oo, a Burmese excavator driver, working for a Chinese company is quite different from his previous experience. He came to the island in 2009 and changed jobs several times before settling down at SEAP three years ago. "Working here as a Burmese is no different from being a Chinese," he said, "Everyone is like a brother, and I feel I am equal to others. This is unlikely to happen in other foreign companies."
According to Han Jianqiang, assistant president of SEAP, there are more than 280 Myanmar employees compared to 152 Chinese in the company, including more than 50 islanders.
Eye-opening, convenient projects
Zayar Oo remembers the look of the island when he first arrived eight years ago. "There were only hills on the island, and beyond the coast, there are still hills." He said, "The company made efforts to improve the living conditions of islander step-by-step." He pointed to the reservoirs, electricity power lines and roads that the company has brought to the isolated location.
The island is home to three villages, with more than 700 households and 3,000 residents. Both Zayar Oo and U Hla Tun recalled the days when there was no electricity at all and felt grateful the island now has access to power four hours a day -- with the likelihood of having 24-hour power supply by the end of this year.
Previously storing rain water for use, villagers now have access to clean water through the reservoir and 15 water points built by the company in the three villages.
The pipeline company has also brought eye-opening experience to the island, Zayar Oo said. "When the islanders first heard of 'building roads,' they had no idea what that meant. Now, that they have roads that connect the three villages, which were previously cut off from each other, they want more."
The same is true with meeting people from outside the island. "Islanders used to know their fellow villagers only, but with the arrival of the company, they can meet people from around the world. And things like oil tankers….what a big thing for them to see!"
According to information released at a news conference on May 9, a total of 47 Chinese companies have invested or participated in 1,676 projects in Belt and Road countries in the past three years.
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