Photo Gallery Djibouti Rising
Nicholas Li stands in front of the model of the free trade zone that is currently under construction in Djibouti. The small African country is the focus of intense international scrutiny. China is currently building large projects there, with the goal of transforming the small country into its gateway to the African continent.
Buses at Djibouti's main bus station. Many people are currently dreaming of turning the country into something like Singapore or the Gulf States, and giving it a more significant role in world affairs. The Chinese have already built a large port in the country, with loading cranes that have become a national symbol.
Ge Hua is the Chinese counsellor on trade in Djibouti. All civil projects involving China cross her desk, and she oversees the implementation of the finalized plans in the country. "I told my friends they need to come here this year," she says. "It is a very beautiful and unique country."
Chinese construction workers at the entrance to the site for the free trade zone in Djibouti. The country is a part of China's large "One Belt, One Road" initiative, which aims to create a new Silk Road, an economic zone that stretches over Asia and into Europe and Africa.
A German pilot prepares to take off from Djibouti airport. Military from the United States, France, Spain and China are also present in the region. The French, who are also the country's former colonial overseers, primarily use their base to carry out anti-terror missions.
