Chinese to build trans-Algeria highway

Two Chinese (Hong Kong-based) companies, CITIC and CRCC, are to build 528 km of a new east-west trans-Algeria highway (the rest will be built by a Japanese company). Chinese workers have become a common sight on construction projects around Algiers over the past three years, and this news led Ech Chourouk to some meditation on "the sleeping giant's awakening", complaining that whether Western or Oriental companies get the contracts it always seems like others end up spending Algeria's money.