In about a year's time, the world's largest airport terminal will open in the Chinese capital. Beijing Urban Construction Group is the lead design team responsible for the main concourse, which is expected to cover 600 thousand square meters. The company is also expanding its outreach to Africa through the Belt and Road Initiative. CGTN's Omar Khan paid a visit to the airport ahead of the FOCAC Summit.  

50 kilometers south of the city center lies Beijing Daxing International Airport. It's set to be completed by June 30th next year.

Resembling a golden phoenix, the airport will serve as both a national and international flight hub, while also becoming a new powerhouse in China's economic development.

But it's only once you get down to the facts and figures of this mega structure, that one realizes what a behemoth of a project this truly is.

OMAR KHAN BEIJING DAXING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT "It's hard to imagine how developers are going to fill this space. But by 2025, an expected 72 million people will pass through here on an annual basis. The airport's total area will expand to just over one million square meters, and will become the world's first airport with a terminal serviced by high-speed rail."

For Beijing Urban Construction Group, which is leading the project, there's been a handful of challenges to overcome.

Employing new technology, dealing with mega-scale transportation issues, and completing seismic isolation projects for a high-speed railway floor, the number of hurdles, has never ended.

Yet the company's been able to find a silver lining in what it's learned from overcoming all of these obstacles, as it continues to pivot and focus its expertise on projects in Africa and throughout the Belt and Road Initiative.

LI DAOSONG INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, BEIJING URBAN CONSTRUCTION GROUP "Currently we've carried out business in more than 20 countries in Africa, and the business models include projects in contracting, franchising, investment and so on. Our group is a large enterprise covering the whole industrial chain of architecture, design, engineering construction, investment property, and engineering projects. Through the projects organization, I feel that Africa is a place with huge development potential and opportunity."

The construction firm has completed a variety projects in countries such as Algeria, Mozambique and Nigeria.

And for one visiting reporter from Uganda, Chinese projects and investment across the continent, are not only the norm, but are being widely welcomed.

With just under a year left until take off, Beijing Daxing International Airport has already been hailed as one of the new world's seven wonders.

But regardless of the acclaim, this record breaking structure will always remain to serve the purpose of connecting those from around the world. Omar Khan, CGTN, Beijing.