An Angolan official has praised the contribution of Chinese companies in the reconstruction of the African nation since the civil war Chinese state-run broadcaster CCTV reported over the weekend. The conflict ended in 2002.

José António da Conceição e Silva, Angola’s Minister of Urban Planning and Housing, told the broadcaster: “Chinese companies have played a key role in Angola’s post-war reconstruction. Under the framework of China-Angola bilateral co-operation, many Chinese enterprises have actively participated in the rebuilding process.”

Chinese firm CITIC Construction has turned a previously rural area, Kilamba Kiaxi, into a satellite city of Angola’s capital Luanda. The new urban zone has more than 20,000 homes, according to the report. Apart from building houses, the company in 2014 funded a vocational school, providing free training for the region’s young people.

CCTV added that CITIC “is now working with other Angolan cities to construct similar housing projects” following the success in Kilamba.