BEIJING - Two big construction orders in Africa totalling nearly $5.5 billion have been signed by China's largest railway constructor, China Railway Construction Corp (CRCC).

The contracts, signed by CRCC China-Africa Construction Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CRCC, include a $3.51 billion contract for an inter-city railway project in Nigeria and a $1.93 billion residential construction project in Zimbabwe.

The Nigerian project further cements the company's leading role in the Nigerian construction industry, and is also a milestone in the "going global" of Chinese railway, said Meng Fengchao, board chairman of CRCC.

CRCC China-Africa Construction Ltd is now the largest rail transit contractor in Africa.