Foundation Laying Ceremony for New MNEC Building

Press release do MNEC:

A multi-faith blessing and a traditional Timorese ceremony at 5pm today will mark the start of building work on the new Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Head Office in Marconi, Farol, Dili.

The religious representatives will bless all involved in the project, while the band “5 do Oriente” and the dancing group “Sangar Motael” will banish any negative spirits on the site of the new building and entertain the guests with the best of Timorese music and dance.

The project is being funded by the People’s Republic of China under the “Cooperation Agreement on Economy and Technology” signed on March 20, 2001, with the United Nations Transitional Administration, East Timor (UNTAET).

The Senior Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Dr José Ramos-Horta, thanked the people and Government of the People’s Republic of China for their generous assistance with this important project.

“The undertaking of this project is a show of strong support and confidence by the People’s Republic of China in the people and the nation of Timor-Leste,” Dr Ramos-Horta said.

“China has proven to be a long term friend of ours giving many important bilateral project funding for several areas of development.”

Building work is expected to take 15 months and many Timorese workers will be employed during construction. Eventually the multi-storey complex will house up to 180 employees, and will include a purpose-built 130-seat auditorium and a special commemorative Peace Garden in the grounds.
The 6,704 square metre new Ministry headquarters is designed by the China United Engineering Corporation and is being constructed by the China Shandong Foreign Economic & Technical Cooperation Group Company.