Yu Zhengsheng Inspected Aid-Cote d'Ivoire Cultural Palace
On April 15, Yu Zhengsheng, who is the Chairman of CPPCC and was paying a goodwill visit to Cote d'Ivoire, led the delegation to inspect the Aid-Cote d'Ivoire Cultural Palace Upgrading and Renovation Project carried out by CNQC. Zhang Dezhi, the counselor of CNQC, Zhao Shunting, CEO of CNQC, Liu Zhenglong, CEO of CNQC International and Ding Yueqin, Vice President of CNQC International and technical group leader of Aid-Cote d'Ivoire Cultural Palace Upgrading and Renovation Project etc. separately accompanied the Chairman Yu Zhengsheng and leaders of visiting delegation carry out inspections.
Ding Yueqin reported the implementation situation of the Cultural Palace Upgrading and Renovation Project and explained each main functional area where they visited to the Chairman Yu Zhengsheng etc. Ding Yueqin also expressed her heartfelt thanks to the Chairman Yu Zhengsheng for his guidance, support and attention in CNQC’s enterprise transformation and overseas markets exploiting.
Accompanied by Maurice Bandaman, the Minister of Cote d'Ivoire Ministry of Culture, Tang Weibin, the Chinese Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire and leaders of CNQC, the Chairman Yu Zhengsheng visited the main show hall with 1500 seats of the Cultural Palace, watched the rehearsal and visited some main functional areas including the outdoor theater with 2800 seats and so on. The Chairman Yu Zhengsheng praised the Cultural Palace Upgrading and Renovation Project carried out by CNQC and development of CNQC’s overseas businesses. Mr. Yu also expressed that he hoped CNQC to construct this facility assisted by China well to promote development of cultural undertakings of Cote d'Ivoire.
During the period of civil strife in Cote d'Ivoire in 2011, the Cultural Palace serving as the public utility was damaged severely, thus it lost its main functions. On March 14, 2012, Government of China agreed the request of the Government of Cote d'Ivoire in promoting assists in upgrading and reconstructing the Cultural Palace comprehensively and the two sides signed the Exchange of Notes. In 2012, CNQC undertook construction of this Project.
This Project was the largest aid-construction project that Shandong enterprises won the bid that year. The Project was started on June 18, 2013 and completed on May 28, 2015, which was 20 days earlier than the scheduled time. In addition, this Project is delivered to Government of Cote d'Ivoire in July, 2015, which was two months earlier than the scheduled time. The Cultural Palace after comprehensive renovation and upgrading becomes a culture place with the largest scale, most complete facilities and highest grade in the west of Africa and it plays an important role in the cultural activities and foreign cultural exchanges of the Cote d'Ivoire.