ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) — The African Union (AU) and a Chinese firm signed a contract agreement on Wednesday for the construction of the AU Conference Center.

The signing ceremony at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa took place in the presence of some AU officials and a thirteen-man Chinese delegation, led by Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Gu Xiaojie, who came to witness the event.

The Chinese firm, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, in July won a bid to build the Chinese government-aided AU Conference Center.

The conference center comprises a 99.9-meter-high office building and a 30-meter-high conference hall with a vault totally covering 11.3 hectares.

At a signing ceremony, Erastus Mwencha, deputy chairperson of the AU Commission, said the signing ceremony of the construction of the new AU Conference Center is an exciting moment and a time to reflect on the existing friendship between China and the AU.

“It is a significant step to realize the project,” said Mwencha, while thanking the Chinese government for their commitment to ensuring the effective implementation of the project.

He further expressed, on behalf of Chairperson of the AU Commission Jean Ping, the satisfaction and commitment of the AU to work hand in hand with the Chinese delegation in facilitating and ensuring the realization of the project within the three-year deadline.

Meanwhile, Mwencha announced that a high-level Chinese delegation will arrive at the AU headquarters on Nov. 7 for the actual groundbreaking ceremony of the construction of the conference center.