(Ecofin Agency) - China will finance through a FCFA34 billion grant to Congo-Brazzaville the construction of the new parliament house in the country. The building is to accommodate both the National Assembly and the Senate.

It was President Denis Sassou Nguesso himself who laid the first stone for the project, on May 22. Construction works are expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

Covering an area of 4.5 hectares, the upcoming headquarters is to include meeting rooms, a press room, VIP lounges, permanent and auxiliary commission rooms, as well as a health care space.

Additionally, there will be two hemicycles of 500 and 300 seats respectively for the National Assembly and the Senate, an archives room, libraries, and technical rooms, among others.

The project will be developed by the Chinese company Jiangsu Provincial Construction Ltd.

B.K