Chinese Government provides RMB 292 million grant for Grand National Library Construction Project

Project narrative

On June 24, 2008, during a visit by President Xi Jinping, the Chinese Government pledged a $40,000,000 grant for the Grand National Library Construction Project. Then, on April 12, 2009 and April 13, 2009, the Chinese Government and the Government of Yemen signed letters of exchange, committing an RMB 292 million grant for the Grand National Library Construction Project. China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) was the source of funding. This project involved the construction of a National Library — in the capital city of Sana'a near Al-Tahrir Square and the Yemen Military Museum — with the capacity to house nine million books. It also involved the construction of a 800-seat theater (to host theatrical and cinematic performances), a major conference hall, an amphitheater, an exhibition area, an educational center, and an archival department to preserve historical documents. In June 2008, a project design team from China IPPR International Engineering Co. Ltd. was dispatched to Yemen. Then, on May 25, 2009, another team was dispatched to undertake a detailed geological survey at the project site. On December 1, 2010, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued a project implementation contract to Nantong Sanjian Holdings (Group) Co., Ltd. (or 江苏南通三建集团有限公司 or 南通三建). However, war broke out in Yemen shortly thereafter, and project implementation was delayed until June 2013. As of early 2015, the project had achieved an 80% completion rate. The project was originally scheduled to reach completion in June 2015. However, due to Saudi-led airstrikes against Houthi rebels, construction was halted on March 25, 2015. 155 Chinese contractors (members of the project team) were evacuated on March 30, 2015. As of early 2021, AidData could not identify any evidence that this project has reached completion. The project seems to be still under implementation or is being stalled due to foreign bombing. As of March 2022, no new information has been recovered.