The Chinese Embassy in Dili says state-run China Harbour Engineering Co. Ltd, the contractor building a container port in Tibar Bay in Timor-Leste, has begun blasting at a quarry which will supply some of its materials.
The embassy issued a written statement saying Chinese Ambassador Timor-Leste Xiao Jianguo joined Timor-Leste officials that witnessed the ceremonial first detonation.
The statement quotes Mr Xiao as saying the building of infrastructure is important for the development for Timor-Leste, and an important part of the help China gives the country.
Mr Xiao said China could build the infrastructure Timor-Leste needed, meaning there was great potential for Sino-Timor-Leste cooperation, and expressed hope that Chinese companies would contribute to the improvement of the infrastructure of Timor-Leste.
Work began in Tibar Bay last year and is due to last 32 months, resulting in a port capable of handling about 350,000 containers a year, Chinese Embassy in Dili says.
