A new 20 000sqm cultural centre, built by Chinese contractors, has been inaugurated in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo.

The Mozambique Ministry of Culture and Tourism has called the Mozambique China Cultural Centre in the grounds of the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, a “key project that will greatly contribute to the development of cultural exhibition and dissemination, as well as to the promotion of cultural creative industries from all over the country and the world”.

The $50 million centre, opened by Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi on Thursday (September 28), boasts a variety of rooms for theatre productions, musical shows and corporate events, with the centrepiece being a 1 500-seat auditorium. The facility also hosts exhibition halls and studios for arts and crafts, along with rehearsal rooms for music and dance.

The Ministry said the new centre would also “ensure employment and income for those involved in the arts and culture, namely through the monetisation of the space and, equally, making the city of Maputo more attractive for business tourism events”.

“This centre represents the dreams and ambition of all of us, which is to see our culture flourish,” Nyusi said at the inauguration.