Chinese Government provides RMB 43 million grant for Apia Park Stadium Rehabilitation Project (Linked to Record ID#65361, #64765, #64864, #65302)

On March 28, 2005, the Chinese Government provided an RMB 43 million ($6.9 million) grant to the Government of Samoa for the Apia Park Stadium Rehabilitation Project.

The purpose of the project was to rehabilitate Apia Park Stadium (also known was Apia Sports Complex) in the capital city of Apia.

The stadium was originally constructed between 1981 and 1983 with an interest-free loan from the Chinese Government to support the 1983 South Pacific Games.

To host the 2007 South Pacific Games, the Government of Samoa asked the Chinese Government for assistance to repair and expand the main venue for the opening and closing ceremonies.

These activities included the reinforcement of the stadium's stands, the renovation of a runway, the addition of stands and VIP boxes, and the addition of tennis courts.

In early 2005, a project design contract was signed, and the signing ceremony was attended by Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa, Samoa’s Minister of Engineering, the Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of China (Liu Guanren), and the head of the Economic and Commercial Office, Zhou Geping.

Then, on December 13, 2005, Qingjian Group (which was known at the time as the Qingdao Construction Group Corporation) signed a project implementation contract. A groundbreaking ceremony took place on February 17, 2006.

Then, in February 2007, a Chinese engineer was killed when he fell from a machine being used to install beams for the Apia Park Stadium. Another Chinese engineer was hospitalized after being severely injured in the same incident. A Samoan worker was also injured.

The project sponsor — China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) — conducted a final project inspection on March 12, 2007. The project was officially completed and handed over to the local authorities on April 3, 2007.

According to the Lowy Institute and several media reports, this project has been controversial because the Government of Samoa was unable to finance the recurring costs of maintaining the swimming pool at the Aquatic Center and it asked the Government of New Zealand to shoulder this expense.