Active Development AidData Chinese Aid

Chinese Government provides a RMB 213 million grant — via an April 2019 ETCA — for the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music Construction Project (Linked to Record ID#65712, #65714, #40971, #65786, and #85604)

¥213M RMB

Funder	China Ministry of Commerce
Recipient Organization	Government of Lebanon
Country	Lebanon
Start Date	Apr 11, 2019
End Date	Sep 27, 2026
Duration	2,726 days
Number of Grantees	1
Roles	Recipient
Data Source	AidData Chinese Aid
Grant ID	`65797`

Grant Description

On May 10, 2017, the Chinese Government and the Government of Lebanon signed an Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), in which the Chinese Government committed a RMB 100 million grant (captured by linked Record ID#65786) for the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music Construction Project.

Then, on December 14, 2017, the Council of Ministers of Lebanon allocated RMB 120 million of additional funding to the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music Construction Project.

This RMB 120 sum came from three grants committed in three ETCAs previously signed by the Lebanese Government and the Chinese Government: a RMB 50 million grant committed in an ETCA signed on February 26, 2013 (captured by linked Record ID#65712), a RMB 50 million grant committed in an ETCA signed on December 5, 2013 (captured by linked Record ID#65714), and a RMB 20 million grant committed in an ETCA signed on September 10, 2015 (captured by linked Record ID#40971) (pg.136 of "CDR Progress Report 2017").

Then, on January 9, 2018, the Chinese Government and the Government of Lebanon signed an exchange of letters regarding the project in the presence of Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri.

Then, on April 11, 2019, the Chinese Government and the Government of Lebanon signed an ETCA, in which the Chinese Government committed a RMB 300 million ($44 million USD) grant to Lebanon for the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music Construction Project and other projects that would be mutually agreed upon by the two governments.

The ETCA stipulated that the grant would be disbursed through a bank account (known as "Aid Account No. 1/2018") established between China Development Bank (CDB) and the Banque du Liban (Lebanon’s central bank).

This grant was signed after the Council of Ministers of Lebanon approved it via Resolution No. 15 issued on March 21, 2019.

Then, on December 16, 2019, the Chinese Government and the Government of Lebanon signed an agreement allocating RMB 213 million of the RMB 300 million grant proceeds to the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music Construction Project. The use of the remaining RMB 87 million continued to be unallocated.

This project captures the RMB 213 million that was allocated towards the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music Construction Project. For the unallocated RMB 87 million, see linked Record ID#85604.

The purpose of the project was to construct a building for the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music (Le Conservatoire libanais national supérieur de musique) in the town of Dbaye (الضبية).

The conservatory was designed to cover a land area of 14,386 square meters and have a total floor area of 26,588 square meters.

The building was to include a 1,200-seat concert hall, a teaching building (including a 350-seat concert hall), a generator room, other equipment rooms, an underground garage, a reception hall, a security room, and fences.

The conservatory, once completed, was expected to will attract musicians from neighboring areas, improve the quality and capacity of musical education in Lebanon, and provide a first-class professional venue for the public to enjoy musical performances.

The construction of the conservatory was the first complete project aided by the Chinese Government to the Lebanese Government.

China IPPR International Engineering Co., Ltd. (中国中元国际工程有限公司) was the contractor responsible for project design and management, while China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) was the general contractor responsible for implementation. Lebanon's Ministry of Culture was also involved in implementation.

The Chinese Government provided the design plans for the conservatory to Lebanon's Ministry of Culture on September 19, 2018. The Chinese Government and the Lebanese Government signed the project implementation agreement on October 30, 2018.

Then, in April 1, 2019, the project design team from China IPPR International Engineering Co., Ltd. briefed Prime Minister Hariri on the progress and preliminary design of the project. The project's formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 20, 2019. At the time, the conservatory was expected to be completed within 3-years.

However, the implementation of this project was delayed because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A second formal groundbreaking ceremony was held on December 18, 2020. On June 16, 2022, it was reported that the conservatory was still under construction.

📋 Staff Comments

This project is also known as the Lebanese National Higher Institution of Music Construction Project. The Chinese project title is 援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目 or 黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目. The French project title is La construction du conservatoire nommé Institut national supérieur de musique. The Arabic project title is المعهد الوطني اللبناني العالي للموسيقى.
This project is known as 'Construction of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music -Additional' in the Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction's (CDR) database. The agreement number is 25171 (see 'CDR Funding - Construction of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music -Additional').
CDR ('CDR Funding - Construction of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music -Additional') claims that the USD equivalent of this RMB 300 million grant was $47,008,956 USD, but official sources at the time of signing (such as 'Signature with China') report a $44 million USD figure. Thus, it is possible that the entirety of the RMB 300 million was intended for this project, and the 213 million was just the amount allocated so far. For now, #85604 (which records the rest of the ETCA) should remain in case it is intended for another project.
As this is an ETCA, which is a financing mechanism specific to China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), AidData has coded MOFCOM as the specific Chinese Government institution responsible for providing this grant.
A progress report ('CDR Progress Report 2017') from the Lebanese Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR) says that May 13, 2017 was the signing date of the RMB 10 million ETCA, but other official sources ('Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between China and Lebanon', a press release dated May 10, 2017) identified the signing date as May 10, 2017.

📚 Sources & References

Signature with China
China-Aid Project of National Higher Conservatory of Music
Lebanese
History
China-aided conservatory starts construction in Lebanon
China-aided conservatory starts construction in Lebanon
援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目正式开工
Lebanon’s Higher Conservatory of Music Launches Its First Phase in Dbayeh
中国援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目开工，建成将是新地标
中国中元承担的援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目正式开工
应经济合作局邀请，黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院院长瓦利德·穆萨利姆博士率领由黎巴嫩重建委员会顾问及工程师参加的4人工作组于2018年6月30日来华，选定援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目设计方案...
援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目举行开工仪式
援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目实施协议正式签署
La Chine soumet les plans de conception d'un nouveau conservatoire au Liban
Mortada et Kejian posent la pierre angulaire du nouveau bâtiment du Conservatoire de Dbayeh financé par le gouvernement chinois
Respected Prime Minister Saad Hariri
Honorable Minister Ghattas Khoury
Honorable President Nabil Al-Jisr
Ladies and gentlemen
On the occasion of the New Year’s Day
I wish you all success and good fortun, توقيع ملحق اتفاقية هبة صينية لإنشاء وتجهيز مبنى الكونسرفاتوار الوطني, ابرام اتفاقية التعاون الاقتصادي والفني بين حكومة جمهورية الصين الشعبية وحكومة الجمهورية اللبنانية
CDR Progress Report 2017
中国援黎国家高等音乐学院项目设计团队向黎总理报告项目进展和设计
Speech by Ambassador WANG Kejian at the Concert Celebrating the 69th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China
CDR Funding - Construction of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music -Additional
Agreement on economic and technical cooperation between China and Lebanon
中国援建黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目立项换文签字仪式在黎总理府举行
驻黎巴嫩大使王克俭在援黎国家高等音乐学院项目立项换文签字仪式上的讲话
China submits design plans for new conservatory in Lebanon
CDR Funding - Economic and Technical Cooperation - 2013 Construction and Equipment of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
CDR Funding - Economic and Technical Cooperation 2013/2014 - Construction and Equipment of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
CDR Funding - Economic and Technical Cooperation - 2015 Construction and Equipment of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
China Loans and grants (1).xlsx
CSCEC marches forward bravely for the friendship between China and Lebanon
驻黎巴嫩大使钱敏坚到援黎项目现场慰问
The Chinese ambassador to Lebanon stresses the promotion of cultural exchange and cooperation projects between the two countries
Signing an appendix to a Chinese donation agreement to establish and equip the National Conservatory building
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati visits the construction project of the new Conservatory
Lebanese Prime Minister Mikati visited the China-aided Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music
中国援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目主体结构封顶
黎巴嫩音乐殿堂初现！援黎巴嫩国家高等音乐学院项目通过中期验收
China-funded conservatory in Lebanon to be center of attraction in Mideast: Lebanese PM
Feature: Overseas Chinese workers demonstrate commitment, tenacity in tackling project challenges
Lebanon keen to enhance cultural cooperation with China: minister Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.

All Grantees

Government of Lebanon

Interested in applying for this grant?

Complete our application form to express your interest and we'll guide you through the process.

Apply for This Grant