The foundation stone for the construction of the headquarters of Cameroon's General Directorate of Customs was laid on Tuesday in Yaounde, the capital.   

YAOUNDE, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The foundation stone for the construction of the headquarters of Cameroon's General Directorate of Customs was laid on Tuesday in Yaounde, the capital. 

The construction contract was awarded to China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), Cameroonian Minister of Finance Louis Paul Motaze said at the ceremony.

"The (Cameroonian) government attaches great importance to China-Cameroon relations. The construction project of the headquarters of Cameroon's General Directorate of Customs is a perfect illustration and an achievement of bilateral cooperation," Motaze said.

The new building is expected to embellish the capital city of Yaounde, as part of a broader program to modernize state services, he added.

Cui Haozhen, representative from the CMEC, said the company is determined to build the site into a new landmark of the capital, contributing China's strength to Cameroon's governance modernization.

"We will mobilize our best teams, the most reliable technologies and materials, and advanced management from China to fully guarantee the quality, safety, and accelerate the progress of the project," Cui said in his speech during the ceremony.

"We will work closely with the client, the supervision team, the engineers, and all partners transparently and efficiently to ensure that this project becomes a model project -- safe, reliable, and of superior quality," he added.

The project, located near the Presidential Palace, is expected to provide a modern office environment and enhance administrative efficiency.■