Maputo — The Chinese government pledged on Monday, in the special administrative region of Macau, to provide 46 million US dollars in grants and loans to be used in improving health infrastructures in Mozambique.
The agreements to this effect were signed by Mozambican Foreign Minister Oldemiro Baloi and Chinese Trade Minister Gao Hucheng, who are both attending the fourth edition of the Macau Forum, which coincides with the tenth anniversary of the creation of this forum.
The purpose of the Forum is to encourage economic relations and cooperation between Portuguese speaking countries and China
Half the sum is a grant of 23 million dollars to build a paediatric ward in Beira Central Hospital. The other 23 million dollars is a soft loan, on which no interest will be charged, for the construction of residence for the 12 Chinese doctors who are currently working in Maputo.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Baloi expressed satisfaction at the growing level of multi-sector cooperation between Mozambique and China, which the Macau Forum has helped to consolidate.
Gao Hucheng said that the agreement was a clear example of the success of the Forum, and “consolidates the conviction of joint development”.