Visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Signs Agreements with Zimbabwe
 2016-12-20 18:00:53  

HARARE, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming on Friday signed four agreements with the Zimbabwe government in a move to further cement bilateral relations.

The agreements were a 60 million yuan (about 10 million U. S. dollars) interest-free loan for Zimbabwe to purchase road equipment for rural district councils, food donation, 2 million dollars worth of agricultural equipment and a donation of an outside broadcasting van for the national broadcaster.

Chen signed all the agreements on behalf of the Chinese government. The documents were signed by Zimbabwean ministers of agriculture, information and finance.

Earlier, Chen, who is leading an 11-member trade and economic delegation to the southern African country, met Acting President Joyce Mujuru and Acting Foreign Affairs Minister Nicholas Goche on bilateral cooperation.

The Zimbabwean officials updated the Chinese minister on major developments in the country, noting that the country had just completed a draft constitution which will be put to a referendum in March.

Chen told Mujuru that China attached great importance to Africa and would further its relations with the continent for greater mutual benefits.

He said Africa is among the first to be visited by Chinese leader Xi Jinping after he takes office next month.

He will attend the fifth annual BRICS summit in South Africa towards the end of March.

Source: Xinhua