China hopes to enhance industrial co-operation with Mozambique; and has companies, both state-run and private, that are already interested in doing so. Li Chunhua, the Chinese Ambassador to the country, mentioned the idea on Friday in Maputo.

“After over 40 years of economic reforms, China now has the necessary conditions to strengthen industrial co-operation, which is something that meets the needs of African countries, including Mozambique”, said Mr Li. He was speaking on the sidelines of celebrations marking four decades of diplomatic relations between Mozambique and the rest of the world.

Speaking to Portuguese news agency Lusa, the Ambassador stressed that China is not merely interested in African natural resources, but is looking for co-operation that can bring “mutual benefits”, including with countries that have few known natural resources, such as Cape Verde.

Mr Li, who will soon end his tenure, also noted that co-operation between China and Mozambique has been growing since 1975.

According to Lusa, in 2014, China was the fifth largest foreign investor in Mozambique, with an overall investment of 65 million euros (US$72,8 million). Bilateral trade reached 3 billion euros (US$3.4 billion) last year.