China will donate two new maritime patrol ships to Cape Verde on Friday as part of a military co-operation protocol between the two nations, Cape Verde newspaper A Nação reported.

The Minister of Defense of Cape Verde, Rui Semedo, said the move showed the African country has “credibility”.

“[The move shows Cape Verde] has been able to mobilise partnerships and support from different areas of the world,” Mr Semedo added on Tuesday, as quoted by the newspaper.

The two patrol ships to be delivered to Cape Verde’s Coast Guard will be used to reinforce the authorities’ work against drug trafficking, the media outlet added.

The donation follows a protocol signed in 2013 between China’s Ministry of National Defense and its Cape Verdean counterpart. Under the agreement, China offers Cape Verde free-of-charge military support.

Other military equipment offered by China includes four fully equipped exercise gymnasiums, a uniform factory, and office supplies, the newspaper reported.