The governments of China and Mozambique signed two cooperation agreements last week to finance the construction of a US$50-million Mozambique-China Cultural Centre.

The Chinese Embassy in the African country said in a statement that the signing of the economic and technical cooperation agreements took place after a meeting on February 26 between Li Chunhua, the Chinese Ambassador, and Nyeleti Mondlane, Deputy Foreign and Cooperation Minister of Mozambique.

The statement did not mention the content of the deals. But both officials later told Mozambican news agency AIM that the agreements included a US$50-million financing deal by China to Mozambique for a cultural centre. Construction is due to start in the first half of this year. Half of the money will be donated by China while the rest will be granted by China as interest-free loans, the agency reported.

Mr Li was quoted in the Embassy’s statement saying China “attaches great importance” to bilateral ties with Mozambique. Official diplomatic relations between both countries were first established 40 years ago.

China has always been “one of the major partners” of the African country and both sides should facilitate further exchanges, said Ms Mondlane.

The cultural centre will be located at the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, capital of Mozambique, and will include a 1,500-seat auditorium, AIM reported.