A road in Mozambique from the port city of Beira to Machipanda on the Zimbabwean border, which Chinese companies built and paid for, has opened to traffic, Xinhua reports.

The Chinese government-run news agency says the 287.3 km N6 road cost US$410 million.

The report quotes Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi as saying at the opening ceremony that construction of the road created 3,600 jobs for Mozambicans and gave many occupational training.

Mr Nyusi said the road, by cutting the journey from Beira to Machipanda to four hours from seven, will stimulate the development of farming and tourism, and facilitate export trade.

Sino-Mozambican cooperation will continue with a view to improving the Mozambican economy, Xinhua quotes Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Su Jian as saying.