China will give priority to financing energy and agriculture infrastructure projects in Angola as part of an ongoing bilateral co-operation, Angola news agency Angop reported.

The news came after the conclusion of a meeting of the Joint Commission on Bilateral Cooperation between China and Angola held in Beijing on Thursday.

The agency quoted Angola’s State Secretary for Cooperation Ângela Bragança stating after the meeting that Chinese funding would help promote industrial development in different areas.

She added China had also “expressed interest” in setting up branches of some Chinese banks in Angola in the short term to boost bilateral financial co-operation.

Laura Alcântara, Angola’s State Secretary for Economy, said following the meeting that the country expected to receive more Chinese investment to help implement Angola’s Economic Diversification Programme.

The two countries have meanwhile agreed to enhance ties in tertiary education, with the number of scholarships offered by China to students from Angola increasing from 160 to 231 a year, Angop reported.