The Speaker of the Mozambican Parliament today acknowledged the importance of cooperation with China, noting that the Asian country “has always stood by Mozambique’s side in the most difficult times.”
“China has always been present in Mozambique’s most difficult moments,” Esperança Bias said during a virtual meeting with Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
The president of the Mozambican Parliament recalled the support that China has provided to Mozambique in the face of the pandemic, highlighting that the Asian country was the first to supply vaccines against Covid-19 to Maputo.
“Although China has suffered greatly from the effects of this pandemic, it has helped Mozambique with several batches of vaccine,” Esperança Bias said.
According to the official, the two countries will continue efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, prioritizing the political and economic spheres.
“Relations between our two countries are ancient and have strengthened over time,” added the president of the Mozambican Parliament.
This morning, Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Macamo and Chinese Ambassador to Maputo Wang Hejun announced that Beijing would donate 13.9 million euros and cancel seven million euros of Mozambique’s debt.
At the end of the signing ceremony of the agreements, there was no opportunity for questions from journalists.
Still, in March 2021, the then Minister of Economy and Finance of Mozambique, Adriano Maleiane, said in Parliament that the country owed China 1.700 billion euros, equivalent to 16% of the total value of public debt (estimated at 10.420 billion euros).
Almost the entire amount (1.660 billion euros) was owed to China’s Exim Bank for the construction of roads and bridges, including the ring road around Maputo, the suspension bridge over Maputo Bay, and roads in the south, Maleiane said.