BUJUMBURA, May 14 (ANA) – Chinese Vice President Li Younchao has announced that China has decided to increase its aid to Burundi.
At the end of his three-day visit to Burundi on Friday, Li said Burundi was a long-time friend that China was not about to abandon.
“We decided to increase the direct aid to Burundi,” he told reporters in Bujumbura. “This aid will cover different domains like agriculture, breeding, health, energy sector, infrastructures, etc,” he said.
However, the extent of the promised aid was not specified. Li only said his country would give “budgetary support that Burundi could reimburse without interest”.
Education was also raised during the visit. “China has decided to increase the number of scholarships for Burundian students,” he said.
The Burundian authorities welcomed China’s support. Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Aimé Nyamitwe indicated this was both a sign that Burundi had regained peace and evidence that one could invest in Burundi.
“China did not want to unilaterally halt aid and co-operation, as did other partners,” he said, adding that the Chinese vice president’s visit to Burundi was a “good political sign”.
China has supported Burundi since 1963 when co-operation between the two countries began.
Asked about China’s position on the inter-Burundian dialogue, Li said his country “could not interfere in another sovereign country’s affairs”. The inter-Burundian crisis would be addressed by Burundians themselves, he said.
About a week ago, the European Union again urged an inclusive dialogue to definitely end the political crisis in Burundi.
– African News Agency (ANA)
