[China and Mozambique]
In 2013, the traditional friendship between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Mozambique further strengthened, with ever expanding cooperation in various fields.
The two countries maintained regular contact at the leadership level. In March, President Xi Jinping met President Armando Emilio Guebuza during the fifth BRICS Leaders' Meeting in Durban, South Africa, and the leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations. In November, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolences to President Guebuza over the crash of a Mozambique Airlines plane. In March, Mozambican President Guebuza sent a letter of congratulations to President Xi Jinping on his election. In April, President Guebuza sent a letter of consolation to President Xi Jinping on the earthquake in Lushan, Sichuan. In May, President Guebuza came to China to attend the Second Conference of the World Cultural Forum (Taihu, China) in Hangzhou and visited Hubei Province, Shanghai and Zhejiang Province. During the visit, he met with President Xi Jinping and Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Yu Zhengsheng in Beijing and Hangzhou respectively. In July, President Guebuza sent letters to President Xi Jinping, expressing sympathy over the storm and flood hitting multiple places in China and the earthquake in Gansu Province.
The two sides enjoyed close exchanges between various departments and at all levels. In 2013, CPPCC Vice Chairman Qi Xuchun, Governor of the People's Bank of China Zhou Xiaochuan, Vice Governor of Anhui Province Xie Guangxiang and Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Government of Macao Special Administrative Region Tam Pak Yuen visited Mozambique. From the Mozambican side, Chief of General Staff of the Defense Forces of Mozambique General Paulino Macaringue visited China. Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Oldemiro Baloi, Minister of Health Alexandre Manguele, Minister of Agriculture Jose Pacheco, Minister of Finance Manuel Chang and Minister of Industry and Trade Armando Inroga came to China to participate in international conferences or training programs.
Economic cooperation and trade between the two countries further deepened. In early 2013, the central and southern regions of Mozambique were struck by severe floods. In response, the Chinese government provided US$500,000 of emergency cash assistance. Progress was made in a number of key joint infrastructure projects, such as the Ring Road of Maputo and the Maputo-Catembe Bridge in Mozambique. An opening ceremony was held in Chokwe for the project of building a large-scale cold storage and agricultural products processing center contracted by Beijing Urban Construction Group Co. Ltd. China National Petroleum Corporation acquired a 28.57% stake in ENI East Africa with US$4.21 billion and 20% stake in Block Four of Rovuma natural gas basin.
Exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in other fields kept expanding. In February, the two sides signed an agreement for China to provide medical equipment to Mozambique. The Confucius Institute of Eduardo Mondelane University promoted the learning of the Chinese language by providing courses outside the campus. The Chinese TV series, Doudou and Her Sweet Days, was broadcast on Mozambican national TV.
On February 14, the new Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Li Chunhua presented his credentials to President Guebuza.
Editor:Yaling
