Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday announced a grant of 18 billion FCFA and an interest-free loan of 8 billion FCFA to Mali, according to reports emanating from China where Malian president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is currently visiting.
Keita is in China to participate in the International Economic Forum, also known as Summer Davos of Tianjin.
According to Li Keqiang, the Chinese government has also offered 600 scholarships to Malian students over a period of three years.
He also announced the construction of a training centre dedicated to the construction industry which will be completed by 2015, the completion of the Agricultural Technical Centre in Baguineda, 30km east of Bamako, explorations in mining as well as financial support to Mali.
During his visit which ends Friday, fruitful exchanges between the two sides resulted in the signing of several agreements in the areas of transportation, construction, energy, industry and mining.
