BEIJING (Reuters) - China is set to loan Ethiopia $100
million and donate a fleet of 90 vehicles to help the African state complete
its water supply projects, the Xinhua state news agency said.
China's Vice Commerce Minister Jiang Yaoping and Ethiopian
Finance Minister Sufian Ahmed signed a deal for the loan on Wednesday, Xinhua
said. It did not say when the money will be disbursed.
The loan will help pay for deep well water projects in
Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa while the fleet of 90 vehicles -- 65 cars and 25
buses -- would be used to "serve state guests", Xinhua said.
Government leaders from both sides said the loan
demonstrated good bilateral relations which would improve further with deeper
trade and investment links.
China's increasing reliance on Africa for oil and mineral
resources, as well as diplomatic support, has been backed in recent years by
more monetary aid from Beijing.
A separate Xinhua report said China handed over to Ethiopia
on Wednesday a modern hospital built by Beijing at a cost of 80 million yuan to
"promote friendship" between the two states.
But critics say China's aid is too often tied to its
investment interests and can undermine efforts to encourage clean government in
Africa because it does not demand the same kind of accountability as Western
aid does.
China says its aid comes with no strings attached, is
welcomed by African nations and has benefited millions of ordinary people.
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