Niger President Mahamdou Issoufou and Chinese ambassador to Niger Shi Hu cut the ribbon at the inauguration of Niamey General Referral Hospital on Tuesday morning. (Xinhua/Hassane Yaye)
NIAMEY, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- China has given Niger an aid of 300 million yuan (over 45 million U.S. dollars) to fund several development projects including a modern hospital, an official source has said in Niamey.
The source said the economic and technical cooperation agreement was signed on July 29 in Beijing by Niger's Deputy Foreign Minister El Back Zeinabou Tari Bako.
She was in the Chinese capital to attend the meeting of coordinators monitoring the implementation of agreements during the Forum on China Africa Cooperation held in Johannesburg last year.
The funds will enable Nigerien government to complete construction of a referral hospital in Niamey, the third bridge along River Niger, as well as other development projects.
Cooperation between China and Niger dates a long time ago and China has invested considerable resources to support Niger's development actions in different socio-economic sectors.
Some of the projects constructed by China include General Seyni Kountche stadium, various roads, the second bridge on river Niger, the water project in Zinder, schools and training equipment in the health sector.
The newly-built Niamey General Referral Hospital. (Xinhua/Hassane Yaye)
The Niamey general referral hospital, inaugurated by Niger President Mahamdou Issoufou on Tuesday morning, has a capacity of 500 beds and is the biggest and most modern referral hospital in West Africa.
The hospital will be able to provide all services, including emergency, cardiology, 16 operation rooms, laboratory, blood bank, imaging and hospitalization.
It will equally serve as a medical training center and will provide both in-patient and out-patient services.
Tari Bako said the expected completion of the third bridge on river Niger will help to ease traffic on both sides of the river in Niamey.
"African countries should continue supporting the implementation of projects agreed upon during the Johannesburg Forum for the benefit of our states," she concluded.
