The Republic of Congo has received a donation of 3.5 billion FCFA (about US$7.6 million) from China to finance the central African country's health facilities.

An agreement on the donation was signed on Monday in the capital Brazzaville by Congolese Finance Minister Gilbert Ondongo and Chinese Ambassador to Congo Li Shuli.

At the signing ceremony, the Chinese diplomat announced that his government will continue channeling public aid to the country for its development despite the global financial crisis.

Under the agreement, the financial aid will go to the construction of Mfilou Hospital in the 7th Brazzaville district, the Landini Hospital in the Pointe Noire region and other projects to be agreed upon by the two sides.

The funding is part a public aid agreement between China and African countries, which also conforms to the promise made in November by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during the 40th ministerial conference on Sino-African cooperation held in Egypt.

During the conference, China and African countries agreed on the implementation of the action plans reached at the Beijing summit. They also adopted the 2010-2012 action plan to reinforce Sino-African cooperation.

The cooperation covers agriculture, food production, medicine, health, education, as well as academic and scientific training in the areas of energy and drinking water.

(Xinhua News Agency December 30, 2009)