China plans to donate US$50 million to Cape Verde to acquire to patrol ships for the Coat Guard and for construction of a uniform production unit for the Armed Forces, pan-African news agency Panapress reported.

The additional protocol signed Tuesday in the Cape Verdean capital, as part of the 2009 cooperation agreement, which was strengthened in 2012, also includes assembly of four modern gyms in different military regions of the country, in order to develop the military sport programme on the archipelago.

Cape Verde’s Defence Minister, Jorge Tolentino said that the two patrol ships were due to arrive in Cape Verde in the next six months and would be used by the Coast Guard to patrol and observe the country’s territorial waters as well as assisting with efforts to fight drug trafficking.

According to the minister this donation from China is part of a wider view of two-way relations, which takes into account investments and Chinese interests in the archipelago, particulalry exploration of the CabNave shipyard, in São Vicente, amongst other areas set out in the 2009 cooperation agreement.

Between 2000 and 2011, China channelled US$210.8 million into development projects in Cape Verde, US$116 million in tourism, US$61.1 million for emergency situation, US$22.7 million for social facilities and services, US$5.9 million for agriculture and US$4.9 million for health. (macauhub)