Tunisia, China sign economic, technical cooperation agreement

Chinese  Ambassador to Tunisia Zhang Jianguo (L) and Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Othman Jerandi pose for a photo during the signing ceremony of  an economic and technical cooperation agreement between Tunisia and  China in Tunis, Tunisia, on April 6, 2021. Tunisia and China signed the  economic and technical cooperation agreement here on Tuesday. (Photo by  Adel Ezzine/Xinhua)

TUNIS, April 6 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia and China signed on Tuesday an  economic and technical cooperation agreement at the headquarters of the  Tunisian Foreign Ministry in Tunis, capital of Tunisia.

The cooperation agreement, signed by Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia  Zhang Jianguo and Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Othman Jerandi, "shows, once again, the sincerity and the quality of the friendship  between our two peoples and countries," said Zhang.

Some projects Tunisia carried out with the assistance of the Chinese  government have become symbols of the cooperation between the two  countries, such as the Ben Arous sports center and the Tunisian  diplomatic academy which are expected to be delivered by the end of the  year, he noted.

"By signing this agreement, I hope we (China and Tunisia) can very  quickly target and discuss one or more projects that we will implement  together for the benefit of the Tunisian people," Zhang concluded.

For his part, Jerandi said the new agreement with China "will allow  Tunisia to benefit from a Chinese financial donation that will serve  development in the country."

"Once again, this donation testifies to the solidarity and strong links between Tunisia and China," he told Xinhua.

Speaking of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Jerandi said Tunisia "is  very grateful for the aid from China, which included large quantities of COVID-19 vaccines and preventive health equipment."

The partnership between Tunisia and China is manifested, in  particular, through several development projects that have an important  impact on the lives of the Tunisian people, the Tunisian top diplomat  noted.

Besides the Ben Arous sports center and the Tunisian diplomatic  academy, other China-aided projects in Tunisia include the sports and  cultural centers of Menzah 6 in the north of Tunis, the new university  hospital in the southeastern province of Sfax, and the construction of  the Medjerda River canal in the northwest of the North African country.  Enditem