China hands 100 low-cost flats to government

The government of the People's Republic of China on Tuesday handed over 100 low-cost flats to the Central African Republic (CAR) leader, Francois Bozize, in So, a village located 15 km from the capital, Bangui, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Tuesday. The radio said the flats, which took more than six years to build, were the result of a US $6.19 million agreement signed by the two countries in November 1998. The aim was to enable civil servants to have better access to good housing and the possibility to buy the flats in the long run at low prices. Construction was repeatedly interrupted by the crises that CAR underwent between 2001 and 2003. Speaking during the ceremony, Bozize said this was the beginning of a programme that would cover provincial towns. The ceremony took place one week after Bozize officially launched the construction by China of a 20,000-seat football stadium in Bangui. Work is due to last until 2006. China is among the first states to have resumed cooperation with the CAR after the 15 March coup that brought Bozize to power after overthrowing Ange-Felix Patasse.