Bangui receives another grant from China

The People's Republic of China has granted another 100 million francs CFA (US $176,885) to the Central African Republic to support the government's reconstruction efforts, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Thursday. The radio reported that Chinese Ambassador Wang Sifa made the announcement on Wednesday during a meeting with the chairman of the National Transitional Council, Nicolas Tiangaye. The grant is the second by China to the new administration of Francois Bozize, who seized power in a coup on 15 March. In April, China gave $2.5 million to help pay the May salaries of civil servants. On 9 June, China approved an interest-free loan of $2.5 million to the new administration, to be repaid in five years. China made the latest grant as the government launched an appeal for 80 billion francs ($141.5 million) for reconstruction during the transitional period that Bozize has said will last until January 2005. In addition to China, the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African States gave Bozize's administration a $8.3 million grant on 2 June.