China gives Bangui US $83,000 for national talks

China has granted 50 million francs CFA (US $83,000) to the Central African Republic to support the on-going national reconciliation talks, state-owned Radio Centrafrique reported on Wednesday. This follows a $108,000-Chinese donation in March to the then new administration in the country. Former army chief of staff Francois Bozize seized power on 15 March from President Ange-Felix Patasse. The talks' coordination team received 100 million francs CFA ($166,000) from Gabon in February. Government spokesman Zarambaud Assingambi said on Television Centrafricaine on Monday that the talks' coordination team had only four million francs CFA ($6,600) in its bank account. Patasse's administration had estimated the budget for the talks would be 750 million francs CFA ($1.25 million). The talks, headed by the Rev Isaac Zokoe, opened on Monday with 350 delegates in attendance. The delegates set up five commissions on Wednesday, to discuss truth and reconciliation; political and diplomatic issues; economy and finances and education, social and cultural issues and sports. The talks are scheduled to end on 30 September.