China has agreed to lend Ghana 38 million dollars to help the west African country upgrade its telecommunication network and finance other projects. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered the low-interest loan package Sunday during talks with Ghana's President John Kufuor in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
The money will be used to boost Ghana's communications infrastructure by increasing the number of phone lines and improving Internet access. The loans will also finance medical programs in Ghana using Chinese expertise. Chinese state media say trade with Ghana has increased from 76 million dollars in 1995 to 760 million dollars last year.
The Chinese premier is visiting Ghana on the second leg of an African tour, which is primarily aimed at expanding energy resources for China's fast-growing economy. He travels to the Republic of Congo today (Monday).