Accra(Greater Accra) 27 Jan. '99

Ghana and China today signed an agreement for 50 million yuan (about six million dollars) which will be used on agreed private sector projects in Ghana.

Mr Dan Abodakpi, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry signed for Ghana while Mr Sun Guan Gxiang, Chinese Deputy Foreign Trade Minister, signed for his country.

Specific details for the use of the facility would be worked out later.

The agreement followed two hours of bilateral talks between the two sides presided over by Vice-President John Atta Mills and his Chinese counterpart, Mr Hu Jintao.

Mr Hu arrived in Accra on Tuesday at the head of a 30- member delegation for a three-day visit at the invitation of Vice-President Mills.

Those present at the talks included Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance, Dr John Frank Abu, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr James Victor Gbeho, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Enoch Teye Mensah, Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Mike Akyeampong, Deptuy Minister of Agriculture, as well as other members of the Chinese delegation.

Mr Abodakpi told reporters that discussions focused on political and economic co-operation between the two countries and peacekeeping in the West African sub-region.

He said they also discussed direct economic and financial support and Chinese participation in agriculture and food processing.

"We also looked at potential support from China in sports development," Mr Abodakpi said, adding that there were proposals to the Chinese to help build a sports complex for Ghana.

He said Ghana appealed to China to encourage her private sector to participate in the free zone programme through direct investment.

Mr Abodakpi described the talks as very fruitful saying, "there has been a positive response from the Chinese."

He said the two government would continue with discussions to arrive at definite conclusions over a wide area.