Trade between China and Mozambique nears $3 billion this year, up from 2013

MAPUTO, Mozambique – China's ambassador to Mozambique says trade between the two countries increased to nearly $3 billion this year.

Ambassador Li Chunhua said that trade had risen from $1.64 billion in 2013 to $2.94 billion between January and October 2014.

The ambassador said cooperation had expanded from traditional sectors such as infrastructure development and agriculture to include manufacturing and tourism. Li spoke about relations between the two countries Wednesday evening in the capital Maputo at a photographic exhibition.

The ambassador said China is Mozambique's third largest trading partner, after South Africa and the European Union.

He added that more than a 1,100 Mozambicans have been trained in various Chinese institutions.

According to Li, about 60 Chinese companies operate in Mozambique and its southern African neighbors.