The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and China signed on Tuesday an economical agreement, under which China will provide the PNA US$2.5 million to help reconstruct Palestine's deteriorating economy.
The economic cooperation agreement, as both sides called, was signed by PNA Planning Minister Nabil Shaath and Chinese Representative to the PNA Wu Jiuhong in Gaza City.
Shaath told Xinhua that he was glad to sign the agreement with China, the friend of the Palestinian people, "which has always been supporting the Palestinians since the Palestinian revolution started in 1965."
"The total sum of the aid would be US$2.5 million as part of China's support to the Palestinian people and our leadership," said Shaath.
He said that the money will be used in reconstructing Palestinian houses that had been razed by Israeli bulldozers, adding that China also funded several projects in Gaza and the West Bank.
"We really need more support to help us build up what has been destroyed by every Israeli army operation in towns like Khan Younis, Rafah, Al-Bureij and Beit Lahya," said Shaath.
For his part, Wu said "China's political stand towards the Palestinian cause is clear," adding that "China has been supporting the Palestinians economically and politically since the early 1960s."
He said that China would exert every possible effort to help improve the life of the Palestinian people.
(People's Daily December 11, 2002)
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