Lisbon, April 15, 2026 (Lusa) - Mozambique’s president, Daniel Chapo, left on Wednesday for a seven-day state visit to China seeking to mobilise funding for “structural projects.”
A presidency note said the president would mobilise resources to fund structural projects with high social and economic impact and boost the national economy, focusing on priority sectors including infrastructure, mining, energy and agriculture.
The president is visiting China from 16 to 22 April at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
Mozambique "aims to strengthen political, diplomatic and economic cooperation with China and deepen dialogue on international matters, including Global South issues, United Nations reform and climate change," the presidency added.
The visit "is part of deepening the Global Strategic Partnership" between the two countries, "reflecting the common will to consolidate historical ties of friendship, solidarity and mutually beneficial cooperation."
MPs, government members and other officials accompany the president, who leaves Maputo at 11:00 a.m. (10:00 a.m. in Lisbon) on Wednesday at Maputo Air Base.
China's government said on Tuesday the visit would deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
"This visit will promote the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Mozambique and contribute to building a solid China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, while strengthening solidarity and cooperation in the Global South," foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a Beijing press conference.
"Mutual political trust between the two countries is deepening, with fruitful results in cooperation across various areas and close cooperation on international and regional issues," he said.
This is the president’s first visit to China since he took office as Mozambique’s fifth president in January 2025. He will meet Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, the speaker of parliament, and will also visit Hunan and Qinghai.
The president told his Chinese counterpart on 18 February that he wanted to strengthen cooperation in 2026 and reaffirmed support for the "One China" principle.
He said 2026, the Year of People-to-People Cooperation (cultural and social exchange between citizens), holds special meaning by promoting friendship and solidarity within their partnership.
Mozambique paid China over €36 million in debt service in 2025, according to November data from the finance ministry. The country’s debt to China reached $1.347 billion (€1.158 billion) in late June.
China’s government forgave interest on loans granted to Mozambique until 2024 and donated €12 million in October.
"We had two positive pieces of news from President Xi Jinping. One was a donation of 100 million yuan [€12 million] and the cancellation of interest on loans to Mozambique until 2024," Prime Minister Maria Benvinda Levi said on her arrival from China.
PVJ/LYT // ADB.
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