Zimbabwe expects to conclude negotiations for comprehensive financial aid with long-time ally China in the next three months as President Robert Mugabe's government seeks to revive a slowing economy, the finance minister said on Tuesday. The government requires $27 billion (16 billion pounds) - more than twice the size of its economy - to fund a five-year plan to improve basic services and rebuild the impoverished southern African country, according to state officials. Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa told journalists that he had travelled to Beijing for a week last month to negotiate for money that the government wants to boost the shaky economy. "During the visit we agreed that the government of the People's Republic of China and the government of Zimbabwe are working towards a comprehensive financial package and (we) committed ourselves to finalising the matter within three months," Chinamasa said, declining to give details.
Source: Reuters