China to offer Guinea Bissau aid to reduce food shortage

China will soon offer Guinea Bissau cereals to enable the country to overcome the acute food shortage in rural areas, China's new ambassador to the country Wang Hua has said.

"The aid is in response to the appeal made by Guinea Bissau authorities regarding hunger that threatens the country's population, especially those in the rural areas," the Chinese diplomat said on Monday after signing an agreement in this regard with Guinea Bissau's Prime Minister Rui Duarte Barros.

The ambassador did not specify the quantity, nor the amount of aid.

A statement from Guinea Bissau's foreign ministry indicated that the aid was part of the support that China gives to Guinea Bissau each year.

"I am deeply touched by the decision of the Beijing government to respond to our appeal. The move will save thousands of our people from hunger," prime minister Barros said after the signing of the agreement.

Thousands of families are exposed to famine in the interior of Guinea Bissau due to poor commercialization of cashew nuts, the country's main cash crop and the key source of income for the farmers.