In addition to material supplies, the Chinese government has also provided financial contribution of 400 millions Ariary (some 218,579 US dollars) to Madagascar for Indian Ocean Islands Games, scheduled to take place here from August 9 until 19 this year.

An agreement was signed here on Wednesday, between Chinese Ambassador to the Island country, Li Shuli and Madagascan Minister of Sports, Michel Philmon Rabarison.

"China whish to bring its contribution to the success of the Games", Li Shuli said during the signing ceremony.

The agreement was related to the material supplies of Madagascan National athletes and the first portion of 20 millions Ariary had been provided for 16 disciplines of the Islands games, according to the Nouvelles, a French-language daily, published here on Friday.

Except material and financial assistance, China also sent several engineers and coaches to help maintain an athletics track and to train Madagascan athletes. Rehabilitation and renovation of sports installations will start very soon.

"This act already testifies the good relationship between Madagascar and China. China has always given her hand to Madagascar in all fields," Rabarison stressed.

The collaboration between the two countries had also been marked by the official welcoming of 4 Chinese experts in swimming, table tennis, volleyball and weightlifting. The 5th technician in taekwondo will be in the country by the end of this week, media here said.

They would share their technical instructions to the national athletes until the beginning of the Games. The persons in charge of each federation had already started to discuss with those technicians to develop a training program.

Source: Xinhua