China to give $150mn aid to El Salvador

China will give El Salvador $150mn to spur development of social and technological projects, the Salvadoran president said, the latest sign of deepening ties between the countries that has alarmed the US.

Salvadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren recently returned from his first trip to China since the countries established diplomatic ties in August.

Speaking on local television, Ceren said he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the visit and agreed to 13 joint projects, without providing details.

The donation marks China’s latest gambit to make inroads in Central America, a campaign that has drawn the ire of the US.

Earlier this year, El Salvador cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China, following the Dominican Republic and Panama.

The US promptly recalled its ambassadors in the region.

“This historic meeting between the governments of the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of El Salvador has produced excellent results,” Ceren said. “This confirms that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China is my government’s most important decision in foreign policy.”

Speaking in Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the two countries had agreed to a series of co-operation projects, including in infrastructure and education, when the two presidents met in China last week.

“The friendly co-operation between China and El Salvador is developing smoothly and rapidly,” Hua told a news briefing.

“China is willing to provide what help it can for El Salvador’s economic and social development. The relevant help will be focused on people’s pressing welfare needs in El Salvador,” she added.

The date when the funds will be received has not been set, a spokesman for the Salvadoran government said.

China will also donate three thousand tonnes of rice to support Salvadorans who are reeling from a drought in July and floods in October, Ceren said.