(Ecofin Agency) - South Sudan has reached a health cooperation agreement with China for the next five years. The information was reported by Xinhua, which cites official sources.

The deal between the two countries, inked last week, allows China to deploy its medical teams in the African nation over the period from 2021 to 2026. This move paves the way for strengthened cooperation between China's Anhui Medical University and South Sudan's Juba Teaching Hospital through knowledge sharing and capacity reinforcement.

Since South Sudan's independence in 2011, China has become one of its main partners in health, a sector that is greatly affected by the security and economic challenges facing Africa's youngest state.

Since 2013, Beijing claims it has sent eight medical teams to South Sudan to provide free medical services to the population. Recently, Beijing's health care workers were called in to help Juba cope with the covid-19 pandemic.

"We have always placed health care at the top of the agenda for cooperation between South Sudan and China," said Hua Ning (pictured left), China's ambassador to South Sudan. “We also hope that with the support of China and other members of the international community, the health sector here will continue to develop and benefit the people," he added.

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou