Signing the debt write-off note were Zhang Hongtie, Chinese consul-general in Zanzibar, and Khamis Mussa Omar, principal secretary in the Zanzibar ministry for finance and economic affairs.

The principal secretary thanked the Chinese government for its assistance to the development of Zanzibar's economy.

The consul-general said that China would continue to support Zanzibar's efforts in poverty reduction and achievement of sustainable development so as to further the ties between Zanzibar and China.

China has been assisting the Indian Ocean archipelago in such fields as agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, education, public health, housing, information, culture and sports.