The Chinese government on Wednesday donated USD120,000 worth of electronic items to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support the sub-regional body's peacekeeping missions.

Jiang Duan, counselor of the Chinese embassy in Nigeria, said that the items presented by Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Wang Yongqiu included computers, fax machines, copiers, satellite phones and their accessories.

In a speech delivered at the donation ceremony, the Chinese ambassador said the gesture was to demonstrate China's fraternity with ECOWAS and also a show of appreciation of the body's commitment to regional peace and security.

"Development can not take place without peace and security," Wang said, noting that last year was particularly full of challenges for the sub-region.

ECOWAS Executive Secretary Mohammed Ibn Chambas, who received the items, lauded the gesture and agreed that 2003 was particularly "very hard as most member states were facing one conflict or the other."

Ibn Chambas praised the Chinese government as well as the international community for their support which enabled the organization to deal with the conflicts.

He said the presentation was well timed as it coincided with the resumption of 14 officers recently recruited for the mission planning cell at the ECOWAS secretariat in Nigeria's capital Abuja.

(Xinhua News Agency September 16, 2004)