MAPUTO, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Mozambique and China have signed an agreement under which China pledged to provide 5,700 tons of rice to support Mozambican people affected by the natural disasters throughout the southeastern African country.

The agreement, disclosed Thursday by the Mozambican government in a statement, was signed last week by Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Jose Pacheco and Chinese Ambassador to Mozambique Su Jian.

"Through the legal instrument, the government of China will provide 5,700 tons of rice to strengthen the food security program and provide assistance to victims of natural disasters in the country," read the statement.

The statement also said that the donation is under the framework of the partnership established between the two countries and one of the results of Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi's visit to China, in the context of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.

In the years 2016 and 2017, China made available 17,000 tons of rice to support Mozambique, according to the statement.