Ghana has learned a lot from its Chinese friends in the last 40 years of ties, said Ghanaian ambassador Afare Donkor here on Sunday.

"The most important thing China has done for us is not giving us fish, but teaching us how to fish, " the ambassador said.

Since Sino-Ghana diplomatic ties were established, China has extended various forms of assistance to Ghana for the construction of irrigation projects, vocational training centers, a national theatre and other infrastructure development projects, Donkor said.

Chinese firms have also been engaged by the government of Ghanato undertake some construction projects involving roads, stadiums, drainage systems, dam and office building and telecommunications projects, he said.

"We have learned a lot from Chinese workers, and we were impressed a lot by their disciplined and highly effective work," Donkor said.

He also welcomed China's investment in real estate, tourism, mineral extraction and processing of agricultural produce.

As one of the approved tourist destinations for Chinese tourists, Ghana is famous for its wildlife beauty.

"Chinese visitors will encounter the most hospitable people in the whole of Africa, and will experience the unique Ghanaian hospitality and warmth wherever they go in the country," Donkor said.

Donkor, 64, who arrived in Beijing in 2002, was an economist before becoming a diplomat. His term in China will end at the end of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2008)