GABORONE, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Science and Technology has donated seven modularized container clinics to Botswana's Ministry of Health and Wellness in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana.

The clinics are equipped with general diagnostic equipment and other basic medical facilities.

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Wednesday, Wang Bangfu, charge d'affaires of Chinese Embassy in Botswana, said it marked a beginning to provide mobile medical services to people in remote areas.

Wang noted that the mobile clinics would help meet medical needs in the rural areas of the southern African country.

He said health cooperation is an important part of the bilateral cooperation and demonstrates the time-honored friendship between China and Botswana.

For his part, Alfred Madigele, Botswana's health minister, commended China for increasing participation in healthcare initiatives.

"The donation will benefit our people in providing basic healthcare services in areas with no clinics and health posts," Madigele said, adding that the ministry's intention is to distribute the clinics to villages with a population less than 20,000.

China and Botswana established diplomatic relations in 1975. China began to send medical teams to Botswana since 1981. For the past 37 years, China has sent 15 medical teams and more than 500 Chinese doctors to Botswana.