Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visited the West African nation of Togo on Tuesday, stopping at the tomb of the country's former dictator and promising aid for areas such as health care and education.

Yang and his Togolese counterpart, Elliott Ohin, signed a deal for a six million euro grant in Kara, the ruling party's home base and native region of longtime leader General Gnassingbe Eyadema, whose son is now president state media said.

The grant is to be used for projects related to agriculture, health care and education.

"In recent years, especially since the state visit by Mr. Gnassingbe to China in 2006, relations between the two countries have moved on an accelerated course of development, marked by unfailing mutual political trust," Yang told reporters, speaking through a translator.

President Faure Gnassingbe visited China in 2006.

Yang, on an African tour, held talks with Gnassingbe in Kara and visited a Chinese-built hospital.

He also visited the tomb of the president's father, who ruled the country with an iron fist for 38 years until his death in 2005, state television showed.

China, which has invested heavily in Africa as it seeks to fulfill its growing need for natural resources, has financed a significant number of projects in Togo, including construction of the country's largest stadium.

Togo's main commodity is phosphates and the country produces cotton, among other crops, though the small nation is among the poorest in the region.