Bujumbura, June 25, 2011_Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza on Friday officially launched a national program to construct at least 100 villages, the state-run radio reported.

The launch of the program in the province of Kayanza, some 100 km north of the Burundian capital Bujumbura, coincided with the official hand-over of donations of building materials by China and Morocco.

Chinese Ambassador to Burundi Yu Xuzhong handed over the donation of at least 30,000 iron sheets and 70 boxes of nails to the Burundian president.

Meanwhile, a special envoy of Morocco's King Mohamed VI donated some 70,000 iron sheets.

"Morocco and China are among the first nations which understood programs of the Burundian government," President Nkurunziza said.

He said Morocco was "the first country to have understood the Burundian government program of constructing villages which will allow the population to live in decent houses and have water and energy facilities."

Nkurunziza also praised China for assistance to the education sector.

"China has always been on our side. They (China) are notably assisting Burundi in the sectors education, health and infrastructure construction," the Burundian president said.

The Chinese envoy said the donation is to back Burundi's program of constructing schools, adding that China will also back the construction of villages in Burundi.

"We (China) will support the program of constructing villages because when people live together, it's easy to supply water and energy to them. It becomes also easy for them to go to school and to seek medical help because, I believe, schools and clinics will be constructed in those villages," Yu said.

After officially receiving the double donations, the Burundian president and his guests visited a site where a modern stadium is under construction.