Guinea's military rulers have agreed a huge mining and oil deal with China, officials have told the BBC, amid continuing criticism of the junta¹.

几内亚官方向BBC透露，尽管政府批评不断，其军事统治者同意与中国签署巨额采矿、石油协议。

Guinea says the deal will help the nation\'s poorest people

Mines minister Mahmoud Thiam said a Chinese firm would invest more than $7bn (£4.5bn) in infrastructure².

In return, the company would be a "strategic partner" in all mining projects in the mineral-rich nation.

Guineans are currently on strike to remember dozens of protesters killed by soldiers during a rally（集会） two weeks ago.

The shootings were widely condemned³ by international leaders and opposition⁴ groups within Guinea.

Agricultural Minister Abdourahmane Sano resigned on Monday, saying he could no longer show solidarity⁵（团结） with the government.

And the president of West Africa's economic bloc⁶, Ecowas, warned that the country was in danger of slipping into another dictatorship（独裁政权）.

There are widespread calls for junta leader Captain Moussa Dadis Camara to step down.

After last December's coup⁷ he promised to lead a transitional（变迁的，过渡期的） government and hand power back to civilians⁸ after an election scheduled for January 2010.

But there has been growing anger at reports that he intends to stand for president.

'Placing foundations'

China has been praised recently by think-tanks and African leaders for choosing to invest in infrastructure and business in Africa, rather than doling⁹ out aid money.

But analysts¹⁰ say the timing¹¹ of the Guinea deal is likely to stir（激起，搅合） controversy¹², as the legitimacy¹³ of Guinea's government is under question.

Mr Thiam dismissed those concerns, saying the government is trying only to help the people.

"We are all in a transition, putting down foundations. We hope that the government that follows us will follow suit," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.

He did not name the firm involved, but said it was the same firm that has invested billions in Angola - the Hong Kong registered China International Fund.

He said the firm would help build ports, railway lines, power plants, low-cost housing and even a new administrative¹⁴ centre in the capital, Conakry.

He said a national mining firm would be set up, with the Chinese company becoming "strategic partners".

"All the government's stakes in various mining projects will be put in that mining company. Future mining permits or concessions¹⁵ that the government decided¹⁶ to develop on its own will be put in that company," he said.

There has been no word from the Chinese side.

Guinea is thought to have the world's largest reserves（储量） of the aluminium¹⁷ ore, bauxite¹⁸（铝土岩）.