Africa and China
Resources
China’s hunger for resources has driven a boom in investment and aid to Africa. But Beijing’s role in the continent is increasingly attracting criticism, both in Africa and worldwide
China seeks Africa joint ventures
China’s state-backed Africa investment fund is seeking to break new ground by pushing Chinese companies to build infrastructure through joint ventures with African governments, according to a senior executive
China pledges $10bn in loans to Africa
Wen Jiabao, China’s premier, has pledged $10bn in new low-cost loans to Africa over the next three years and defended China’s engagement against accusations it is ‘plundering’ the continent’s oil and minerals
African traders lured by eastern promise
Raw materials account for most of South Africa’s exports to China but businesses in other sectors, including wine, are waking up to the potential of eastern markets
China’s appetite boosts South Africa
China, the fifth-largest export market for South Africa a year ago is now the most important destination for the country’s goods. Its emergence as South Africa’s number one export market coincides with signs of growing Chinese investment interest
Global Insight: Springing China’s forex trap
A growing number in Beijing are calling for some of China’s reserves to be channelled to the Bric nations – Brazil, Russia, India and China – and other developing countries
China and Kenya in infrastructure talks
Talks concern the possible development of a multi-billion dollar port and transport corridor that could provide a new export route for Chinese oil in southern Sudan
Ghana tries to block Exxon bid for Kosmos
Ghana National Petroleum Corporation is pushing CNOOC to make a counterbid for Kosmos, the US-based company that Exxon decided to acquire by signing an exclusive binding agreement worth more than $4bn
Editorial Comment: Hazards of doing business in Africa
Both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guinea, in West Africa fall woefully short when it comes to exploiting their natural assets for public gain
China in push for resources in Guinea
Talks could be concluded by the end of the year, according to Mohamed Thiam, the country’s minister of mines, on billions of dollars of financing for infrastructure and minerals projects
Regime eyes Chinese offer of lifeline
Under a Guinean plan, the China Investment Fund would provide the lion’s share of finance for about $7bn worth of projects, ranging from power-generation to the creation of an airline
