Vol 6 (AAC) No 9 | GABONCHINA Tax troubles but business buoyant 2nd July 2013 Despite the legal actions and environmental problems, relations between the governments of Gabon and China are still strong Punitive action against a Chinese oil company following a tax dispute has not undercut Libreville-Beijing ties. Although the government revoked Sinopec-owned Addax Petroleum’s oil permit in Obangue in...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 9 | TANZANIACHINA Pipeline and transparency protests 2nd July 2013 The details of contracts signed during President Xi Jinping's March visit – and their implications – are still filtering through Major Chinese investments, such as the new US$10 billion port to be built north of Dar es Salaam in Bagamoyo, are raising concerns amongst both the opposition and...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 9 | SOUTH AFRICACHINA Han Fang 2nd July 2013 President, Shanghai Chamber of Commerce in South Africa Chinese entrepreneur Han Fang, new President of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce in South Africa, moved to the country two decades ago and has since established a business...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 8 | CONGO-KINSHASACHINA Too great expectations 31st May 2013 The Sicomines deposits contain smaller copper reserves than predicted and some detect deep problems in the partnership with China In early May, Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo Mapon sent shockwaves through Kinshasa when he told the United Nations-backed Radio Okapi that the partnership between Congo-Kinshasa and China...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 8 | ZIMBABWECHINA Small beer from Beijing 31st May 2013 Vice-President Wang Yang’s visit sees scrabbling state media rerun an old warning to Chinese companies from Prime Minister Tsvangirai Zimbabwe's new constitution finally passed into law on 22 May and the way is now clear for elections. The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front is pushing for the...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 8 | SIERRA LEONECHINA Doors opening 31st May 2013 China’s Kingho Energy has big ideas for Sierra Leone, but such plans could go the way of many other ambitious investments. The US$6 billion agreement the company signed...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 8 | CHINA Hu Huaibang 31st May 2013 Chairman, China Development Bank Hu Huaibang, outgoing Chairman of Shanghai-based Bank of Communications, replaced Chen Yuan as Chairman of China Development Bank in May. As of February, the CDB had...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 8 | CHINA Li Baodong 31st May 2013 Ambassador to the United Nations, China Li Baodong called on Western countries to help African governments strengthen the institutions that are designed to fight terrorism. He told the Xinhua Chinese news agency in May...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 7 | ZAMBIACHINA Reality replaces Sata’s rhetoric 2nd May 2013 On President Sata’s inaugural trip to China, Beijing’s former critic welcomed Chinese investment as long as it produces clear benefits for Zambia In opposition, he lambasted the role of Chinese companies in the Zambian economy, but President Michael Chilufya Sata’s April state visit to China marked a point of closure...
Vol 6 (AAC) No 7 | ZAMBIACHINA The grass is greener in Beijing 2nd May 2013 In April, Zambian President Michael Chilufya Sata was in China praising the Beijing government. Vice-President Guy Scott was doing much the same thing in mid-March – but at...