Friday, 20 June 2008

Business Spectator - Why G8 needs China

Because of its size and manufacturing orientation, China is more economically sophisticated and more integrated into the global economy than Russia, which remains primarily an energy exporter. China also respects private property and the rights of foreign investors better than Russia, and is significantly less corrupt. China is not a democracy, but that hardly distinguishes it in practice from the current Russian regime.
Business Spectator - Why G8 needs China

Thursday, 19 June 2008

Centre for Chinese Studies, Stellenbosch, RSA

The Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS) was conferred the status of a Confucius Institute by PRC Education Minister Dr Zhou Ji during his visit to South Africa in June 2004. The CCS is thus one of only five Confucius Institutes on the African continent, the others having been established in Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. The Centre has since forged a strategic partnership with Peking University in Beijing in order to fulfil the mandate of the Confucius Institute. The CCS acts as a bridge for liaison between South African society and China to facilitate the promotion of Chinese language, cultural and knowledge in South Africa and the region.
Centre for Chinese Studies

Special report: The Chinese in Africa

At its best, China's quest is generating business that the West is too timid to undertake. But the secrecy and elitism that already define the government of China, and many of those in Africa, are poised to usher in a toxic intercontinental corruption we can hardly yet imagine.
Zimbabwe News | HARARETRIBUNE.COM

AFP: Court rules Chinese South Africans can now be called black

A court on Wednesday issued a landmark ruling classifying Chinese South Africans as black, making them eligible for benefits for those discriminated against under the former apartheid regime.
AFP: Court rules Chinese South Africans can now be called black

We agree that you are black, South African court tells Chinese - Times Online

They have already taken over much of the continent’s economy. Now they have gone one step farther. The Chinese in South Africa were officially declared “black” yesterday.
We agree that you are black, South African court tells Chinese - Times Online

BBC NEWS | Africa | S Africa Chinese 'become black'

The High Court in South Africa has ruled that Chinese South Africans are to be reclassified as black people.
BBC NEWS | Africa | S Africa Chinese 'become black'

Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Namibia: Rundu Road Workers Sign Contracts

Felix Musukubuli found that China Henan for International Cooperation (CHICO) recruited workers without having entered into employment contracts, and that the employer also did not have employment records of his employees. Felix also found that CHICO did not comply with the minimum wage in the construction industry, because they (CHICO) were paying employees N$5 an hour, which is way below the N$8,44 required by the Labour Act in the construction industry.
allAfrica.com: Namibia: Rundu Road Workers Sign Contracts (Page 1 of 1)
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The weapon of rape at Paulo Coelho’s Blog

When the governments of South Africa, China, Libya and Indonesia support Sudan’s positions in Darfur, do they really mean to adopt a pro-rape foreign policy?
The weapon of rape at Paulo Coelho’s Blog
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Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Uncommon, Common Sense: China Continues to Absorb Africa's Natural Resources - Part II

In Part I, I detailed the comparison of China, with the world's largest population and their aggressive approach to Africa versus the US's somewhat benign approach for obtaining Africa's vast natural resources. In Part II, I will detail what China is doing in the different regions of the "Dark Continent" and what long-term effect it could have on Africa, China, the US and the rest of the world.
Uncommon, Common Sense: China Continues to Absorb Africa's Natural Resources - Part II
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Sasol, China Shenhua to Build Coal-to-Oil Projects

South Africa's Sasol Ltd., the world's largest maker of oil from coal, said that it expected to start operating two large-sized coal-to-oil projects in China in 2016, jointly with the country's top coal producer Shenhua Group Corporation Ltd.Situated in Northwest China's Ningxia Autonomous Region and Shaanxi Province, the two projects are each designed to be capable of producing about 80,000 barrels per day, or 3.4 million tons per year, of diesel oil, jet fuel, naphtha, and liquefied petroleum gas.
Sasol, China Shenhua to Build Coal-to-Oil Projects
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DeBeers cuts Africa in on more of diamond business -- Dallas Morning News

"The challenge now is to find what can they produce and with that, compete with China."Many African countries could compete with Chinese manufacturers on wages.But China's infrastructure, capital and the productivity of its workers make it hard for African nations to compete. Mr. Penny said DeBeers is shifting its diamond sorting and cutting operations to Botswana from London for higher-value stones but doubts it can compete in Africa against India and China in handling small diamonds.
DeBeers cuts Africa in on more of diamond business: Dallas Morning News
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allAfrica.com: West Africa: Ecowas Positions for $10bn Chinese Aid (Page 1 of 1)

The Vice-President of ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Jean de Dieu Somda, said yesterday that the regional body is strategising and working towards attracting a fair share of Chinese aid and investment funds to Africa.
allAfrica.com: West Africa: Ecowas Positions for $10bn Chinese Aid (Page 1 of 1)
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Lessons from China for Africa - my take | East Asia & Pacific on the rise

Thirty African officials visited China for 12 days in May on a pilot South-South knowledge exchange organized by the Chinese government with assistance from the World Bank.
Lessons from China for Africa - my take | East Asia & Pacific on the rise
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China's Influence in Africa: Implications for the United States

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) aids and abets oppressive and destitute African dictatorships by legit­imizing their misguided policies and praising their development models as suited to individual national conditions. Beijing holds out China’s unique develop­ment model—significant economic growth overseen by a disciplined, one-party totalitarian state with full authority, if not control, over all aspects of economic activity—as an example for others to emulate.
China's Influence in Africa: Implications for the United States
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Foreign Policy In Focus | China in Africa: It’s (Still) the Governance, Stupid

Few issues have generated as much heat in recent African affairs as China’s engagement in the continent. China has been pushing increased investment and cheap credit into Africa for at least five years. But the astonishing levels of expenditure and the breadth of Chinese involvement reached levels in 2006 that focused minds in the West and provoked much media hyperbole.
Foreign Policy In Focus | China in Africa: It’s (Still) the Governance, Stupid
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Why China is trying to colonise Africa - Telegraph

The reasoning behind China's new focus on Africa is simple. If its economic boom is to be sustained, Beijing must find more raw materials and new markets for manufactured goods. Chinese oil consumption is forecast to grow by at least 10 per cent every year for the foreseeable future. At this level of demand, its domestic reserves will vanish within 20 years.
Why China is trying to colonise Africa - Telegraph
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China’s trade safari in Africa, by Jean-Christophe Servant

China first became involved in Africa during the cold war, when it made friends and did business in parts of the world overlooked by the West and the Soviet Union. Its investment is paying off now in oil and raw material imports and markets for manufactured goods.
China’s trade safari in Africa, by Jean-Christophe Servant
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BBC NEWS | Business | China-Africa trade jumps by 39%

Trade between China and African nations jumped 39% to $32.17bn (£18bn) in the first 10 months of last year, official Chinese customs figures have revealed.
BBC NEWS | Business | China-Africa trade jumps by 39%
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AFPC ARTICLE: China's Africa Strategy

A decade ago, China's influence in Africa was limited. Its aid programs were hardly significant, its diplomats relatively unskilled. And many Chinese were unsure about their country's role as an international actor. In most international forums, China did little other than defend core interests, like the "one China" principle. Recently, however, continued strong economic growth, a more sophisticated generation of Chinese leaders, better scholarship in China on Africa, and a domestic population more confident in China as a global actor have encouraged Beijing to take a more proactive approach to foreign affairs.
AFPC ARTICLE: China's Africa Strategy
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Finding a fashion in China

Lynley Donnelly reports on an expedition by South African fashion designers to China and why the Asian country is not such a great threat to the South African textile industry after all.
ZA@Play
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Marc van der Chijs' Shanghaied Weblog: Chinese in Tanzania

Marc van der Chijs' Shanghaied Weblog: Chinese in Tanzania

"During the week we spent in Tanzania I was surprised to see how big this countries potential is. Among others there are huge natural resources and also tourism has only just started. I saw numerous business opportunities, without even really thinking about it. But the strange thing is that when you walk on the streets of Moshi you just see young men sitting around doing nothing."

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“Chocolate City” - Africans seek their dreams in China | Blogging for China

“Chocolate City” - Africans seek their dreams in China | Blogging for China

This feature article (文章,published Jan 2008) from the Southern Metropolis Daily provides a candid, street-level view of the lives of African traders in China. I translate this article to provide some depth to the discussion of racism in China, as seen in this previous thread. In an era when China-Africa relations are making headlines in Western newspapers, it’s time to hear the story from a Chinese perspective. If the 20th century was defined by the American Dream, what can China bring to the world in the 21st century?

- Blogging for China

Daily Roundup

Concerns Over Chinese Investment And Working Conditions

Chinese investment in African countries comes with few strings attached - which is exactly what concerns civil society organisations.

- Allafrica.com, 17 June 2008

Findings and Recommendations of the Africa Progress Panel

Findings and recommendations of the Africa Progress Panel, set up to monitor the delivery of promises made by economically developed to developing countries, published in "Africa's Development: Promises and Prospects - Report of the Africa Progress Panel 2008."

- Allafrica.com, 16 June 2008

South Africa and China key to Zimbabwean outcome

Gordon Brown has styled the Zimbabwean government as a "criminal cabal", demanded that it accept international monitors and called for sanctions if President Robert Mugabe is not removed after the run-off.

- Mail & Guardian Thoughtleader

French navy looking to strengthen ties with China against Somalia piracy

The French navy and its Chinese counterpart are discussing ways to strengthen intelligence exchange to combat piracy off the coast of Africa, a senior French naval officer said on Monday.

- AFP

Does Africa need aid?

Rich countries look set to fall roughly $40 billion short of the amount they had pledged to give to Africa by 2010. So says a report released on Monday by the panel set up to monitor commitments made amid much fanfare at the Group of Eight summit in 2005.

- Reuters Africa Blog