Buhari to discuss railway, power projects with Chinese leader in South Africa

Vice Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, service chiefs and several senior Government officials were also at the airport to bid farewell to the Chinese leader.

As Wang pointed out at the Lanting Forum in Johannesburg last week, a year ago trade between Africa and China topped 220 billion U.S. dollars, 22 times higher than where it stood in 2000 when Focac was launched.

He believed there would be one or two significant state investments, probably in power, agreed upon during Xi’s visit.

Zimbabwe, which became a pariah in the West after President Robert Mugabe’s government was accused of rigging votes and abusing human rights, has increasingly turned to China for investment to help an economy desperate for new infrastructure like roads, power and water.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, reviewsan honor guard during a… The trade deficit Africa has with China is a problem and the nation will try to import as much as possible to improve the balance, Qian said. China is South Africa’s largest trading partner.Mr Xi is expected to address a joint press conference with Mr Mugabe after signing economic deals later on Tuesday.

Later in the day, the two leaders were to meet and witness the signing of a number of agreements on infrastructure, finance, culture and wildlife conservation.

He said that the only thing the Chinese brought into their country was ‘unfavorable working conditions.

Trade between the two slumped 18 percent in the first nine months of 2015 from a year earlier, the largest decline in China’s trade with the world’s continents, according to China’s commerce ministry.

“China is a cunning investor and they are all interested in resource extraction in Africa”. Liu noted investments by Chinese firms in Africa have helped alleviate the continent’s endemic challenges like poverty and unemployment. “The summit will not only deepen and upgrade Africa-China relations, but will synergise China-Africa development strategies”, said Executive Chairman of Independent Media, Dr Iqbal Survé.

In retrospect, the relationship between China and Africa is an inspiring practice and paradigm of the “new type of worldwide relations”.

Former Zimbabwean ambassador to China, Christopher Mutsvangwa, is ecstatic about Xi’s trip, eulogising that a country that “gives you power (electricity) is a dear friend”.

THE implementation of Zim-Asset received a major boost and fresh impetus yesterday following the signing of 12 landmark agreements between Zimbabwe and China to fund vital projects in key economic sectors.

During the forum President Buhari is expected to have a meeting with Chinese president, Xi Jinping, on how to re-commence stalled rail projects under new terms that would see China providing almost all the financing required.