SOUTH AFRICA: Chinese leader arrives for his first official state visit

Record ID: 453945

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Chinese leader arrives for his first official state visit
  • Date: 6th February 2007
  • Summary: (W3) JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FEBRUARY 06, 2007) (REUTERS) CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO' PLANE TAXIING ON THE RUNWAY AT SOUTH AFRICA'S AIRPORT SOUTH AFRICA'S MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, NKOSAZANA DLAMINI ZUMA WAITING ON TARMAC GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WAITING PRESIDENT HU JINTAO AND HIS WIFE DISEMBARKING PLANE HU JINTAO SHAKING HANDS WITH SOUTH AFRICAN AND CHINESE OFFICIALS HU JINTAO WALKING TO VEHICLE HU JINTAO'S MOTORCADE LEAVING AIRPORT
  • Embargoed: 21st February 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA4VWF82GWSAUKSFSF6F1I2TK1
  • Story Text: Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in South Africa on Tuesday (February 7, 2007) as part of his eight-country Africa tour.
    Hu was met at the O.R Tambo International Airport by South Africa's Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
    The Chinese leader is scheduled to hold discussions with President Thabo Mbeki later in the afternoon and sign several protocols on fruit and other agricultural exports, as well as co-operation agreements in the economic, technical, minerals and energy sectors.
    South Africa is one of the stops on an eight country African tour which has seen Hu visit Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, and Namibia. He is also expected to visit Mozambique and Seychelles.
    Although many African governments welcome closer ties with Beijing, analysts say the continent's poor countries must closely examine deals with the economic powerhouse and protect weak manufacturing sectors from a flood of cheaper Chinese goods.
    There has been a rise in anti-Chinese sentiment over fears that the country is exploiting local workers and its growing economic muscle in Africa could undermine regional industries.
    Trade links between China and Africa have jumped since 2004, when Hu announced a drive to boost ties with the energy and mineral-rich continent.
    At a landmark Sino-African summit in Beijing last year, Hu offered 5 billion U.S. dollars (USD) in loans and credits to Africa along with a doubling of aid.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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