The China Monitor - The Centre for Chinese Studies

The China MonitorJanuary 2009National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) signed anagreement in 2006 to develop the 12,790 tonneAbokorum deposit and is developing the 700 tonne peryear Teguida mine as well as holding rights to otherdeposits. Uranium was first discovered in Niger in 1957and the country has been producing uraniumcommercially since 1971, with around 7.5% of the world'suranium production currently coming from its twooperating mines at Arlit and Akouta.China's FM visits Malawi after Taiwan snubChina's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi was to visitedMalawi this week, the first trip by a high-ranking Chineseofficial since the African nation switched its ties fromTaipei to Beijing last year.The poor southern Africancountry last year switchedits diplomatic allegiancefrom Taiwan to China, in acontroversial move thatangered Taiwan and led tothe termination of variouscooperation agreementsXinhua Newswith Blantyre.Minmetals to acquire stake in South African chromitemine China Minmetals Corporation is planning to acquirea 70% share of Vizirama, a South African chromitemining company based in Townlands. Viziramapossesses the exploration rights for the mineralresources in Townlands, therefore, the acquisition willenable Minmetals to secure the leading position in thefirst phrase of exploration. China Minmetals Corporationis a trader as well as an investor for both steel and othermetal products. It has long showed interest in SouthAfrican mineral resources and has taken several actionsin the region, such as the US$ 6.5 million acquisition ofNaboom ferrochrome mine in 2007.Chinese investmentsinKenya'sinfrastructure continueTheChinesegovernment has grantedKenya US$ 9.47 millionto help construct ahospital in Nairobi and amaize-flour processingXinhua Newsfactory, according tolocal press reports. Finance Minister John Michuki wasquoted as saying the grant would also be used tomaintain Kenya's Moi International Sports Centre, whichwas constructed with Chinese support in 1987. Chinahas given Kenya about US$ 373 million in grants in thelast few years, with infrastructure development one of themain beneficiaries.Chinese FM meets Rwandan president on tiesRwandan President Paul Kagame met with visitingChinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Kigali regardingimproving bilateral ties. Kagame appreciated China'ssupport and help for Rwanda's development, sayingrelations between China and Rwanda have developedsmoothly. The president hoped that the two countrieswould continue to strengthen cooperation in such fieldsas agriculture, trade, infrastructure and education. Theminister said China attaches great importance to thefriendly and cooperative relations with African countries,adding that China will cooperate closely with Africancountries, fully fulfil the agreements reached at theBeijing Summit of the Forum on China-AfricaCooperation and further promote China-Africa relations.Beninese president lays stone for China-fundedhospital A China-funded university hospital in Benin hasbroken ground north of the West African country's capitalCotonou, with President Boni Yayi laying the first stonefor the friendship project, the Benin Press Agency (ABP)reported. Situated in Parakou, 425 km north of Cotonou,with a capacity of 100 beds, the hospital of US$ 8 millionis expected to open in a year and a half for researchwork and teaching, with consultation, technical,radiology, operation and in-patient departments.Oil-rich Angola has become China's largest tradepartner in AfricaAngola is the biggest source of China's oil imports.Bilateral trade between the two countries reached an alltime high of US$ 25.3 billion last year. Beijing has offeredthe country at least US$ 5 billion in oil-backed loans afterthe economy was destroyed by a 27-year civil war whichended in 2002.Commerce MinisterChen Deming saidthe Chinesegovernment hadexempted US$ 9, 7million in debtsowed by Angola tohelp rehabilitate the Berkeley.edueconomy.Ghana's VP Reiterates Commitment to One-ChinaPolicyGhana will continue adhering to the one-China policy, theWest African country's Vice President John DramaniMahama said in Accra while meeting ChineseAmbassador Yu Wenzhe. Mahama made the remarkswhen the Chinese ambassador to Ghana paid a visit togreet his victory as vice president of Ghana in thegeneral election held last December. Mahama said hiscountry would work side by side with China to boostbilateral relationship and promote political and economicties between the two countries.Tanzanian president appeals for China aid onfarmers bankTanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete has asked theChinese government to assist in the setting up of anagricultural bank as a joint venture between the two© Centre for Chinese Studies, University of Stellenbosch; All Rights Reserved15