China will focus on the development of its air force and, in particular, the navy as it seeks to develop a “blue-water” force capable of protecting its global interests as they expand alongside its overseas investments and trade.
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Beijing’s relations with South Africa have flourished in the past decade with massive Chinese investment across the country and the African continent.
China is sending more than money to Africa.
More and more African countries have begun to “look east” in the new millennium, including South Africa which is a member of the BRICS grouping of emerging economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.
Wang also reiterated China’s stance that its assistance to Africa would be without political conditions.
The African market has become one of the most important for Lenovo, the world’s largest PC maker and smartphones from Huawei are also popular.
Three Chinese civilians were among 19 people killed in an assault on a luxury hotel in Mali’s capital last week claimed by an Islamic extremist group.
As Beijing “continues to promote pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa, we will strengthen bilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism and the fight against extremism”, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said yesterday.
“Both sides are fast integrating into the ongoing economic globalisation”, Premier Li Keqiang said at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia in 2014, in an Africa Policy Statement from the new Chinese administration of President Xi Jinping.
Zimbabwe and at least 15 other African countries have received Approved Destination Status, as a destination for Chinese tourists, although Africa is still viewed as an unknown destination and visitor numbers remain low.
Qian said China will diversify imports from the continent and buy more products in addition to primary commodities, particularly natural resources, which now accounts for the bulk of China-Africa trade.
Since the outbreak of the deadly virus a year ago, China has delivered more than 750 million yuan (117 million US dollars) worth of humanitarian aid and sent hundreds of medical workers to the front line in Ebola-stricken West Africa.
Xi will also co-chair a two-day summit between China and African countries in Johannesburg the same month.
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“The issue will be part of the high-level discussions as it will be the first time wildlife and environmental conservation is discussed at the forum”, he said. Along with many great successes, there are many challenges facing sustainable development of Chinese business in Africa: lack of local knowledge and localization which lead to business failure, labor relations challenges, environmental conflict, wildlife trade and the image problem it presents, the communication gap.
