Saturday, 04 February 2012 05:21

Newsletter 4

In this newsletter:

  • Feature news: Afro China finds its latest home in the world’s youngest nation, Republic of South Sudan
  • “The future of our partnership is even brighter” PM Meles Zenawi
  • America is losing the developing world

Afro China finds its latest home in the world’s youngest nation, Republic of South Sudan

Six months after the world witnessed the birth of a new nation (Republic of South Sudan), Afro china group embarks in to this flourishing nation with its third branch next to Addis Ababa and Guangzhou offices. The team at Afro China has been studying the investment trend of the country for the past five months and has now taken a quantum leap forward in opening a branch office in the heart of Juba.

The Juba office will be an excellent tool to facilitate business transactions between South Sudan and China. Traders in South Sudan can now rely on the professional expertise of our office to source their preferred items directly from china and Chinese manufacturers; traders and investors have a better way of communicating with business counterparts in Juba.

“The future of our partnership is even brighter” PM Meles Zenawi

newsletter-4-inauguration-of-the-new-african-union-conference-center newsletter-4-african-union-headquarter newsletter-4-african-union-headquarter-at-night

The future of our partnership is even brighter. It is therefore very appropriate for China to decide to build this hall, the hall of the rise of Africa, the hall of African renaissance and the adjoining office building for us were the words of PM Meles Zenawi aired African leaders on January 28, 2012 at the inaugural ceremony of the 100m high new AU complex built at a cost of 200 million USD entirely funded by the Chinese government.

Adding that the AU Conference Center and Office Complex (AUCC), depicts Africa's rise and its bright future Meles also said that the complex is meant to convey the message of optimism and a new era of hope for the continenet.

China's most senior political adviser, Jia Qinglin also attended the opening of the new headquarters. Jia Qinglin said “today is the milestone in relations between China and Africa for having a new hall. The towering complex speaks volumes about our friendship to the African people, and testifies to our strong resolve to support African development”.

The building which overlooks the vast conference center where African heads of state are expected to meet in the years can use natural light and draft to be energy-efficient. Among other facilities, it also features 500 offices, a 2,000-seat auditorium and a 500-seat conference.

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America is losing the developing world

The United States gave more than eight billion dollars in aid to the African continent in 2009.

Why?

It wants to build markets in which it can trade, it wants to be moral and it wants political influence.

China on the other hand spends significantly less on humanitarian assistance than the United States in Africa, yet had a slightly larger trade volume with the continent in 2010. With their 'Going Global Strategy,' the Chinese have decided to expand their businesses in to overseas rather than aiding poor nations through NGOs. Rather than focusing on humanitarian aid and hoping that this will somehow bring people out of poverty, the U.S. could spend less on humanitarian aid and invest more in infrastructural projects.

America's current posture is not taking advantage of the opportunities available in the developing world. Like China, the United States needs to shift from donation to investment. It needs to shift from an unsustainable model to a growth model.

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Last modified on Saturday, 04 February 2012 05:43