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| China's leader begins Africa tour | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| China's President Hu Jintao has arrived in Cameroon at the start of a 12-day tour of Africa, aimed at strengthening economic and political ties. | |
| President Hu was met at the airport in the capital, Yaounde, by Cameroon's Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni. | |
| Trade has expanded dramatically between Africa and China in recent years as China seeks resources to feed its economy and markets for its exports. | Trade has expanded dramatically between Africa and China in recent years as China seeks resources to feed its economy and markets for its exports. |
| It is Mr Hu's third trip to Africa since he took office in 2003. | |
| The Chinese leader is due to meet his Cameroonian counterpart Paul Biya on Wednesday to sign a series of bilateral co-operation agreements. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY If China wants to establish credibility, it has to use its influence to stop the slaughter in Darfur David Little, Belgium Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY If China wants to establish credibility, it has to use its influence to stop the slaughter in Darfur David Little, Belgium Send us your comments |
| He is then expected to inspect projects already carried out by his country in Cameroon, visiting a sports ground being built by a Chinese firm and a hospital funded by China. | |
| Trade between the two countries doubled in 2006 from the previous year, reaching $338m (£172m), according to China's ambassador to Yaounde. | |
| Big oil customer | |
| Before he left, China announced $3bn (£1.5bn) in preferential loans and more aid over the next three years for Africa. | |
| Africa supplies one-third of China's imported oil. | |
| China has been urged to use its influence as a big oil customer of Sudan's to lobby the government in Khartoum to resolve the conflict in Darfur. | China has been urged to use its influence as a big oil customer of Sudan's to lobby the government in Khartoum to resolve the conflict in Darfur. |
| Beijing has been criticised for selling weapons to countries like Zimbabwe and flooding Africa with cheap goods that threaten local industries. | Beijing has been criticised for selling weapons to countries like Zimbabwe and flooding Africa with cheap goods that threaten local industries. |
| Mr Hu's tour will also take him to Liberia, Zambia, Namibia, Mozambique and Seychelles. |