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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| China to double its aid to Africa | China to double its aid to Africa |
| (1 day later) | |
| China has pledged to double its aid to Africa and provide $5bn in loans and credits over the next three years. | China has pledged to double its aid to Africa and provide $5bn in loans and credits over the next three years. |
| Chinese President Hu Jintao made the announcement as he opened a summit in Beijing attended by nearly 50 African heads of state and ministers. | Chinese President Hu Jintao made the announcement as he opened a summit in Beijing attended by nearly 50 African heads of state and ministers. |
| The summit is focusing on business with more than 2,000 deals under discussion. | The summit is focusing on business with more than 2,000 deals under discussion. |
| African leaders welcome their booming trade links with China, but critics accuse Beijing of dealing with repressive regimes. | African leaders welcome their booming trade links with China, but critics accuse Beijing of dealing with repressive regimes. |
| Beijing says it is just doing business and has no political agenda. | Beijing says it is just doing business and has no political agenda. |
| 'Historic' | 'Historic' |
| "Our meeting today will go down in history," Mr Hu told the China-Africa summit. | "Our meeting today will go down in history," Mr Hu told the China-Africa summit. |
| "China will forever be a good friend, good partner, good brother of Africa," he said. | "China will forever be a good friend, good partner, good brother of Africa," he said. |
| Beijing means business | Beijing means business |
| Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi remembered China's support during many African countries' fight for independence. | Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi remembered China's support during many African countries' fight for independence. |
| "Our main challenge now is not to fight colonialism, but fighting poverty and backwardness and achieving economic independence," Mr Zenawi said. | "Our main challenge now is not to fight colonialism, but fighting poverty and backwardness and achieving economic independence," Mr Zenawi said. |
| "Africa needs the support of its friends to overcome this challenge." | "Africa needs the support of its friends to overcome this challenge." |
| The city has been smartened up for the arrival of the African leaders, the BBC's correspondent Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says. Red lanterns hang from trees and posters celebrate Sino-African friendship. | The city has been smartened up for the arrival of the African leaders, the BBC's correspondent Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says. Red lanterns hang from trees and posters celebrate Sino-African friendship. |
| Trade boost | Trade boost |
| Mr Hu said that China would double its aid to Africa from its 2006 level by 2009, although he gave no figures. | Mr Hu said that China would double its aid to Africa from its 2006 level by 2009, although he gave no figures. |
| Beijing will offer US$3bn (£1.5bn) in preferential loans and US$2bn (£1.5bn) in export credits over the next three years, President Hu said. | Beijing will offer US$3bn (£1.5bn) in preferential loans and US$2bn (£1.5bn) in export credits over the next three years, President Hu said. |
| It will more than double the number of goods which do not attract tax when imported to China from Africa. | It will more than double the number of goods which do not attract tax when imported to China from Africa. |
| China will train 15,000 African professionals and set up a development fund to help build schools and hospitals. | China will train 15,000 African professionals and set up a development fund to help build schools and hospitals. |
| China's drive to buy African oil and other commodities has led to a big increase in two-way trade, worth $42bn (£22bn) in 2005. | China's drive to buy African oil and other commodities has led to a big increase in two-way trade, worth $42bn (£22bn) in 2005. |
| Africa is also a growing market for Chinese goods, but critics say Beijing is stifling African manufacturing. | Africa is also a growing market for Chinese goods, but critics say Beijing is stifling African manufacturing. |
| Some analysts have said Africa is the only place left to go, as most of the world's other big oil reserves are already being developed by major Western energy companies. | Some analysts have said Africa is the only place left to go, as most of the world's other big oil reserves are already being developed by major Western energy companies. |
| The three-day summit is concentrating on the rapidly expanding economic ties between the two sides, and many new business deals are likely to be announced over the weekend. | The three-day summit is concentrating on the rapidly expanding economic ties between the two sides, and many new business deals are likely to be announced over the weekend. |
| Many of them are expected to revolve around China's hunger for African mineral resources, particularly oil. | Many of them are expected to revolve around China's hunger for African mineral resources, particularly oil. |
| 'Exploitation' | 'Exploitation' |
| Some critics have voiced concerns over how Chinese-owned firms treat African workers. | Some critics have voiced concerns over how Chinese-owned firms treat African workers. |
| Protests broke out in Zambia in July about the alleged ill-treatment of workers at a Chinese-owned mine, and there have been reports of pay disputes in Namibia. | Protests broke out in Zambia in July about the alleged ill-treatment of workers at a Chinese-owned mine, and there have been reports of pay disputes in Namibia. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I hope Africa and China can share honest free trade Max Debutante, Ottawa Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I hope Africa and China can share honest free trade Max Debutante, Ottawa Send us your comments |
| Human Rights Watch said that all powers involved in Africa, including China, should place human rights at the centre of their policies. | Human Rights Watch said that all powers involved in Africa, including China, should place human rights at the centre of their policies. |
| "Africans do not need another external power enabling abusive regimes," the group said in a statement on Saturday. | "Africans do not need another external power enabling abusive regimes," the group said in a statement on Saturday. |
| Many economists argue that overall, China's growing economic ties to Africa are benefiting the region. | Many economists argue that overall, China's growing economic ties to Africa are benefiting the region. |