IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Xi stands guard with soldiers in the cold

President Xi Jinping visited soldiers at a border frontier base in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Jan 26, expressing his gratitude for their service to the nation.

Soldiers in the region deserve the respect and gratitude of both the state and the people for braving the cold winter weather and protecting the nation, Xi said.

Temperatures were indeed frosty at the army base at Mount Sanjiao in Hinggan League, hovering around -30 C when Xi was there.

"Today, I will stand guard together with you," Xi told the soldiers.

He had lunch in the military cafeteria with the soldiers. Xi urged the company commanders to prepare for the Spring Festival to make sure the soldiers could enjoy a peaceful and happy holiday period.

Xi inspected a shantytown renovation project in Arshaan and urged the local government to improve living conditions for the local people.

China's engagement in Africa appreciated

China is building much-appreciated infrastructure development projects in Africa, said Elham Mahmoud Ibrahim, commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission.

The commissioner noted that China is doing notable work on infrastructure projects including roads, railways, airports and stadiums, among others.

"The cooperation between China and Africa is very clear in the area of infrastructure. You can find projects, you can say even in every country, they are doing a lot, in roads, in railways, in airports, stadiums and so many activities; it is a reality and I think it is very recognizable. And it is something appreciated," said Ibrahim.

The commissioner stated that by implementing a number of projects at national levels in Africa, China is implementing regional and continental projects, which make contributions to the implementation of the infrastructure development program in Africa.

"They are implementing many of the projects planned and yes, it is on the national level, but no problem, each national project is part of regional or even continental projects. So, I think they are doing a lot," she said.

Trade with Sierra Leone to hit $2 billion

China expects its trade with Sierra Leone to hit $2 billion this year, according to the Chinese embassy in the West African country.

Trade will rise by 33 percent from about $1.5 billion last year, when the first nine months totaled $1.18 billion, the embassy said.

China's rising consumption of commodities benefits producing countries such as Sierra Leone, which expects its economy to expand more than twice as fast as the average in sub-Saharan Africa this year.

Reports show that the West African country began shipping iron ore in 2011 following the development of the Tonkolili and Marampa mines. In the northern region of the country, its iron-ore riches have lured Chinese companies including Shandong Iron & Steel Group Co, which has a 25 percent stake in Sierra Leone's biggest iron ore producer, African Mineral.

Investors in the country have to contend with an unreliable power supply which can disrupt operations. To improve electricity production and distribution, Chinese businesses are studying investing in power generation projects, according to the embassy.

Chinese companies could help expand the Bumbuna hydropower project, 80 km north of the capital Freetown, an embassy official said.

China is already building three small hydro power dams as a gift to the country.

Premier calls for action to relieve poverty

Premier Li Keqiang pledged greater efforts to break the intergeneration poverty curse, during a meeting on poverty alleviation with other senior officials over the weekend of Jan 25-26.

It was time to adjust the strategy for poverty reduction, Li said at the meeting, which took place on a train traveling from Xi'an to Zhen'an county in Shaanxi province.

Li told the officials, including central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan, that though China has lifted more than 600 million people out of poverty since the launch of reform and opening-up, chronic poverty remains in areas with harsh environmental conditions.

Experts call for detailed H7N9 rules

Public health experts called for more detailed guidelines to implement a new border inspection policy by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine for the prevention and control of the human H7N9 bird flu.

The administration has issued an emergency notice requiring strengthened border control to help curb the virus.

Those from epidemic-hit areas who run a fever higher than 38 C and have had close contact with birds in the previous week will be advised to delay their trips abroad. Travelers found with or declaring themselves to have flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing and breathing difficulty have to undergo a screening.

On Jan 26, Vice-Premier Liu Yandong called for coordinated efforts to prevent and control H7N9 avian flu, particularly while so many people travel during the Spring Festival holiday.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/31/2014 page2)