News digest

Chinese solar firm opens S. Africa plant

Chinese company Jinko Solar opened a solar photovoltaic module production facility in Cape Town on Aug 5.

The plant is expected to produce 1,300 solar panels per day with a turnover of 600 million rand ($56 million) per year.

The solar panels, which are mounted onto the roof of a house or property, are expected to help take the load off the power grid of the state-run electricity utility Eskom, according to Morgan Peng of Jinko Solar, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Rob Davies, minister of trade and industry of South Africa, welcomed the facility as part of his ministry's drive to increase the country's industrial base and create jobs in Cape Town.

Davies said the green economy is a key focus area in his department's Industrial Policy Action Plan, and provides significant opportunities for job creation, localization and economic growth.

China bolsters customs checks against Ebola

China's quarantine authority has ordered strengthened inspections at customs to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from entering the country.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said it will implement stricter inspections on inbound airlines from regions affected by Ebola, and step up sanitary measures on incoming vehicles and goods.

China will also suspend imports of some special goods and animal products, while cautioning travelers bound for those regions.

Ebola, which spreads through mucous and other body fluids and secretions such as the stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people, is considered very difficult to control.

Four western African countries Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone reported 729 deaths from Ebola with 1,323 infected between the start of March and the end of July.

Chinese FM expresses support for Egypt

China is ready to offer firm support for Egypt's efforts to maintain social stability and promote economic growth, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Cairo on Aug 3.

Wang, meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, also expressed China's strong willingness to develop its relations with Egypt.

The Chinese foreign minister, on a two-day visit to the country, conveyed a message from President Xi Jinping in which the Chinese head of state again congratulated al-Sisi on his election to the presidency.

In his message, Xi said he believed that, under al-Sisi's leadership, Egypt would soon complete its political transition and begin its path of development toward prosperity.

Egypt is a leader in Africa and in the Arabic and Islamic worlds, and a country that has a traditional friendship with China, said Xi, adding that China values the development of China-Egypt ties.

Xi also reaffirmed China's strong support for Egypt's efforts in maintaining social stability and boosting economic development, as well as improving people's livelihoods. China also supports promotion of the bilateral friendship, strengthening of pragmatic cooperation in various fields and deepening of the two countries' strategic partnership. The Chinese president also welcomed al-Sisi to visit China.

Wang said his visit was to express China's strong support for the current Egyptian government and its people, and to show China's sincere willingness to advance the two countries' mutually beneficial cooperation.

China Daily

(China Daily Africa Weekly 08/08/2014 page3)