What's news

China supports Nigeria's table tennis efforts

The Chinese Table Tennis Association on May 3 donated equipment to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation to support its youth development program.

The Nigerian federation said the donation was facilitated by the Chinese ambassador in Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, and the equipment was received in Suzhou at the recent ITTF World Championships by NTTF President Wahid Oshodi and members of the national team led by Segun Toriola.

The donation is part of efforts by the Chinese government to support Nigeria's advances in the sport, according to a statement quoting CTTA representative Su Yangyang.

The equipment included 30 table tennis blades, 140 sets of rubber surfaces for the blades, 20 racket cases, 20 sports towels, 20 sports bath towels and 10 sports backpacks.

Industrialization presents opportunities

Leaders of 15 southern African countries, ranging from resources-rich Democratic Republic of Congo to the continent's manufacturing hub South Africa, have adopted a half-century strategy to industrialize the region.

Experts say the strategy can bring huge opportunities for China-Africa cooperation given that Beijing this year announced its intention to prioritize China-Africa industrial capacity cooperation.

The strategy, to be implemented in three stages from 2015 to 2063, was endorsed at the Southern African Development Community Extra-ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in the Zimbabwean capital Harare.

The strategy is anchored by three pillars: Industrialization, competitiveness and regional integration, and aims to turn the region from an exporter of minerals to a key global net exporter of processed goods.

SADC Executive Secretary Stergomena Lawrence Tax said there was "big room" for Chinese investment.

"China can play a big role in the implementation of our industrialization strategy. China is an industrialized economy and we believe we can learn from what they have done to reach where they are, and we can also learn from a technological point of view and the approach they have used in their special economic zones," Tax said.

Algeria sees Beijing as reliable partner

The recent visit of Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmamlek Sellal to China reflected the mutual determination of the two nations to advance their economic partnership, a local expert said.

At the end of his visit to China on April 30, Sellal told reporters that the friendship between Algeria and China is reliable.

"The timing of the visit of Sellal to China coincides with Algeria's announcement about developing alternative resources to the oil-related industry," according to the head of the Algerian-Sino Friendship Association, Ismail Debeche.

Debeche said that Algeria sees China as a reliable and strategic economic and political partner.

The North African nation's economy has been affected by the collapse of oil prices in the global market.

Sellal is the first Algerian head of government to visit China since the North African country won independence in 1962.

Chinese, Rwandan FMs hold talks

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Rwandan counterpart, Louise Mushikiwabo.

In line with South-South cooperation, China-Africa cooperation aims to be a mutually beneficial and win-win relationship, Wang said.

He said China is an ideal partner for Africa on its industrialization path, and China is willing to help the region with its independent and sustainable development.

In recent years, China and Rwanda have strengthened mutual trust, and economic and trade cooperation has been fruitful, Wang said, adding that there is more potential for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, human resources and health services.

Mushikiwabo thanked China for its assistance and support, and emphasized that "capacity cooperation" with China would be advantageous for Rwanda.

Capacity cooperation is a program whereby China exports its advanced equipment and technology to assist regional and foreign development.

Rwanda is willing to take cooperation to a new level, Mushikiwabo said.

The two sides also agreed a political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries should be established.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/08/2015 page2)