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Chinese scientists map Ebola evolution

Chinese scientists have detected increased genetic diversity in the Ebola virus, providing an insight into how it evolved in Sierra Leone, according to research published this month in the journal Nature.

They analyzed 175 Ebola virus genome sequences collected from five districts in Sierra Leone during September to November 2014, following rapid growth of the outbreak.

"Despite that earlier research had analyzed Ebola virus genomes collected during the early stage of the epidemic outbreak, only limited viral information has been available since July 2014, when the outbreak entered a rapid growth phase," said Cao Wuchun, director of State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, and an author of the research.

"The data will facilitate international efforts to develop vaccines and therapies," Cao said.

Chinese businessmen hurt in Angola robbery

Three Chinese businessmen were wounded in an armed robbery in the Benfica district of southern Luanda on May 17, officials with the Chinese embassy in Angola said the next day.

The incident took place at about 8 pm local time at a Chinese-owned glass and wood company, when a local security guard broke into the office with an AK-47 assault rifle and opened fire. The security guard fled after failing to open the safe in the office.

The three injured, two of them seriously, were rushed to local hospitals and were in stable condition on May 18 after surgery.

Zhao Haihan, consular officer with the Chinese embassy in Luanda, said the embassy had reported the attempted robbery to local police and demanded prompt and immediate police investigation into the incident.

The Chinese embassy also appealed to Chinese companies to shore up security measures, to follow legal procedures and check proper identification documents when employing local workers, particularly armed security guards.

Vice-president meets Kenyan speaker

Chinese Vice-President Li Yuanchao met with Kenyan National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi in Beijing on May 19.

Li said China is willing to enhance partnerships with Kenya in manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, regional aviation, free-trade zones and industrial park development.

Li hailed the deep friendship and cooperation between the two countries, voicing hope that the all-round cooperative partnership based on equality and mutual trust will be advanced.

Muturi said his country looks forward to deepening friendly relations with China and strengthening cooperation in trade, infrastructure and culture to benefit the people of both countries.

Muturi headed a delegation to visit China from May 17 to 22, invited by Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

China works to combat illegal ivory trade

China says it is committed to collaborating with African countries and international stakeholders in combating the illegal wildlife trade.

Speaking at a workshop on addressing wildlife trafficking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, La Yifan, Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia, said the Chinese government had been taking various measures to address the illegal ivory trade and to protect wildlife resources.

He said China works closely with African governments and other regional and international bodies to address illegal ivory trade.

The one-day workshop was organized by China's Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, in collaboration with the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia.

Zhou Fei, head of the China Program at the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, said the workshop was organized to raise awareness among the Chinese community in Ethiopia and to discuss ways of addressing wildlife trafficking from Africa.

Promotion of Chinese culture in Africa

Activities will be held in more than 20 African countries to promote Chinese culture, a senior Ministry of Culture official said on May 19.

As part of the Chinese Culture in Focus 2015 campaign, around 200 activities will be held in the form of performances, exhibitions, seminars, lectures, personal exchanges, training and the screening of films and TV programs, Zhao Haisheng said at a news conference.

The events will involve art, literature, publishing, sports, cultural heritage and entertainment.

A Year of China festival will run in South Africa following the Year of South Africa, a result of cooperation between cultural ministries in the two countries.

This year's festival will include Peking Opera performances and a touring exhibition of China's intangible cultural heritage, bookended by a large-scale gala show, Zhao said.

S. Africa to start nuclear procurement process

South Africa will soon start its nuclear procurement process in the second quarter of this financial year, South African Minister of Energy Tina Joemat-Pettersson said in Pretoria.

"We will commence with the actual nuclear procurement process in the second quarter of this financial year to select a strategic partner or partners in a competitive, fair, transparent and cost effective manner," said the minister.

South Africa has also signed inter-governmental agreements with several countries, laying the foundation for cooperation, trade and exchange for nuclear technology as well as procurement.

Those agreements describe broad areas of nuclear cooperation and differ in emphasis according to the needs of each country, including China, Russia and France.

In preparation for the rollout of the nuclear building plan, the Department of Energy has started a nuclear skills development and training program, in which students travel overseas to receive specialist training.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/22/2015 page2)