Vol 2 (AAC) No 5 | SUDANCHINA Business is politics 27th March 2009 The ICC's issuing of the arrest warrant for the Sudanese President exposes the contradictions in China's 'business is business' policy The arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omer Hassan Ahmed el Beshir issued by the International Criminal Court on 4 March comprehensively overshadowed the golden jubilee of Chinese-Sudanese relations. March...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 5 | CHINAIRELANDAFRICA When Irish eyes are smiling 27th March 2009 Ireland's Tullow, which has quickly outgrown out its minnow status, enters April stronger, having raised US$2 billion in debt financing and energetically dismissing speculation that it would consider selling...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | LIBERIACHINA A more perfect union 20th February 2009 Beijing’s special relationship with Monrovia defies market conditions and is expanding into Guinea and Sierra Leone The US$2.68 billion agreement signed by China Union's Chief Executive Yin Fuyou and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf on 19 January to restart iron ore production at the old...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | LIBERIACHINA The born-again Bong mines 20th February 2009 The US$2.68 billion Bong Mines deal hands the Chinese consortium led by Yin Fuyou and China Union a 25-year concession for the formerly German-owned Bong Mines in Bong Country, north-east of...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | CONGO-KINSHASACHINA Twixt Beijing and the IMF 20th February 2009 China's investment and production plans face a crisis as Kinshasa's foreign reserves nosedive Falling demand for copper, cobalt and diamonds offers a stark choice for President Joseph Kabila's government: does it accept the onerous conditions of credits from the International Monetary Fund or does...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | CONGO-KINSHASACHINA Vultures over Kinshasa 20th February 2009 Chinese money is now a key target for United States' FG Hemisphere Associates LLC, which wants to reclaim a debt of US$104 million owed by Congo-Kinshasa. FG Hemisphere is widely...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | NIGERIACHINA Contract shuffles 20th February 2009 Global financial chaos and falling demand for oil and minerals are prompting recalculations on all sides. The IMF and World Bank have revised down their gross domestic product forecasts...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | GABONCHINA Iron in the soul 20th February 2009 After renegotiating for better terms in the Bélinga iron ore deal and drops in commodity prices, parties in Beijing are no longer as keen on the deal Having won a dangerous game of brinkmanship, President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba is trying to re-excite China's interest in the Bélinga iron ore project. Since the end of last year,...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | ANGOLACHINABRIEFING Best friends again 20th February 2009 Angola has maintained its status as China's biggest trading partner in Africa - with trade volumes between the two countries reaching US$25.3 billion in 2008 - according to Beijing's Minister of...
Vol 2 (AAC) No 4 | CHINAAFRICABRIEFING Beijing news network 20th February 2009 Beijing is investing 45 billion yuan (US$6.6 bn.) in expanding its Xinhua News Agency and launching a 24-hour English language television news station. The plans envisage more cooperation with African media...