IN BRIEF (Page 2)

Investment

South African cement deal signed

South African Mamba Cement project, jointly funded by China's Jidong Development Group, the China-Africa Development Fund and a South African cement company, inked a deal on financing in Johannesburg on Nov 20, marking China's first successful investment through project financing in Africa.

The project, with an investment of $220 million, is situated in Limpopo province, South Africa. The capital fund of the project is $100 million, 51 percent of which is held by Chinese shareholders.

Unlike traditional overseas investment financing, Mamba got $120 million through project financing, which is based on the projected cash flow of the project rather than the balance sheets of its sponsors.

Diplomacy

China supports UN in keeping peace

China will continue to support the positive and constructive role of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa in maintaining peace, stability and development in the region, said a Chinese envoy to the UN on Nov 20.

China's Permanent Representative to the UN, Liu Jieyi, who is also rotating president of the Security Council for this month, made the remarks at an open Security Council meeting on the work of the UNOCA and the issue of the Lord's Resistance Army, a Ugandan rebel group.

"Peace and stability in the central African region still face many challenges," said Liu, expressing concern over continued volatility in the Central African Republic and its serious humanitarian problems.

China backs Kenya on trial of state leaders

China said on Nov 19 it will continue to back Kenya and the African Union after the UN Security Council denied a delay of the trials of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei expressed "deep regret" at a daily briefing at the failure of the Security Council to adopt a draft resolution on deferring International Criminal Court proceedings against the two leaders.

Kenyatta and Ruto face ICC trials for their alleged roles in murders, deportation or forcible transfer of people, and persecution during Kenya's 2007-2008 post-election violence.

China believes that on matters concerning African peace and stability, the Security Council should listen and respond to the common aspirations of the AU and other African countries, Hong said.

Summit

President sends message to summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message through his envoy to the Third Arab-African Summit that was held in Kuwait on Nov 19.

Xi spoke highly of the achievements the Arab and African countries had made in various aspects through cooperation, expressing his confidence that the countries in the two regions will seize new historic opportunities to accomplish more in their collaboration.

Xi also stressed China has always regarded its efforts to develop ties with the Arab and African countries as a key direction in its foreign diplomacy, and is willing to work with them to promote China-Arab strategic cooperative relations and a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.

Industry

Trains do Chinese manufacturer proud

CSR, China's leading electric locomotive manufacturer, delivered on Nov 18 the first batch of two locomotives to its South African partner ahead of schedule.

A show run was held at the Pyramid South depot in northern Pretoria, with the driver describing the design as simple and practical.

CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Company signed a contract with South Africa's Transnet in October 2012 to deliver a total of 95 locomotives. The deal went into effect eight months ago.

Siyabonga Gama, head of Transnet Freight Rail, lauded the work of the Chinese manufacturer, saying it usually takes 18 to 24 months to design and produce such a prototype locomotive.

Carriages put firm on track in Africa

China CNR Corporation Limited, one of the country's biggest train makers, announced on Nov 19 that it will produce 30 train carriages for Ethiopia, in an effort to grab a share in the booming African market.

Changchun Railway Vehicles Co Ltd of CNR has signed contracts with Ethiopian authorities to produce 30 25G carriages, including 20 hard-seat, four hard-sleeper, four soft-sleeper and two dining carriages with a designed speed of 120 km per hour, the company says.

The carriages will run on the Ethiopia-Djibouti Railway, which was built in 1917 by France and is the only trunk railway line in Ethiopia. The east African country relies on the Djibouti port to trade goods.

The Ethiopian government is building new railway lines to replace the 96-year-old railway, which is run down and has been suspended from operation.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/22/2013 page2)