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Xi calls for early signing of trade deal

China's President Xi Jinping called for the early signing of a free trade agreement between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which accounted for 70 percent of trade between China and the Arab League last year.

"Negotiations on the China-GCC free trade agreement have been in the works for a decade. Both sides have done extensive planning for the agreement," Xi said on Jan 17 during a GCC delegation meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

After the meeting, Xi said he hoped "both sides can sign the agreement at an early date."

Earlier on Jan 17, GCC delegates attended the third round of talks with China in the capital.

The GCC is a political and economic union of six Arab states that border the Gulf - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. All six are major oil exporters.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the negotiations with Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. Kuwait holds the council's rotating presidency this year.

Yang Guang, director of the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the free trade negotiations began in 2004 and have produced a number of major agreements.

Interim president election welcomed

China on Jan 21 welcomed the election of Catherine Samba-Panza as interim president of the Central African Republic, hailing it as an important opportunity to improve the country's situation.

"Under the new interim leadership, we expect concerned sides in the country to take substantial measures to safeguard social stability out of the fundamental interests of the nation and people," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

He called on all parties in the country to strive for national unity, improve domestic security and the humanitarian situation so as to establish a sound environment for political transition and national reconstruction.

The Central African country has suffered from coups and rebellions in the past few years, especially since March last year, when the rebel group Seleka Alliance ousted President Francois Bozize.

"China will, as far as it can, work with the international community to assist the country in its efforts for peace, security and development," Hong said.

Samba-Panza is the first woman elected to the top post of the country since it gained independence in 1960.

Nigeria-China trade reaches $13 billion

The trade volume between Nigeria and China in 2013 was almost $13 billion, the outgoing Chinese ambassador to Nigeria Deng Boqing said.

Deng made this remarks at the farewell reception held for him in the Nigeria's capital, Abuja, on Jan 17.

"Last year trade was almost double that of four years ago," said the envoy.

"We encourage Chinese companies in their business, particularly establishing factories in Nigeria in order to increase job opportunities for Nigerians, and industrialize," he said.

"If we look at the details of trade, we will find that more goods were imported from China to Nigeria. We are aware that more than 30 percent of Nigeria oil products, especially crude oil, were exported to the United States and only 1 percent is being exported to China."

He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria for including renminbi, the Chinese currency, in its foreign exchange reserves, the first one in Africa to do so.

Training to be given to prisoners

China will provide quality training to prisoners in Gabon to ensure they are well reintegrated into society after being released, said Chinese Ambassador to Gabon Sun Jiwen on Jan 17.

Sun also said China is ready to give quality training to prisoners.

Sun was speaking in the capital, Libreville, after meeting Gabonese Justice Minister Ida Reteno Assonouet, who is in charge of the country's prisons.

"I want to reaffirm my intention to ensure these prisoners receive quality training just like those from other countries," Assonouet said.

Sun said: "This is an area of cooperation that we shall explore in future. Gabon, just like China, has made a lot of progress in the area of rule of law. This will be an exchange of experiences in the area of managing prisons and training of prisoners."

The ambassador said delegations from both countries will make reciprocal visits to understand the different models in use. He did no say when the training would start.

China peacekeepers on duty in Mali

China has sent 395 peacekeepers to the United Nations mission in Mali, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Jan 17.

Hong Lei said that the mission is composed of 170 security personnel, 155 military engineers and 70 medical staff. All of them have been deployed.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China supports the important role the UN plays in safeguarding peace and security of the world, Hong said, adding that peacekeeping operations are an important way for the UN to settle regional issues.

China supports and takes part in the UN peacekeeping operations, he said.

Hong said that China's participation in UN peacekeeping in Mali is not only support for the UN but also a contribution to African peace and security.

Premier hails work of foreign experts

Premier Li Keqiang on Jan 21 thanked foreign experts working in China for their contribution to the country's modernization drive.

"What China has achieved in its reform and opening-up should be attributed not only to the hard work of the Chinese people, but also to the wisdom and painstaking efforts of the foreign experts," Li said during a meeting.

"The Chinese people will never forget this," he said.

Apart from expressing his gratitude to the overseas experts, Li also sought their ideas on China's economic development and urbanization.

China Daily-Xinhua

(China Daily Africa Weekly 01/24/2014 page2)