Africans In China

Aug 4 (Reuters) - About 100 local residents and Chinese migrant workers fought using knives and bludgeons in the Algerian capital, witnesses said on Tuesday, in a flare-up of tension over Chinese immigration.

A diplomat with China’s embassy in Algiers said the incident would not deter Chinese companies from working in the North African country, where they are already among the most visible foreign investors.

Below are details of some of China’s growing economic interests in Algeria:

* ENGINEERING - Algeria is spending billions of dollars overhauling its infrastructure and in the process has become one of the biggest overseas markets for Chinese engineering contractors. Chinese firms are involved in sectors ranging from housing construction, public works and hydro-electricity projects to mining and transport.

* MAJOR CONTRACTS - China’s CITIC Group and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) were among several foreign firms which won contracts in 2006 to build Algeria’s 1,216 km (756 mile) East-West highway. The total value of the project is estimated at $11 billion. Earlier this year, the Chinese civil engineering group CCECC won three contracts worth a total of $2.10 billion to build railways in western Algeria.

* LABOUR - Chinese companies awarded engineering and construction projects by the Algerian government often use Chinese labour. As a result, Chinese workers can frequently be seen building apartment blocks or new roads.

* ENERGY - Chinese state-owned energy giants Sinopec and CNPC have won exploration contracts in Algeria, an OPEC member and major oil and gas producer. Chinese firms have indicated interest in bidding for new acreage in a fresh licensing round this year.

* SMALL-SCALE BUSINESS - Chinese entrepreneurs often rent out properties where they set up shops selling imported clothes or other items. These businesses can be found across the country, not just in the capital.

* POLITICAL TIES - These have reflected the growing economic links between Beijing and Algiers. Chinese President Hu Jintao visited Algiers in February 2004. His Algerian counterpart, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, visited China in October 2000. The two leaders have also met several times on the sidelines of international meetin

Chana Auto, one of China’s biggest carmakers, plans to invest $80m in South Africa over the next five years. The investment would culminate with the construction of a new assembly plant, which would be the country’s first green-field car plant in 40 years.

Yang Qing, general manager of Chana International, told local newspaper Business Report that the investment would take place in three phases, with the construction of a new plant, whose location has not been decided, being the final stage. The investment is expected to create 1,000 jobs.

Initially, though, Chana’s activities will focus on boosting sales of imported Chana vehicles in the South African market. To date, about 5,000 Chana vehicles have been sold in South Africa, which is the biggest and most mature automotive market in Africa.

Meanwhile, Geely Automobile, another of China’s Big Five, is engaged in a similar expeditionary mission in Algeria. It has just awarded the PR deal to develop its brand in Algeria to Open2Europe, a pan-European hi-tech PR firm headquartered in Paris.

Open2Europe will accompany Geely in developing its brand in Algeria, which is seen as a strategic market by the Chinese carmaker. The campaign will start with the launch of the new Geely Panda.

Geely apparently chose Open2Europe because of its previous success with Chinese companies, and its expertise in increasing visibility in the European, American and Arabian media.

Car industry analysts have long argued that when China’s carmakers start flexing their expansionist muscles, they would most likely start with developing economies of Africa, Asia and eastern Europe, rather than compete head on with the established western and Asian carmakers giants in mature markets.

So while Europe’s media have been salivating over the potential implications of a Chinese-owned Opel — Beijing Automotive Industry Holding tabled an eleventh-hour offer for the German carmaker — China’s increasingly aggressive moves in smaller markets risk going unnoticed.

(engagingchina.com)

KUNMING, (Xinhua) — Two Chinese explorers in the Sahara Desert have been out of contact for more than three days, said sources from their hometown in southwestern Yunnan Province Tuesday.

Olympic torch bearer Jin Feibao and geologist Fei Xuan began their desert tour in Algeria May 16. According to their plan, the pair would ride on camels and maintain contact via satellite communication facilities.

After beginning their trip, the pair has not been heard from, said Xu Hongyan, one of Jin’s employees who was put in charge of their communications.

“Jin is an experienced explorer and was equipped with advanced communication facilities,” Xu said.

She has called the exploration company in Algeria where the explorers rented camels. That company agreed to send out a rescue team.

If those efforts fail, Xu planned to contact the Algerian Embassy in China for help on Wednesday.

A woman with the Chinese Embassy in Algeria, surnamed Jiang, told Xinhua via telephone that she learned of the missing explorers from the media and would be reporting the information tothe ambassador.

She could not confirm Xu’s story or say what measures might be taken by the embassy.

Jin and Fei started an expedition in Africa last month. They planned to cover 7,500 kilometers throughout Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Algeria, Libya and Egypt within 80 days.
Editor: Yan