DIPLOMATIC DYNAMICS

DIPLOMATIC DYNAMICS

China and Africa

Chinese President Hu Jintao on June 5 met President of Namibia and Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Hifikepunye Pohamba in Beijing.

Hu said bilateral relations between China and Namibia had maintained sound growth since they forged diplomatic ties in 1990, citing productive cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture, education and health.

The Chinese president also pledged to support a larger SADC role in regional and international issues and jointly tackle global challenges.

The SADC is an intergovernmental organization that aims to further economic and social integration as well as political and security cooperation among 15 southern African states. Pohamba started to hold the rotating chair of the SADC in August 2010.

China will advance cooperation with the SADC in energy, water resource development, transportation and telecommunications, Hu said.

It will also help the SADC train more professional personnel and welcome SADC states to send professionals to participate in training programs in China, he said.

China and Latin America

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited three Latin American nations—Cuba,Uruguay and Chile—this June.

When meeting Cuban leader Raul Castro in Havana on June 5, Xi said the Chinese Government supports Chinese companies’ efforts to establish a presence in Cuba.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Cuba on international issues,such as UN reform and climate change, to protect their interests and the shared interests of other developing countries, Xi said.

At a meeting with Uruguay’s Vice President Danilo Astori, Xi said China and Uruguay must continue to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, livestock, fi shery,quality control and service industries.

China is Uruguay’s second biggest trade partner, and its biggest wool importer. The two countries have also cooperated on auto manufacturing, telecommunications and fi nancing.

China has been Chile’s biggest trade partner since 2008. In 2010, trade between the two countries soared 44.8 percent year on year, reaching $25.83 billion.