Xi courts Africa with US$50bil aid pledge

Closer ties: Xi arrives for the opening ceremony of the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing. The Chinese leader said China would unilaterally exempt import tariffs for products from 33 African countries. — Reuters

BEIJING: President Xi Jinping vowed to provide Africa with US$50bil in financial support over the next three years and strengthen military cooperation in a sweeping effort to deepen China’s relations with a continent seen as key to his geopolitical ambitions.

The Chinese leader laid out his vision for closer ties in a speech to leaders from some 50 nations yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.