Alvin the Chinese-African

PRETORIA, South Africa Feb 7, 2007 (AP)— Chinese President Hu Jintao promised Wednesday to increase imports from Africa, responding to fears about the trade deficit that increased as China pumped unprecedented aid, investment and loans into the poor but resource-rich continent.

China is an old friend of the African National Congress party of President Thabo Mbeki, which it supported while South Africa was under a racist white regime. It provided arms and military training for guerrilla fighters, university scholarships and diplomatic support in the international arena.

South African trade unions have complained that Chinese textile imports have cost some 100,000 jobs in the domestic industry. This forced both governments to agree to restrict imports.

Accountant student Alvin Kee, whose parents emigrated to South Africa from Hong Kong, said "I can see China being good for Africa. People think they are coming just for our resources, but they also are coming for development and increasing trade."

Human rights activists in Namibia and opposition politicians in South Africa objected to China's support for corrupt governments accused of human rights abuses, such as those in Zimbabwe and Sudan.

China has been criticized for blocking U.N. resolutions against Sudan, Beijing's third largest supplier of oil, whose troops and government-funded militia are blamed for killings of more than 200,000 people in Darfur.

---- Alvin in Africa, I see ya future dahlin'. Lotsa development loo-ting Africa, ya, I see it in the cards love – you’re a Libra aintcha dahlin' – Ms. Cleokate.