China's scramble for the African Union

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http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/MF09Ad02.html

ADDIS ABABA - In the thin air of Ethiopia's low-slung, mostly ramshackle capital, a glittering tower complex is erupting from a warren of corrugated tin roof shacks that many locals call home.

The China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) is building a massive new complex in an expansion of the African Union's (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Africa's "capital" akin, in theory, to Brussels being the capital or Europe.

Though the CSCEC describes its efforts there as "aiding" the African Union, make no mistake, it is building the facility wholesale.

Stern-faced Chinese foreman command ever-smiling Ethiopian


laborers who are working round the clock to finish the project at breakneck speed for its planned January 2012 inauguration. Jean Ping, a half Chinese-half Gabonese former diplomat for the late Gabonese big man Omar Bongo, addressed the Chinese delegation at the fourth annual China-Africa Strategic Dialogue held in Addis on May 4 led by Zhai Jun, China's vice minister for foreign affairs. Ping described China as the AU's "good and reliable partner".

In anticipation of a hoped-for visit to Addis Ababa by President Hu Jintao for the new AU's debut, Ping stated: "We cannot thank China and it's leaders enough for it ..."