MCLC: China funds new African Union headquarters

[Denton, Kirk]

MCLC LIST
From: kirk (denton.2 at osu.edu)
Subject: China funds new African Union headquarters
***********************************************************

Source: Washington Post
(1/28/12):http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/african-union-opens-ne
w-chinese-funded-200m-headquarters-in-ethiopian-capital/2012/01/28/gIQA13xq
XQ_story.html

African Union opens new, Chinese-funded $200m headquarters in Ethiopian
capital
By Associated Press

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia ‹ African leaders have inaugurated a new $200
million headquarters that was funded by China as a gift. They say the
massive complex is a symbol of China¹s rapidly changing role in Africa.

The Chinese government fully funded the construction of the 20-floor tower
overlooking a calabash-shaped conference center. It took three years to
build.

AU chair Jean Ping said on Saturday China had built the complex for free.

China¹s top political adviser Jiao Qinglan said the gift is a ³symbol of
deepening relations.² He said China is Africa¹s largest trade partner and
Chinese investment there totals $13 billion.

The AU is due to open a two-day summit on Sunday at the new facility.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.