Africa Report

Chinaissued its second white paper on foreign aid in July, elaborating on how the nation helps other developing countries reduce poverty and improve people's livelihood without imposing political conditions. The white paper,China's Foreign Aid (2014), says as the world's largest developing country,Chinaappropriated 89.34 billion yuan ($14 billion) for foreign assistance through grant, interest-free loans and concessional loans from 2010 to 2012. During the period, over half ofChina's foreign aid went to African nations.

Chinaprovided foreign assistance in forms such as undertaking complete projects, dispatching medical teams and volunteers, offering emergency humanitarian aid, and reducing or exempting the debts of the recipient countries. Also,Chinarelieved nine least developed countries and heavily indebted poor countries, namely,Tanzania,Zambia,Cameroon,Equatorial Guinea,Mali,Togo,Benin, Cote d'lvoire andSudan, from 16 mature interest-free loans totaling 1.42 billion yuan ($231.27 million).

Tanzania

Wildlife Protection

Tanzania's 19 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) were awarded as the "WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) Leaders for a Living Planet" in recognition to their wildlife conservation efforts by Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF International, in late July. The 19 WAMs were recognized for outstanding achievements in conservation of wildlife resources, the preservation of habitats essential for the survival of threatened species and for their significant contribution to sustainable wildlife conservation on village lands inTanzania. WAMs are community-owned resource management areas, typically located near high-value protected areas. They provide a way for communities to gain economically from managing wildlife and other natural resources in a sustainable manner.

West Africa

Combatting Ebola Virus

The Ebola virus disease, EVD, in West Africa, is continuing to be monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO), which, as of July 8, had claimed 539 lives inLiberia,GuineaandSierra Leone. A total of 11 West African health ministers have developed a strategy to combat the deadly outbreak.

Together with the WHO, a sub-regional outbreak response coordination center is being set up inConakry,Guinea, designed to act as a control and coordination platform to react to EVD outbreaks. According to the WHO, "The center will be responsible for ensuring the effective use and deployment of critical resources. The organization and coordination of key support functions and field operations will now move closer to outbreak areas or hot spots." Meanwhile, experts say educating people rather than closing borders is the most effective way to contain the outbreak. There is still no cure for the deadly EVD which has an incubation period from two to 21 days and carries a fatality rate of up to 90 percent.

China

Mandela Movie

The filmMandela: Long Walk to Freedom, was released inChinaon July 18 to celebrate the International Nelson Mandela Day, 2014. The movie has been taken to more than 1,000 screens in China by China Film Group Corp., the country's film distributor. Adapted from the autobiography of the same name which was written by South African former President Nelson Mandela, the film relates Mandela's life from an early age, prison life, presidency and after.

"The film will provide an opportunity for Chinese audiences to celebrate Mandala's life and pay tribute to him as a global icon and leader who is revered and respected in China," said Anant Singh, producer of the film. The release will coincide with the formalization of a two-year cultural exchange program betweenSouth AfricaandChinathat was launched inBeijingin April.

China

Reopening Embassy

Chinawill reopen its embassy inSomaliaafter a 23-year period of closure that began when the African country descended into civil war, saidChina's Foreign Ministry. A Chinese task force traveled toSomaliaon July 1 to begin re-establishing the embassy.

Somalia, in 1960, was the first East African country to establish diplomatic ties withChina.Chinaclosed its embassy there afterSomaliagot into civil war in 1991. Hong Lei, Spokesman of China's Foreign Ministry, said thatSomaliahas entered a new period of national reconstruction as the peace process achieved a breakthrough in 2012 and the first formal government and parliament have been formed in 21 years. "China's decision to reopen the embassy and to send the task force shows its high attention to relations withSomaliaand firm support for the reconstruction of the country," said Hong.

China

Judicial Reform

The Supreme People's Court (SPC),China's top court, in July has published a guideline for reforms in the country's court system over the next five years, underlining efforts to ensure independent trial. The guideline includes 45 major reform measures, which fall into eight key judicial issues such as personnel, finance and judicial selections, according to the document released by the SPC. The reform will be focused on efforts to remove some deep-rooted problems affecting the capability and fairness of the country's judicial system, and to ensure the court to exercise their judicial power in a legal, independent and just manner.

China

Drug Rehab

Chinawill encourage voluntary drug rehabilitation and build a social service network for addicts, according to a guideline by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council, the cabinet, on national anti-narcotics work. The guideline, issued earlier in July, envisaged that by 2020 the number of drug users should grow at a much slower rate, and a more efficient drug rehab system will be in place. While regulating compulsory and quarantined drug rehab, the government will provide drug rehab services in community facilities to encourage voluntary drug rehab. Medicines will be made more accessible and those rehabilitated will get assistance in jobs, said the guideline.

China

Fiscal System

Chinawill endeavor to build a comprehensive, transparent and efficient fiscal and tax system in the coming years. Measures include improving management and supervision of government budgets, facilitating the building of a comprehensive, well-regulated and transparent modern budget system and optimizing the tax system, said a statement released after a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee late June. High priority will also be given to adjusting power and spending responsibilities between central and local governments in a rational manner, adjusting distribution of revenue between them while keeping the current division of financial resources between them stable, it added. It noted thatChinaaims to fulfill key tasks in the new round of fiscal and tax reforms by 2016, and basically establish a modern fiscal system by 2020.

Africa

Cross-Border Visa

Foreigners in possession of a valid work or residence permit inKenya,RwandaandUgandawill be given an East Africa Tourism visa valid for six months, according to a decision jointly reached by the heads of tourism bodies in the three states. The East Africa Tourism visa, which came into force early this year, cost $100 and was valid for 90 days for a foreigner. From July on, it will cost the same and be extended for six months for foreign residents residing in any of the three states. The introduction of the visa is expected to enhance the tourist product offering in the three countries and, as a result, increase the number of tourists, bringing more revenue and jobs.