China premier steps up Africa charm offensive

CAPE TOWN, June 22 (Reuters) Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stepped up his African charm offensive today, promising to use Beijing's political and economic muscle to help unlock the potential of the resource-rich continent.

China, hungry for Africa's vast mineral and oil resources to fuel its booming economy, has ramped up trade with the continent and secured a series of agreements this week to boost relations.

''China's relationship with Africa is a cornerstone of China's foreign policy, it consolidates and extends the friendship and cooperation with Africa. It is a long-term strategy of China,'' Wen told a business forum in Cape Town.

''We sincerely hope to see Africa develop and grow stronger,'' he said on the South African leg of a seven-nation African tour.

The visit is the third by a senior Chinese leader to Africa in the past six months, and has seen a fresh round of business deals focusing mostly on energy.

China sealed a pact with oil-rich Angola yesterday to extend another 2 billion dollars in credit to the war-battered nation and promised to limit clothing exports to South Africa to help that country's ailing textile industry.

Wen said Beijing would also scrap tariffs on some African exports to China, would increase aid and offer debt relief, and would encourage Chinese companies to invest in the continent, the world's poorest.

''China has endeavoured to provide assistance without any political strings attached to our brothers and sisters in Africa,'' Wen said.

TRADE GIANT China's imports from Africa exceeded exports for the first time last year, with 21.1 billion dollars worth of goods flowing into China out of total trade of 39.8 billion dollars, according to Chinese figures.

But some countries, such as South Africa, the continent's biggest economy, still suffer a trade imbalance and some Chinese imports threaten jobs and industries.

''We will expand trade with Africa and increase imports from Africa (and) we take the concerns of some African countries on trade deficits and textiles seriously. We are working hard to address these issues,'' Wen said.

China's growing economic influence in Africa has been accompanied by a push to build diplomatic links, with Beijing emphasising that unlike Western governments it will not dictate to African leaders on issues such as human rights.

Wen said his government would use its political clout to promote Africa on the world stage and, as a fellow developing nation, would shield it from being abused by the rich.

''As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China holds that Africa's legitimate demands deserve new respect, it opposes the practices of the strong bullying the weak and of imposing double standards in international affairs,'' Wen said.

South Africa's Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka told delegates China's decision to voluntarily limit textile exports was a sign that it was serious about helping Africa.

''The fact that we have signed the textile agreement ... is proof (China) goes the extra mile,'' she said.

Wen leaves South Africa today, continuing to Tanzania and Uganda.

Reutes PR GC1735