1. General

China lays out conditions for legally binding climate deal
China's top climate negotiator Xie Zhenhua on Sunday laid out conditions under which Beijing would accept a legally-binding climate deal that would go into force after 2020, when current voluntary pledges run out. The conditions included a renewal of carbon-cutting pledges by rich nations under the Kyoto Protocol, along with hundreds of billions of dollars in short- and long-term climate financing for poorer countries.
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India emerges as chief opponent of a new global-warming treaty
India is now the leading opponent of a new comprehensive global-warming treaty, it became clear at the weekend after the first week of negotiations at the UN Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa. The world's second most populous country has resolutely set its face against a fresh climate deal that at some stage would involve every country in the world cutting its carbon emissions in an effort to bring climate change under control.
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India, China, US snub EU's plan on binding treaty
The slugfest on legally binding nature of any future climate treaty got intense on Monday with the European Union proposing a declaration of "reassurance" from individual nations on wrapping up negotiations on such a treaty by 2015. The move aimed to get some promise on a binding treaty --- central point of debate in Durban -- before the high level segment of ministers start on Tuesday earned an immediate rejection from China and India.
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Africa test for China's climate policy
Resource-hungry China's ever growing interests in mineral-rich Africa could be a factor pushing it to appear more flexible at global climate talks, with its image on the continent at risk if it seen as sinking the discussions. A breakthrough to set new binding cuts on the heat trapping-gases is out of the question, envoys say, but there could be pressure to strike a deal that covers more middle ground then many are expecting.
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BASIC countries remain united over climate change: Chinese delegate
Brazil, South Africa, India and China, known as "BASIC countries", remained united over major issues in relation to climate change, a senior Chinese official on climate change said here on Tuesday. BASIC countries are united and demand that the second commitment of the Kyoto protocol "is a must," Xie Zhenhua, who led a Chinese delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa, told a joint news briefing with his South African, Indian and Brazilian counterparts.
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2. China in Africa

China-Africa Fund Finds Investing Harder Than Expected, CEO Says
The China-Africa Development Fund has found investing in the African continent more difficult than expected after committing almost all its first $1 billion, Chief Executive Officer Chi Jianxin said in an interview. The state-owned private equity fund, which began in June 2007, has not been able to exit any of its investments to realize a profit, Chi said yesterday in Beijing. It is still seeking a “beneficial result” in the long term, he said.
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China’s Envoy to Africa Expresses Concern Over Sudan Oil, Border Disputes
China’s top envoy for Africa urged Sudan and South Sudan to resolve disputes over oil and their mutual border, citing concern that future instability may harm its investments in the region, Sudan’s Foreign Ministry said. Liu Guijin made the comments after arriving in Khartoum today for talks with Sudan’s foreign minister and officials from the Oil Ministry, al-Obeid Murawih, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said in an interview in the capital city.
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China to support South-South Co-op
China is playing its part in projects of the United Nations to improve global food security under the framework of South-South Cooperation (SSC), the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Tuesday. FAO recently co-signed two new tripartite agreements with China, Liberia and Senegal respectively to support implementation of a series of food security initiatives and projects in Liberia and Senegal, the organization said in a press release.
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China, Seychelles to boost bilateral ties
Seychelles President James Michel met here Friday with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, saying Liang's visit will enhance the friendly and cooperative ties between the two nations and the two armies. Michel, also the country's defense minister, said Seychelles attaches great importance to Liang's visit, the first by a Chinese defense minister since the two countries established diplomatic ties 35 years ago.
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Cameroon PM, Chinese state councilor hold talks on cooperation
Cameroon Prime Minister Philemon Yang held talks with visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong here on Monday on strengthening cooperation between their two nations. Philemon Yang said that Cameroon and China have a relation of sincere friendship and a close partnership. The two countries have gained fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, health, agriculture, infrastructure as well as culture.
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SOEs building bilateral ties in South Africa
China's State-owned enterprises have created job opportunities and show commitment to their corporate social responsibilities in South Africa, said a senior trade official in the country. "Their presence has added to the value of products here - benefiting not only the country but the continent as a whole," Lionel October, director-general of South Africa's Department of Trade and Industry, said during the country's recent exposition, its largest-ever in China.
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The Second China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Development Forum was held in Beijing
The Second China-Africa Industrial Cooperation and Development Forum supported by CAPFA and UNIDO and organized by China Africa Industrial Forum successfully opened on November 28 afternoon, 2011. International officials, foreign Representatives to China, African leaders, African envoys to China, African representatives of Entrepreneurs, famous African policies and economic issues, experts and scholars attended this forum more than 500 people.
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Chinese ambassador presents letter of credence to AU chief
Xie Xiaoyan, the newly appointed Chinese ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union (AU) on Friday presented his letter of credence to Jean Ping, chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC) at his office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After presenting the credential letter to Ping at the AU headquarters, Ambassador Xie held talks with the AUC chief on the relations and cooperation between China and the union of 54 member countries.
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3. India in Africa

India looks to Africa for secure energy supplies
As part of India’s effort to counter the growing Chinese influence in Africa and provide a fillip to India’s efforts to secure hydrocarbon assets in the continent, at least 16 countries will be participating in the third India-Africa hydrocarbons conference starting on 9 December. India’s efforts are targeted towards diversifying its import basket and come in the backdrop of China organizing similar conferences previously.
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4. In Other Emerging Powers News

Brazilian mission to Mozambique, Angola and South Africa generates business deals worth estimated US$122 million
The 53 Brazilian companies that took part in the recent Trade Mission to Mozambique, Angola and South Africa are expected to have done business deals worth US$122 million over the next 12 months according to export and investment promotion agency Apex-Brasil. Apex-Brasil said that the Brazilian companies that travelled to the three countries took part in 1,154 meetings with local businesspeople and are expected to have done deals worth US$19 million in Mozambique, US$51 million in Angola and US$52 million in South Africa.
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Brazil, Angola to Review Bilateral Agenda
Foreign ministers Antonio Patriota (Brazil) and Georges Chikoti (Angola) will discuss the main issues on the bilateral agenda, with particular emphasis on the Strategic Alliance agreed in 2010. On Monday and Tuesday, Chikoti will pay an official visit to Brasilia, invited by his Brazilian counterpart.
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Chinese, South African Ministers of Mining to Visit Sudan
The Ministry of Minerals has invited the Ministers of Mining of the People's Republic of China and South Africa to visit the country in the coming period. The Director of the Department of the Technical Foreign Cooperation at the ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Shaddad, said that the visit comes in the framework of the openness of Sudan to benefit from the international experiences in the field of mining.
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BRICS to boost grain yield
The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) countries should increase their ability to produce grain to ensure food safety, said a Chinese political advisory official. Bai Lichen, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's political advisory body, also called for strengthened agricultural and food cooperation to increase production in the BRICS countries.
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BRICS nations keen to team up on new energy
The five BRICS nations intend to focus and work together on developing alternative energy sources. When Bu Xiaolin, vice governor of China's coal-rich Inner Mongolia autonomous region, spoke over the weekend in front of hundreds of BRICS delegates on regional energy strategies, she mentioned little of the fossil fuels that have long contributed to the region's growth.
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Russia extends olive branch to Zambia
RUSSIAN businessmen want to invest in education, agriculture, construction and mining among others, Russian Ambassador Boris Malakhov has said. Mr Malakhov said there are a number of well established Russian companies willing to invest in Zambia among them Zarubezhstroy Translating Foreign Construction, Reinova, Renaissance Partners and Nornickel. The companies are all highly acclaimed globally and have a long history of investments in Africa and other continents.
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Forget China, invest in Africa says Russia's Renaissance
Investors should forget China and park their money in sub-Saharan Africa if they wish to benefit from the growth in emerging markets, the chief investment officer at Russia's Renaissance Asset Managers said on Friday. "Africa reminds me of China back in 1999. If you missed China then, don't do that now," Plamen Monovski told Reuters in an interview. "It's the last place in the world that is due for that rapid change and advancement."
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