African Union leaders have inaugurated a new $200 million headquarters that was funded by China as a gift.
The Chinese government fully financed the construction of the 20-story tower overlooking a conference center in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.
It took three years to build.
China’s top political adviser, Jiao Qinglan, said the gift is a “symbol of deepening relations.”
He said China is Africa’s largest commercial partner and Chinese investment there amounts to $13 billion.
The inauguration came as the African Union opened a two-day summit at the new headquarters.
compiled from agency reports
Copyright © 2012, RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
Source Article from http://www.rferl.org/content/african_union_headquarters_opened_funded_by_china/24466607.html
