African development gets Chinese push

Bilateral ties on trade, financial, economic fronts coast on win-win philosophy

At a factory in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, workers in blue uniforms meticulously assemble vehicles, while another team maneuver around 300 sport utility vehicles and sedans into a staging area.

These cars, manufactured at Chinese carmaker Beijing Automotive Group Co's plant, will be delivered to its customer, South African Airways, and to several dealerships in Pretoria within a week.

These cars testify to the inroads Chinese companies are making in the auto market across Africa, from Ghana to Ethiopia, Morocco to South Africa, said Chang Rui, BAIC's vice-president.