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From The Times
July 27, 2005

Chinese lend Mugabe a lifeline

By Richard Beeston, Diplomatic Editor
CHINA threw a lifeline yesterday to the beleaguered regime of Robert Mugabe when it offered Zimbabwe economic assistance in addition to diplomatic support against the West.

Only days after the Chinese blocked discussion at the United Nations Security Council of a damning UN report into Zimbabwe’s slum clearances, President Mugabe was greeted in Beijing yesterday as a “respected old friend” by President Hu of China.

After being toasted with champagne, the two leaders signed several economic and technical agreements that could help to prop up the collapsing Zimbabwean economy.

Details of the agreements were not released, but Mr Mugabe, 81, is looking for £600 million to relieve shortages of fuel and food and to head off possible expulsion from the International Monetary Fund for failing to pay debts.

China provides Zimbabwe with arms and aircraft and is interested in securing rights to exploit its mineral wealth. Further discussions on strengthening ties between the nations will be held today. Mr Mugabe, 81, is desperate for foreign assistance as he struggles against debts of £2.6 billion, triple-digit inflation and unemployment running at 70 per cent.

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On Sunday President Mbeki of South Africa enraged Mr Mugabe’s critics when he proposed that his country take over a portion of Zimbabwe’s debt to help to avert economic collapse.

In Zimbabwe riot police continued the clearances yesterday, attacking the Porta Farm slum west of Harare, which is home to 20,000 people.

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