From South Africa’s Mail & Guardian: Mugabe in China on apparent plea for aid
Excerpt: Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe was in Beijing on Monday in an apparent effort to secure aid and investment for his crumbling economy.
Mugabe blames the economic crisis in Zimbabwe on Western sanctions imposed in response to land seizures and other abuses.
His “Look East” policy seeks aid from China and other Asian countries that are less likely to raise human rights concerns.
China is reported to covet mining rights in Zimbabwe as it trawls the globe for raw materials to feed its economic boom.
Mugabe is scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday. He also is to meet other top officials and travel to the north-eastern province of Jilin during his weeklong visit, which began on Saturday.
No details of what the two sides will discuss have been released…