CAIRO, June 19 (UPI) -- Speaking in Cairo Sunday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao saluted his country's ties with Africa and said Sino-African oil trade is "normal," Xinhua reported.
"It is known to all that China has engaged in oil trade with several African countries, and such a trade relationship is open, transparent, normal and mutually beneficial," Wen said, before adding: "I could say that oil trade volumes between China and the African countries are less than one third of those enjoyed by some major countries."
China's rapid economic growth should not be a cause for concern in Africa, Wen said. "China places importance on developing its economic and trade ties with Africa, and a huge potential needs to be tapped for such ties."
Wen's two-day official visit to Cairo was the first stop on a seven-nation tour of the continent. Over the course of the trip, he will visit Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.
