Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe is in China in the hopes of convincing Beijing to provide food and oil aid to alleviate his country?s economic crisis. Aside from the emergency loans, the African leader will ask for mineral and other trade concessions during his upcoming meeting with President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese officials. Meanwhile, talks are ongoing between the governments of Mugabe and South African President Thabo Mbeki on helping Zimbabwe pay its debt to the International Monetary Fund. Mbeki indicated that his country will likely approve Harare?s request, with the final details of the aid to be announced after the consultation with the Zimbabwean opposition. (Source: Mugabe in China to seek aid boost/British Broadcasting Corporation)
