South Africa's relationship with China has deepened and matured under President Jacob Zuma. In 2009, China became South Africa's biggest trading partner and in late 2010, China invited South Africa to join the "BRIC" grouping of emerging economies. Zuma joined the other BRIC leaders at a summit early this year. The invitation was surprising. South Africa's economy is miniscule compared to those of Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the other BRIC members -- it's only a quarter the size of Russia's economy, which was then the smallest BRIC.
Above, Zuma meets with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Aug. 25, 2010. Zuma visited Beijing and Shanghai during a three-day trip he deemed "crucial."
ADRIAN BRADSHAW/AFP/Getty Images
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PROTV
5:34 PM ET
October 13, 2011
great shoot Have a Nice
great shoot
Have a Nice day... stasera in tv
FP2011
1:23 AM ET
October 27, 2011
Surprise, surprise..
Honestly, when I read the title for this photo essay: South Africa's Dictator Dance
was the last part, dance , that took my attention and made me come to see more. I had no idea what would this be about. I get it now.
The part that surprised me was the picture from 1999 with Qaddafi flashing the victory sign as he stands with Mandela.
I had no idea they were friends.
I wonder what is going to happen in Libya now that Qaddafi is out of the picture. We will soon see...