Chris Alden, of the South African Institute of International Affairs, says the Chinese are beginning to have a big influence in retailing.

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"Many within government really believe they can make a difference, that Ms. Zuma can make a contribution to making the AU a more effective organization, " said Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, national director of the South African Institute of International Affairs.

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For Yu-Shan Wu, a researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs, the efforts by the Chinese state-owned media to increase their influence in Africa and other parts of the developing world are part of a bigger soft power drive.

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