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Photos: Pomp and Circumstance Greet China's Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan in Africa

March 28th, 2013
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (R) arrive at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar Es Salaam on March 24, 2013. (John Lukuwi/AFP/Getty Images)
Peng Liyuan (L), wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Tanzanian First Lady Salma Kikwete (R) stand at Julius Nyerere International airport in Dar Es Salaam on March 24, 2013. (John Lukuwi/AFP/Getty Images)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with members of a welcoming committee eyed by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete (R) upon Xi's arrival at Julius Nyerere International Airport. (John Lukuwi/AFP/Getty Images)
L to R: Tanzania's First Lady Salma Kikwete, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete and the First Lady of China Peng Liyuan pose at State House in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania on March 24, 2013. (John Lukuwi/AFP/Getty Images)
President Xi Jinping of The Peoples' Republic of China in a key-handing ceremony with Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete on March 25, 2013. (John Lukuwi/AFP/Getty Images)
First Lady of China Peng Liyuan (L) and her Tanzanian counterpart Salma Kikwete (R) on a joint visit to the Wanawake na Maendeleo Foundation (WAMA) offices in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013. (John Lukuwi/AFP/Getty Images)
President of the Republic of South Africa Jacob Zuma (2nd R) receives Xi Jinping (L) and Peng Liyuan (C) for a state visit at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on March 26, 2013. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)
Peng Liyuan (C) is welcomed by officials upon her arrival in Pretoria on March 26, 2013. (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)
Xi Jinping (2nd L) arrives for a state visit at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on March 26, 2013.  (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)
South African President Jacob Zuma (R) receives Xi Jinping (L) for a state visit at the Union Buildings on March 26, 2013.  (Stringer/AFP/Getty Images)
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Chinese President Xi Jinping and First Lady Peng Liyuan wrapped up their time in South Africa for the BRICs Summit on March 26-27 and subsequently headed to the Republic of Congo for the last leg of their three-country tour of Africa this week. The trip, which began in Tanzania, has provided them with many photo ops with African leaders, several of which can be seen in the slideshow above.

Although the leaders were all smiles for the camera, recent coverage of the presidential tour suggested that all might not be perfect below the surface. According to The New York Times, Xi hopes to use this trip to assure African leaders that the Chinese government "would heed complaints that relentlessly competitive Chinese companies were suffocating African efforts to nurture industry and jobs," and to promise "aid, scholarships and technology transfers in an effort to counter those fears."

Criticism of China's role in Africa isn't new, as former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned back in 2011 that China's involvement there could become a form of "new colonialism." As Xi's trip progresses, Chinese state-run media outlets have released several pieces condemning critics, such as a recent China Daily article which cites several Western experts who state that China's role in Africa is only of a helpful nature.

The couple flew to Tanzania straight from Russia, which was the first foreign country Xi visited since assuming the office of the presidency on March 14, 2013.

Since first stepping off the plane in Russia, China's first lady has received an amount of media attention rivaling that of her husband thanks to her glamorous image. A New York Times story about the famous former folk singer states that she is seen as "roughly equivalent to Michelle Obama: modern, outgoing, intrigued by fashion." Jing Daily demonstrated the extent of domestic interest she is receiving in an article about a social media obsession that broke out over the brand of a handbag she carried. Authorities are apparently uncomfortable with this development, as several search terms to find out who she's wearing were blocked on Weibo — but these new images will most likely only add to the buzz.

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About the Author

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Liz Flora is a contributor to Asia Blog. She has a master's degree in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Columbia University.
 @Liz__Flora
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