China is proving an important trade partner for the west African nation of Guinea.<br /><br />While Guinea's military rulers are facing sanctions from the African Union and others in the international community, China's recently committed to a $7bn mining and oil exploration deal.<br /><br />Al Jazeera's Yvonne Ndege, reporting from the mining town of Sangaredi, says Chinese investment in bauxite mining - which accounts for 95 per cent of Guinea's total economy - has come to the aid of an industry threatened by EU sanctions.<br /><br />The sanctions include bans on travel and the freezing of assets held outside Guinea by the military leaders, who seized power in a coup after the death of Lansana Conte, the president, last December.<br /><br />They were imposed after troops opened fire on September 28 at a rally in a stadium, in the capital, Conakry, where protesters were urging Moussa Dadis Camara, the country's military leader, not to stand in presidential elections planned for January.
