Terror in Mali and New Chinese Perspectives

(Beijing) -- Chang Mengjie spent her 23rd birthday with her mother Wang Jing grieving for the man who meant everything to them, and whose death at the hands of terrorists has altered perspectives of China's commercial ties to northern Africa.

Chang Xuhui, 47, was one of three Chinese railway executives killed in a November 20 terrorist attack in Bamako, Mali. The men had arrived for meetings with Mali transportation officials one day before a group of gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel, took 170 guests and others hostage and eventually killed 20.