China Hosts African Nations
Ties between China and Africa become stronger over trade issues
A weekend summit in Beijing focused on broadening Sino-African relations, increasing Chinese aid to Africa and doubling trade by the end of the decade.
Over the weekend, China hosted the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Approximately 1,700 delegates from 48 African nations w ere in attendance. It is not surprising that trade topped the agenda. Chinese trade with Africa is on target to top US$50 billion this year and officials from Beijing expressed ambitions of reaching $100 billion by 2010.
During this three-day event, deals worth US$1.9 billion were struck involving 12 Chinese companies along with China's word that it would not monopolize resources on the continent. Beijing also offered African nations US$5 billion worth in preferential loans and export credits over the next three years in addition to its pledge to double aid to the continent by 2009.
At a time when most Western nations have attempted to isolate certain governments in Africa for their poor human rights records, the energy-hungry Asian giant has been willing to embrace shady leaders and ink deals as it searches for new places to acquire resources. Many continue to criticize China for dealing with rogue regimes but some analysts note that there are few oil reserves left, for example, that are not already controlled by Western firms. Several heads of state, such as Liberia's president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, stressed the importance of separating political interests from developmental goals and praised bilateral ties.
Strong Sino-African relations will definitely improve the infrastructure of several developing countries, not to mention create jobs. According to its state-run Xinhua news agency, China plans to develop expressways in Nigeria, install a telecommunications network in rural Ghana and build an aluminum smelter in Egypt. China will also build a new conference centre for the African Union, create up to five free-trade zones and is committed to training 15,000 African professionals.
