African leaders praised their alliance with China
Quartz
Close to 50 African presidents and heads of government attended the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing this week. With the exception of eSwatini, which remains committed to its alliance with Taiwan, African states are all hoping to get a share of the $60 billion for development projects that president Xi Jinping announced at the conference, which comes on top of billions previously pledged.
When taking the podium, leaders used the high-level forum to define and defend China’s growing relationship with Africa. Against the backdrop of mounting debt, trade deficits, and talk of neocolonialism, here are some of the ways presidents and prime ministers spoke of Sino-African relations.
President Paul Kagame, who is also the rotating chair of the African Union, said China understood Africa’s global position and engaged it as an equal partner. Kagame, who is a critic of foreign aid, praised Beijing’s “win-win” partnership with Africa and commended the two sides’ growing economic and political partnership in an increasingly changing and multipolar world.
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Video: China pledges $60 billion to Africa. West is nervous, why?
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Video: Forum on China-Africa Co-operation Summit(FOCAC) concludes
A review of the relationship between China and African nations.
SABC News Johannesburg
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Video: President Xi Jinping addresses opening ceremony of 2018 FOCAC summit
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European nations and the United States have long been known for neocolonialism and political cold war economic activities in African nations. Today, China and India are actively engaged in Africa. Is there a difference from Europe and the U.S.?
China raises fears of ‘new colonialism’ with $60 billion investment across Africa
Telegraph
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday pledged $60 billion in financing for projects in Africa in the form of assistance, investment and loans, as China furthers efforts to link the continent’s economic prospects to its own.
Speaking to a gathering of African leaders in Beijing, Mr Xi said the figure includes $15 billion in grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, $20 billion in credit lines, $10 billion for “development financing” and $5 billion to buy imports from Africa.
In addition, he said China will encourage companies to invest at least $10 billion in Africa over the next three years.
China’s outreach to Africa aims to build trade, investment and political ties with a continent often seen as overlooked by the US and other Western nations. That has provided lucrative opportunities for Chinese businesses, while African nations are often happy to accept China’s offers that come without demands for safeguards against corruption, waste and environmental damage.
China has denied engaging in “debt trap” diplomacy, and Mr Xi’s offer of more money comes after a pledge of another $60 billion at the previous summit in South Africa three years ago. Mr Xi earlier said the money came with “no political strings attached”.
No details were given on specific projects, although Mr Xi said China was planning initiatives in eight areas, including providing $147 million in emergency food aid, sending 500 agricultural experts to Africa, and providing scholarships, vocational training and trade promotion opportunities.
China’s latest pledge comes on top of a 2015 promise to provide African countries with $60 billion in funding that Mr Xi said had either been delivered or arranged.
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September 5, 2018
Commentary: China-Africa win-win partnership won’t be derailed by false claims
By Luo Jun
Xinhua
BEIJING- The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) witnessed African leaders denounce accusations of “neo-colonialism” against China, reiterating the existence of a strong partnership between the continent and the world’s second largest economy.
This week, more than 3,200 leaders and representatives from Africa and regional organizations gathered in Beijing to plan the next step in the win-win relationship between China and Africa.
China-Africa relations are gaining global attention, as their practical cooperation has brought about dramatic changes in the economic landscape across Africa and real benefits to both peoples.
For those who accuse China of “neo-colonialism,” “plundering resources” and creating a “debt trap” in Africa, the Beijing summit has proven them wrong.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed allegations of China acting in a colonialist fashion in Africa, saying China instead has been a partner in boosting social and economic development on the continent.
Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh also said that the Africa-China partnership is based on win-win cooperation and mutual benefits, in contrast to those allegations.
The continent’s leaders sent out a clear signal that Africans are fully capable of deciding what’s in their best interest.
It is patronizing to assume that Africans need to be “taken care of” because they don’t know better.
Africans have had enough of the coddling and are expressing their frustrations online. They “categorically reject being cared for” by the West and are fed up with “constantly being belittled.”
“Sorry to say this but the West treats Africans as objects of pity that need to be controlled like kids,” said Danette Morara, whose comment on the question-and-answer website Quora was widely upvoted.
“The difference between the Chinese and any other country is their honesty,” wrote Stone Atwine on the same thread. “They don’t show up with a holier than thou attitude. They come for business, mutually beneficial business … Some people show up with aid and 1,000 strings attached. We do not need aid, we need business.”
“China wants markets, we have it,” said Richard Ali. “Africa wants technological expertise, China has it. Give me China any day.”
These African voices deserve to be heard. That’s why China has taken a different approach to its partnership with Africa, one defined by equality, sincerity and real results.
During the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward eight initiatives.
Among the measures are imports of more non-resource products from Africa, increased corporate investment, more direct flights, an environmental cooperation center, an African studies institute, and security programs fighting pirates and terrorists.
These projects are aimed at the continent’s sustainable, long-term economic and social development, as well as cultural and environmental preservation, to create a strong Africa for the future. Both China and Africa stand to benefit from this common effort.
Africa is a “land of great promise” and “full of hope” as President Xi said, and no one can hold back the Chinese and African people from realizing the continent’s potential.