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| Chinese President Xi Jinping |
Chinese President Xi Jinping has told
firms that the funds are not for “vanity projects” in Africa but are to
build infrastructure that can remove development bottlenecks.
firms that the funds are not for “vanity projects” in Africa but are to
build infrastructure that can remove development bottlenecks.
The President said on Monday also warned
the firms to respect local people and the environment where projects
were being executed.
the firms to respect local people and the environment where projects
were being executed.
Xi said at a business forum before the
start of a triennial China Africa summit their friendship was
time-honoured and that China’s investment in Africa came with no
political strings attached.
start of a triennial China Africa summit their friendship was
time-honoured and that China’s investment in Africa came with no
political strings attached.
“China does not interfere in Africa’s internal affairs and does not impose its own will on Africa.
“What we value is the sharing of
development experience and the support we can offer to Africa’s national
rejuvenation and prosperity,” Xi said.
development experience and the support we can offer to Africa’s national
rejuvenation and prosperity,” Xi said.
“China’s cooperation with Africa is
clearly targeted at the major bottlenecks to development. Resources for
our cooperation are not to be spent on any vanity projects but in places
where they count the most,” he said.
clearly targeted at the major bottlenecks to development. Resources for
our cooperation are not to be spent on any vanity projects but in places
where they count the most,” he said.
China has denied engaging in “debt trap”
diplomacy but Xi is likely to use the gathering of African leaders to
offer a new round of financing, following a pledge of $60 billion at the
previous summit in South Africa three years
ago.
diplomacy but Xi is likely to use the gathering of African leaders to
offer a new round of financing, following a pledge of $60 billion at the
previous summit in South Africa three years
ago.
Chinese officials have vowed to be more
cautious to ensure projects are sustainable. China defends continued
lending to Africa on the grounds that the continent still needs
debt-funded infrastructure development.
cautious to ensure projects are sustainable. China defends continued
lending to Africa on the grounds that the continent still needs
debt-funded infrastructure development.
Beijing has also fended off criticism it
is only interested in resource extraction to feed its own booming
economy, that the projects it funds have poor environmental safeguards,
and that too many of the workers for them are flown
in from China rather than using African labour.
is only interested in resource extraction to feed its own booming
economy, that the projects it funds have poor environmental safeguards,
and that too many of the workers for them are flown
in from China rather than using African labour.
Xi told business leaders Chinese firms in
Africa had to be aware of their social responsibilities and make sure
their investments served the community and improved their wellbeing.
Africa had to be aware of their social responsibilities and make sure
their investments served the community and improved their wellbeing.
“I hope that our entrepreneurs will act to fulfil social responsibilities and respect local culture and tradition,” he said.
“I also hope you will do more in staff
training and bettering lives for the local people and will put more
emphasis on the environment and resources,” Xi said.
training and bettering lives for the local people and will put more
emphasis on the environment and resources,” Xi said.
Chinese officials say this year’s summit
will strengthen Africa’s role in Xi’s Belt and Road initiative to link
China by sea and land with Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East,
Europe and Africa through an infrastructure
network modelled on the old Silk Road.
will strengthen Africa’s role in Xi’s Belt and Road initiative to link
China by sea and land with Southeast and Central Asia, the Middle East,
Europe and Africa through an infrastructure
network modelled on the old Silk Road.
Xi said the plan, for which Beijing has
pledged $126 billion, would help provide more resources and facilities
for Africa and would expand shared markets.
pledged $126 billion, would help provide more resources and facilities
for Africa and would expand shared markets.
China loaned around 125 billion dollars
to the continent from 2000 to 2016, data from the China-Africa Research
Initiative at Washington’s Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Studies shows.
to the continent from 2000 to 2016, data from the China-Africa Research
Initiative at Washington’s Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced
International Studies shows.
State media has accused the West of sour
grapes over China’s prominent role in Africa and has angrily rejected
claims of forcing African countries into a debt trap.
grapes over China’s prominent role in Africa and has angrily rejected
claims of forcing African countries into a debt trap.
“In terms of cooperation with China,
African countries know best,” widely read tabloid the Global Times wrote
in an editorial on Monday.
African countries know best,” widely read tabloid the Global Times wrote
in an editorial on Monday.
“Western media deliberately portray
Africans in misery for collaborating with China and they appear to have
discovered big news by finding occasional complaints in the African
media about Sino-Africa cooperation,” it said.
Africans in misery for collaborating with China and they appear to have
discovered big news by finding occasional complaints in the African
media about Sino-Africa cooperation,” it said.
Every African country is represented at
the business forum apart from eSwatini, self-ruled Taiwan’s last African
ally that has so far rejected China’s overtures to ditch Taipei and
recognise Beijing.
the business forum apart from eSwatini, self-ruled Taiwan’s last African
ally that has so far rejected China’s overtures to ditch Taipei and
recognise Beijing.
African presidents in attendance include
Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buharu, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Egypt’s
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu and Gabon’s Ali Bongo.
Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buharu, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Egypt’s
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Zambia’s Edgar Lungu and Gabon’s Ali Bongo.
There are some controversial guests.
Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, who has
been in power for nearly 30 years, is wanted by the International
Criminal Court for war crimes over killings and persecution in Sudan’s
Darfur province between 2003 and 2008.
been in power for nearly 30 years, is wanted by the International
Criminal Court for war crimes over killings and persecution in Sudan’s
Darfur province between 2003 and 2008.
Xi told him on Sunday that “foreign forces” should not interfere in Sudan’s internal affairs, China’s Foreign Ministry said.
Source: Reuters
