Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Africa on Saturday on a
four-nation visit seeking deeper military and economic ties while his
rival in a bitter trade war, U.S. President Donald Trump’s
administration, shows little interest in the world’s second most
populous continent.
four-nation visit seeking deeper military and economic ties while his
rival in a bitter trade war, U.S. President Donald Trump’s
administration, shows little interest in the world’s second most
populous continent.
This is Xi’s first trip abroad since he was
appointed to a second term in March with term limits removed, allowing
him to rule for as long as he wants. That rang familiar to some of
Africa’s long-entrenched leaders.
appointed to a second term in March with term limits removed, allowing
him to rule for as long as he wants. That rang familiar to some of
Africa’s long-entrenched leaders.
China is already Africa’s
largest trading partner, and it opened its first military base on the
continent last year in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, which this
month launched a China-backed free trade zone it calls the largest in
Africa. After surpassing the U.S. in arms sales to Africa in recent
years, China this month hosted dozens of African military officials for
the first China-Africa defense forum.
largest trading partner, and it opened its first military base on the
continent last year in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti, which this
month launched a China-backed free trade zone it calls the largest in
Africa. After surpassing the U.S. in arms sales to Africa in recent
years, China this month hosted dozens of African military officials for
the first China-Africa defense forum.
Xi is
stopping in Senegal and then Rwanda ahead of his participation in a
summit of the BRICS emerging economies in South Africa that starts on
Wednesday.
stopping in Senegal and then Rwanda ahead of his participation in a
summit of the BRICS emerging economies in South Africa that starts on
Wednesday.
The summit comes amid the United States’
billion-dollar trade war with China and tough trade negotiations with
other key economic partners. Last month the foreign ministers of BRICS
members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa criticized what
they called a “new wave of protectionism,” saying U.S. measures
undermine global trade and economic growth.
billion-dollar trade war with China and tough trade negotiations with
other key economic partners. Last month the foreign ministers of BRICS
members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa criticized what
they called a “new wave of protectionism,” saying U.S. measures
undermine global trade and economic growth.
Xi’s Africa visit
also highlights China’s sweeping “Belt and Road” initiative that
envisages linking Beijing to Africa, Europe and other parts of Asia via a
network of ports, railways, power plants and economic zones.
also highlights China’s sweeping “Belt and Road” initiative that
envisages linking Beijing to Africa, Europe and other parts of Asia via a
network of ports, railways, power plants and economic zones.
While such high-profile projects bring badly needed infrastructure and
generate economic growth, U.S. officials and others have warned that
African nations are putting themselves into debt to China. Its
government, banks and contractors loaned more than $94 billion to
African governments and state-owned companies from 2000 to 2015,
according to the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins
University.
generate economic growth, U.S. officials and others have warned that
African nations are putting themselves into debt to China. Its
government, banks and contractors loaned more than $94 billion to
African governments and state-owned companies from 2000 to 2015,
according to the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins
University.
“Public debt in the median sub-Saharan African
country rose from 34 percent of GDP in 2013 to an estimated 53 percent
in 2017,” says a report in January by Wenjie Chen and Roger Nord of the
International Monetary Fund.
country rose from 34 percent of GDP in 2013 to an estimated 53 percent
in 2017,” says a report in January by Wenjie Chen and Roger Nord of the
International Monetary Fund.
From oil in countries like Nigeria
and Angola to rare minerals in the Congo, Africa’s natural resources are
a major draw for China’s economy, the world’s second largest behind the
United States. China’s voracious appetite for resources such as timber
and ivory, however, has taken its toll on Africa’s environment, often
with the help of corrupt local officials.
and Angola to rare minerals in the Congo, Africa’s natural resources are
a major draw for China’s economy, the world’s second largest behind the
United States. China’s voracious appetite for resources such as timber
and ivory, however, has taken its toll on Africa’s environment, often
with the help of corrupt local officials.
On his first visit to a
West African country Xi met with President Macky Sall of Senegal, which
according to the International Monetary Fund had economic growth of 7.2
percent last year and whose largest trading partner is the European
Union, notably France.
West African country Xi met with President Macky Sall of Senegal, which
according to the International Monetary Fund had economic growth of 7.2
percent last year and whose largest trading partner is the European
Union, notably France.
The stop highlights China’s interest both
in Francophone Africa and in Atlantic Ocean ports, while Senegal
positions itself as a gateway to the region. Already a Chinese-backed
industrial park has appeared outside the capital, Dakar, while rail and
road links are being improved as part of an ambitious plan to reach the
other end of the continent in Djibouti.
in Francophone Africa and in Atlantic Ocean ports, while Senegal
positions itself as a gateway to the region. Already a Chinese-backed
industrial park has appeared outside the capital, Dakar, while rail and
road links are being improved as part of an ambitious plan to reach the
other end of the continent in Djibouti.
