Africa: China's Africa interest not neo-colonial
Written byNdesanjo Macha
China does not seek economic and political control of Africa: “IT’S ironic that some Western countries which are former colonial powers have accused China of pushing a “neo-colonialism” policy in its trade with Africa.
The accusations of “China’s neo-colonialism in Africa” simply lack basis in fact,” via Afroshangai blog.
Written byNdesanjo Macha
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In the first 10 months of ’05, China invested over $175M in oil exploration in Africa. Its evident ‘aid-for-oil’ strategy has expanded supplies from African nations. It’s estimated China’s share of African Oil is less than 10% while that of the US is some 33%. Very rational.
I make the following suggestions regarding China’s growing relationship with Africa’s oil produces…
1. African nations need to develop their basic ‘infra-structure to facilitate growth and the development of an ‘egalitarian trade relationship’ with China. As it stands now, the ‘relationship’ is a trifle one-sided with China having the advantage.
Why is such a fact? Because the leaders of the African oil producers do not have their citizens’ interests in mind, particularly in terms of oil profits use for their nations’ benefit. Sudan and Equatorial Guinea are prime examples of nations with leaders who are doing nothing for their citizens given their oil wealth.
2. Water will soon become as – if not MORE – important than Oil in the immediate future (before 2020). China would do well by their African ‘trading partners’ where it to collaborate with them in building water purification and desalination plants as well as concrete plants. With such plants in place, its ‘trading partners’ could focus more precisely on its major industries.
3. Use trade, economic activity and commerce to enable the leadership groups of China’s oil-producing ‘trading partners’ to develop comprehensively and benefit their citizens more effectively – in spite of themselves!
In doing so, China will reap even greater economic and trade benefit as will the African nations and their citizens. Healthy nations make great trading partners!
(If only the US could understand and act on that instead of contrary to it!)
To me as a person, I don’t see it as China are trying to colonised Africa, but I see it as a way of exchanging knowledge resources and at the same time a way out for Africa to boss out their economic standard.