Afro-Chinese Relations in the new Millennium

(The Challenges & Opportunities)

By Nabil M. Emara

The international scene has recently undergone a great many radical changes in terms of politics. A new so-called global order, from which derives the term "globalisation’, has emerged. But no part of our world has endured the negative impact of this phenomenon as has Africa. Meanwhile, China has added to its assets as a permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations and as one of the world’s nuclear powers yet another plus, namely a strong economy, which currently competes with the USA and Europe. The prospects are that China will emerge not only as a key world player in the Twenty First Century but also as one of the major powers. However, in more aspects than one, the country is still categorised as a Third World nation. Hence its intense co-operation with its developing peers, such as African countries, despite ideological differences.

The 1960s have seen great numbers of Chinese traders come to settle in Africa. Revolutionary China under Communist Leader Mao Zedong has also supported Africa’s liberation movements. During this period, China competed with the Soviet Union over markets in Africa. Meanwhile, Western Capitalist concepts clashed with Socialist thought. By the end of the Cold War, in the early1990s, Socialism was in decline as was Afro-Chinese ties. But, with the Chinese economy’s revival at present, a new era of co-operation between the two sides has been ushered in. African markets are now open to China-made products.

China stands at present in a state of transition. It is emerging from its current status as a regional power to a country with a potential role in international affairs. While still categorised as a Third World nation, where overpopulation is in contrast with its limited resources, the Chinese have turned to their favour the population factor, usually an obstacle to development.

China is primarily an agricultural country with 80 per cent of its people working in the sector. Agriculture also provides the raw materials needed by 10 per cent of Chinese working in the light industry sector. It could therefore be said that co-operation between Africa and China in this field may help reduce Africa’s famine hazards. Chinese technologies may also be effective in increasing the productivity of farm and pasture land. Noteworthy in this respect is the fact that Beijing has been able to rid about 200 million Chinese of poverty.

At the political level, China has successfully coexisted with two contradicting ideologies, namely Capitalism and Socialism. The country thus sets itself up as model to be followed by African regimes, still searching for a suitable, self-developed and self-serving ideology. China has also absorbed its internal national, religious and ethnic differences by peaceful means without resorting to arms.

China further projects an acceptable image to Africans given the fact that it has no history as a colonialist power. On the contrary, part of its land has been occupied by Japan in WWII. So just as challenges facing both Africa and China are almost similar so too the common denominators are many. Hence Beijing’s unwavering support of African demands on the international front. China has thus support the establishment of the African Union and the launch of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

According to statistics, the number of the Chinese community in Africa has grown from a mere 27 thousand in 1949 to more than 130 thousand in 1999. Most of these are concentrated in Mauritius, Madagascar and South Africa. Besides engaging in trade, they have introduced new management systems and have heavily invested in the continent’s free industrial zones. Chinese officials have also been known to shuffle to and from Africa in order to promote co-operation and to offer development assistance.

China is poor in the natural resources and raw materials well-abundant in Africa. Meanwhile, Africa’s vast markets are open to absorb Chinese labour force and corporate investments. China’s low-cost technologies are also much in demand here, particularly given the high-rocket costs of their Western equivalents.


On the political plane, China seeks to prevent the recognition by African states of breakaway Taiwan. In this connection, it has suspended its diplomatic ties with Lesotho, when the latter established diplomatic links with Taipei. China has also succeeded in turning South Africa’s recognition of Taiwan in 1998 into a recognition of itself.

In 1956, Egypt was the first Arab-African country to recognise China. Hence the special attention Beijing gives Cairo as a Middle East heavy-weight capital. Egypt stands also China’s biggest trade partner in Africa, followed by South Africa.

In 1996, former Chinese President Jiang Zemin made a six-nation landmark tour in Africa, in which he promoted a new economic aid regime. Under the new regime the old no-interest lending was replaced by China-subsidised preferential loans conditional on the Chinese being party to economically feasible Africa-based enterprises.


Obstacles and challenges

The above notwithstanding, Afro-Chinese cooperation has yet to overcome numerous challenges.

Challenges on the Chinese side * Soaring unemployment and low standards of living in rural China.

* Inadaptability of low-quality Chinese technological products to target markets.

* Western caution about China’s potential of becoming a major power on a par with Europe and the USA.

* China’s annual per capita income does not exceed $800.

* Skepticism about China’s political regime.

* The demise of Socialism and Communism world-wide.

* The growing influence of Britain, France and the USA in Africa.

* Increased Taiwanese penetration in Africa.

· Language difficulties. Chinese is a difficult language as compared to French or English, spoken by most Africans.

Challenges on the African side:

* The debt crisis.

* Poverty.

* Desertification.

* Low standards of health, education, social welfare and cultural services.

* Lack of regular maritime and transportation routes, and deficient data on African markets.

* Africa’s tradition trade links with the West, Britain and France in particular.

* Africa’s declining purchasing power.

* Lack of political stability due to armed conflict and civil strife.


Prospects of cooperation

* Under China’s newly-introduced economic aid assistance regime, several Afro-Chinese joint enterprises have already been established.

* China’s recent joining of the World Trade Organisation (November 2001) is likely to open the country to international markets, including those of Africa.

* Africa is meanwhile called upon to accelerate its economy’s growth rate.

* China is urged to write off more of Africa’s debts.

* Attempts should be made to offset trade imbalances between Africa and China.

* China is urged to offer more technical assistance to Africa’s agricultural sector.