Through African eyes, the tale of two cities

People-to-people ties develop with Guangzhou and Shenzhen

Guangdong is one of the most dynamic provinces in China. Two weeks ago, I visited its two biggest cities, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, both of which sharply reflect the image of China's growing economy.

The first sight for visitors to Shenzhen is the trees and flowers that make it one of the country's most beautiful cities. In fact, with all the greenery it looks very much like some African cities.

Shenzhen was designated in 1979 as an experimental area for economic openness initiated by the visionary Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. It was a small fishing village that was virtually overshadowed by the skyscrapers of its near neighbor Hong Kong. The special economic zone has now become a city of more than 10 million people with its own skyscrapers, sprawling urbanization and rapid economic development. The city's annual GDP is $230 billion, says Wang Yumen of the Foreign Affairs Office and Trade Commission. On the back of that performance, the city is one of the biggest contributors to China's growth. Shenzhen is also a major international financial center that attracts many investors.

"We are trying to link economic development and environmental protection," Wang says.

The relationship between Shenzhen and Africa is excellent, municipal authorities say.

"We are keen to work more closely with Africa," Wang says. "More than 100 delegations from various African countries have visited the city."

Shenzhen's exports to Africa totaled $23.3 billion last year. In addition, there are 53 projects run by business people from Shenzhen in Africa with investment of $209 million, the municipality says, and 125 Shenzhen residents work in the continent. Likewise, African business people have invested in Shenzhen, and 313 African business projects are up and running in the city, Wang says.

Guangzhou was the second city in Guangdong I visited. It is the one that attracts most Africans who want to realize their Chinese dream. In the Jinlu community, I met people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and other African countries. Many are attracted by the city's business opportunities, but also by the tropical climate, which is similar to that of many parts of Africa and warmer than Beijing and many other Chinese cities. Shen Yongqiang, deputy director of the administration, says 80,000 foreigners live in Guangzhou, including nearly 2,000 Africans. They come mainly from Egypt, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and South Africa. Africans in Guangzhou are apparently well integrated. This is the case of Pishou Lubikulu, a Congolese who has lived in the city for seven years and who married a Chinese.

"Africans work mainly in trade, and those who respect Chinese laws have no problems with the authorities," he says.

With a population of 13 million, Guangzhou is experiencing strong economic growth.

Guangdong province has developed good relations with Africa since the 1950s.

"We have economic and academic exchanges with African countries," says Zhang Weidong, deputy director of the Guangdong Foreign Affairs Office. From 2005 to 2013, trade with Africa was $5.7 billion. Most of these exchanges are with Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Morocco and Tanzania, says Luo Kui, deputy director of the trade office. The industries that Guangzhou companies doing business with Africa are involved in include agriculture, high-tech, infrastructure, trade and telecommunications.

"The African market is a good outlet for our products," Kui says. "Africa is our second largest market for equipment and infrastructure."

The writer is senior correspondent in Beijing of the Senegalese daily Le Soleil. Contact the writer at mamoune.faye@gmail.com.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 05/23/2014 page26)