Enlightening lesson of 'the three flowers'

Africa can learn from China, but should not blindly follow its ways, envoy says

China's development model can inspire African countries, but it cannot be directly copied, says Zhong Jianhua, special representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs.

The China model centers on the spirit of pragmatism and the idea of continuously trying new ways to do things, so China can share its experience with African countries by encouraging them to look at new ways of developing and find their own suitable paths, Zhong says.

"We are supposed to be successful, but that is only after we have had practice here and there. We have tried and failed several times to have what we have today.

"If we talk about the model of China, the model is try, try, try. If we talk about a Chinese model in Africa, all we can say is that African countries need to find their own ways to develop."

Zhong, who was educated in China and the United States, joined the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1977. Since then he has worked in various diplomatic roles, including as Chinese ambassador to South Africa from 2007 to 2012, before becoming special representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs in 2012.

His role was created during a time of crisis in Sudan, so the Chinese government sent him to help improve understanding and communication with African governments.

Since then he has worked with leaders of Western countries and non-governmental organizations to help restore peace in Sudan and maintain a good relationship between China and Sudan.

From there, Zhong has been to many African countries including Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia and countries in Central Africa, helping to resolve conflicts and build China's friendship with these countries.

Zhong says that while China's rapid growth can provide inspiration to African countries, individual countries on the continent still need to find their own growth paths based on their needs.

He recalls an anecdote in South Africa during his time as the Chinese ambassador, when the African National Congress leadership asked Chinese leaders why China is so successful.

Eventually both countries' leaders agreed that ANC members would travel to China to find the answer for themselves.

When the ANC representatives returned, Zhong talked with them to see whether they were satisfied with the arrangement and what the Chinese government could do to improve this kind of exchange.

One representative told Zhong she was impressed with China's rural growth model in terms of how the villages became so economically successful but said that she was puzzled by the fact all the houses looked the same in the model village she visited.

In the model village shown to the ANC representatives, the village leader said she decided every morning how many flowers to put at the window. If it was two, then every house received two, and if it was three, the next day every house received three.

"And then this ANC lady asked me: 'Do you know in the ANC what we want is freedom?' This is no freedom at all. In South Africa the ANC was fighting for freedom. You only go to China to learn something useful, learn something that can be acceptable by your culture."

It is thus important that African countries do not copy China's success blindly, because lessons from China need to be combined with the local situation in Africa, Zhong says. "If there is a Chinese model, it cannot be copied and we have no intention to spread it."

However, China has significantly influenced Africa by showcasing what is possible in a developing country. "Confidence is very important," Zhong says.

One controversial point of discussion in the China-Africa relationship is whether China is a new colonial power on the continent, and this issue was exacerbated by an article by Lamido Sanusi, the governor of Nigeria's central bank, in the Financial Times last year in which he accused China of neo-colonialism.

Zhong disagrees with this, but says he welcomed Sanusi's comment that Africa should see China as a competitor, and believes this confidence is important for Africa's growth.

"When we first started our own reform, we had Japanese, American, West European products that occupied the whole market in China. Today, China has a big share in consumer products. But it didn't come out of nowhere. This came from competition."

Such competition enabled China to work hard, which eventually built up its confidence and success, and this is now an important ingredient for success that China has shared with Africa, he says.

"What we can contribute is that China gained the confidence and then won in this competition. Africa should do the same. I welcome this kind of attitude to compete with China."

And while competition is important, comparative advantages that China and African countries each have point to obvious opportunities for collaboration, Zhong says.

In particular, the rising cost of labor in China is making a structural shift from manufacturing dominance to high-tech growth necessary, and the void in manufacturing China has left needs to be filled by African countries, he says.

Zhong says that while China may have inspired Africa, it is reluctant to teach or lecture African countries because it treats them as equal partners.

"African countries have been taught and been lectured to for so many years and so many times. When China comes forward we never give them some kind of lecture. Not only because we are not willing, but because we are not able to do that."

Not only does China not look down at Africa as one that needs to be taught, in some ways China also feels that it owes Africa because Africa helped China regain its position in the United Nations in 1971 and has provided many great opportunities for Chinese investment.

China's position in the UN was restored with support from 76 countries, 26 of them African.

"So that is why we try our best to treat them like equal partners. We do our best to keep our promise. When you deal with African countries you do it with sincerity and you do want them to develop."

Zhong says China's engagement in Africa still has a long way to go and the Chinese government, scholars, businesspeople and citizens all need to learn more about the continent.

In particular, he says, it would be helpful if the Chinese government can help to establish more suitable organizations for young Chinese people to volunteer in Africa, so they can build a genuine respect and love for the continent, which may lead them into working in Africa in the future.

Many Western academics ventured into their chosen field of African research because they had once volunteered on the continent, Zhong says.

"They developed a love for Africa, which is why they do good research about the continent. In the long term, they understand Africa more, and such understanding is helpful in improving Africa's relationship with Western countries."

In contrast, the number of young Chinese people visiting or volunteering in Africa is still small, and the ones who do often work on projects led by Western countries.

Zhong says this needs to change because China should contribute more to Africa to maintain long-term engagement and friendship with the continent.

It needs to understand Africa more in order to engage in the most appropriate way and avoid many of the misunderstandings, misconceptions and prejudices that can hinder relationships.

"We are still far away from understanding each other properly. We learn from each other and share our experiences. We work together to help each other and achieve more."

Laura Davis contributed to this story.

cecily.liu@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/21/2014 page32)