By Zong He (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-11-07 07:19

China's friendly relations and cooperation with African countries have grown in recent years, as evidenced by the many activities that have been carried out in various fields.

At the successful Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in November 2006, a new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa was established, attracting widespread attention to China-Africa relations from the international community.

Most of the commentary has been fair and objective, but a few people have made irresponsible remarks and spread the so-called "China threat in Africa", which has been played up by Western media.

The "China thereat in Africa" is part of the so-called "China threat" notion, which is rooted in a complicated background and different reasons.

Some people misunderstand China's policy in Africa, some worry that their own interests in Africa are threatened and some others simply do not wish to see China-Africa relations improve too quickly. I have the following observations in response to the major views of the "China threat in Africa" assertion.

First, the central allegation of those who spread the "China threat in Africa" is that China has been pursuing "neo-colonialism" in Africa, using cooperation to plunder Africa's energy resources.

The China-Africa friendship is centuries old, not some new addition to international affairs. In modern times, both China and African countries have suffered under colonial rule and oppression, and they were sympathetic with and supported each other in the fight for national liberation.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, despite its own difficulties, China provided selfless assistance to African countries and staunchly supported their efforts to win national liberation and achieve development.

Last November, the two sides announced the establishment of a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, ushering China-Africa relations into a new era of growth.

China does not and will never pursue so-called "neo-colonialism" in Africa.

When Premier Wen Jiabao visited Egypt in 2006, he said: "Neo-colonialism is not a label for China The Chinese nation knows the pains colonialism once inflicted on its people and knows well that we must fight against colonialism. This is one major reason for our long-standing support for national liberation and rejuvenation of African countries."

Africans know it better through their experience. Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said China helped Zambia before it gained independence in the fight against colonialism and provided Zambia with selfless assistance on a large number of economic and social development projects after its independence, including the Tanzania-Zambia Railway.

The president of Cameroon's National Assembly, Cavaye Yequie Djibril, said Cameroon completely disagrees with those who see China as a "neo-colonialist" presence in Africa and believes that China's cooperation with Africa benefits people on both sides.

It is true that China's imports of crude oil from Africa have increased by a big margin in recent years, but this is out of its normal need for economic growth. We should understand that China's basic strategy in ensuring a sustainable energy supply is to rely mainly on domestic efforts that are supplemented by international sources.

Statistics show that China-bound exports account for just 10 percent of Africa's total exports of crude oil. In contrast, Europe buys 36 percent and the US buys 33 percent. China is not a major importer or beneficiary of African oil.

In addition, China helps African countries tap their energy advantages and improve their development capacity. The cooperation project between China National Petroleum Corporation and Sudan has helped Sudan to establish a complete petroleum industry, creating more than 4,000 jobs. With China's help, Sudan ended the long-standing and unreasonable situation of having to export crude oil while importing refined oil products.

Second, China's position of non-interference in other countries' international affairs has become a "crime" in the eyes of those who criticize China's relationship with Africa.

China joins most countries in believing that there is no single standard for democracy in a diverse world. The international community should respect the development paths independently chosen by African countries in the light of their national conditions.

One country's model of democracy should not be imposed on others; assistance should not be used as a tool to exert political pressure; and democracy should not be a pretext for interfering in other countries' internal affairs.

Third, some Western media have played up problems in the China-Africa cooperation and made use of them to accuse China of pursuing mercantilism and profits in Africa. We should be able to see that the China-Africa cooperation represents mutual assistance between developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation.

As a developing country, China has helped Africa build more than 900 infrastructure and social welfare projects, sent nearly 18,000 medical workers to Africa and provided more than 20,000 government scholarships to African students.

Experts estimate that China's trade with Africa contributes to 20 percent of its economic growth.

A number of African scholars feel that the rapid growth of economic ties between China and Africa has improved trade conditions in Africa, increased its foreign exchange income, provided African consumers with inexpensive commodities and lowered the cost for products.

We have an objective attitude toward the problems in the operations of Chinese enterprises in Africa. On one hand, Chinese enterprises have undertaken a large number of projects over the years, including the construction of highways, railways, schools, hospitals and stadiums, and most of them have done well. Most Chinese companies have made great contributions to local economic development.

On the other hand, with the greater presence of Chinese companies in Africa, it is normal to have some economic disputes, but they will not affect the main trend of closer China-Africa economic ties.

In July this year, China's Non-Ferrous Company Africa helped finance the building of a road in the Zambian town of Chambishi, about 3l8 km north of the capital Lusaka, where the company is located. It also donated school bags and stationery to elementary and secondary school students, and sewing machines to women's organizations.

Fourth, those who hold the "China threat in Africa" notion have claimed that China's preferential loans to Africa are not preferential at all, but free rides that undermine debt relief efforts by the West.

China's purpose in increasing loans to Africa is to expand the financing channels available for development and to help countries accelerate their economic growth and improve their development capacities. The total size of Chinese loans to Africa is limited, and China is not Africa's major creditor.

The soft loans provided by China have mainly been used to improve infrastructure, import large electronic machinery and build manufacturing enterprises in Africa.

In conclusion, the "China threat in Africa" obviously cannot stand. African countries know that China's development is an opportunity, not a threat, and they will make a fair judgment.

The article previously appeared in the Chinese Foreign Affairs Journal, which is sponsored by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs

(China Daily 11/07/2007 page11)