CHINA, The Magnanimous Superpower?

It is not often that Africa makes it to the front-page of non-African newspapers. However this week Beijing seems to be living for Africa, as the city gets ready for the Summit and Ministerial Conference of Forum On China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), to take place from the 3^rd to the 5^th of November. Chinese newspapers report on every detail of the coming event, from the preparations in the capital to the arrival of African officials, flooding their pages with pictures of President Hu Jintao greeting each and every African leader as they arrive to Beijing. In preparation for the event, the city has not only embellished itself with red lanterns and other traditional decorations. It has also decided to take more than a quarter million cars out of circulation for a day, to improve traffic and pollution conditions for their guests.

This special relation between the Middle Kingdom and the African Continent might surprise many in the West, but for those involved it is only logical to strengthen those ties. Officially, Sino-African relations started 50 years ago with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai’s visits to Africa, followed more than 800 exchanges of visits between Chinese and African leaders, and the establishment of diplomatic relations of China with 48 African Nations. However, it is in the past ten years that both parts have really grown closer to each other, as China’s rapidly growing economy demands it to look for new business partners and more importantly, raw material and oil, both of which Africa has plenty.

The trade volume between China and Africa has increased significantly from $ 3 billion in 1995 to $ 39.7 billion in 2005, and is expected to exceed to $ 50 billion this year. This dramatic increase means for example that Angola has become China’s first oil provider, replacing Saudi Arabia. And that Nigerian markets have been flooded with cheap and many times substandard Chinese clothes and toys. But more importantly for Sub-Saharan Africa, it means a contribution to their real GDP growth, which is at a rate of 5.5%, from a 2.6% in 2000.

Nevertheless, there is much more to Sino-African relations than mere goods and commodities trade. There is also a high degree of cooperation in many areas, including infrastructure, technology, and health among others. China Daily reports that China has helped establish almost 900 projects in Africa, and train more than 14,000 personnel in various fields. And that is not all; China has also pardoned $1.38 billions in debt from 31 African countries, and has promised to do more to help the development of the continent.

In this light, China appears to be the savior Africa was waiting for. However many refuse to see the situation under that light, considering it too naïve. From an alternative perspective, China is doing what any country in its place would do: assuring its energy resources, among others of great importance, and expanding the reach of its markets while subtly tightening the leash around its less developed partners, which eventually will have to respond to China’s generosity. Yet until now, China has imposed only one condition to offering its friendship to Africa, recognizing one-China, and not a separate Taiwan.

In any case, more than 40 African leaders, and their delegations have already arrived to Beijing to discuss many issues of their relation with China, which shows their interest in continuing to strengthen these ties. Certainly, this summit will prove to be key in defining the future role of China in Africa, as well as in securing China’s interest in the continent.