by Kizito Sikuka in Nanjing, China – SANF 14 no. 50
Senior Chinese officials and scholars attending a global conference have said it is “unfair and deceitful” for some western countries to condemn the China-Africa partnerships yet the same countries are actively working with China to develop their own economies.
Scholars from China and Africa are attending an International Conference on African Agriculture, Rural Development and Sino-Africa Cooperation, which opened on 21 September in Nanjing, China.
“There is something wrong with the world we live in today,” Prof Liu Chengfu said.
“China is cooperating with virtually everyone, and when we deal with European countries or America, then the relationship is normal and ok.”
“However, when we cooperate with Africa, the partnership is suddenly viewed with suspicion.”
Prof Liu is vice director of the China Society for Africa Studies at Nanjing University.
He said despite a blooming relationship that has seen trade between Africa and China increase exponentially over the past decade, the Sino-Africa partnership continues to receive negative attention from some western countries, and China’s increasing engagement with Africa is often portrayed as prowling the resource-rich continent.
Yet one of the major milestones of Sino-Africa cooperation is that Africa is rapidly gaining recognition on the global market.
Furthermore, research shows that, compared to many years of African engagement with Europe and America, the Sino-Africa relations have yielded more benefits more quickly.
Prof Liu said China and Africa need to work together in addressing this misconception, perpetrated by those who “feel threatened” by this blossoming relationship.
The Director of the Department of African Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Songtian concurred, saying it is sad to note that some developed countries do not want to consider Africa as an equal partner in the global market.
Rather, they want Africa to remain on the periphery as a source of raw materials and not a manufacturer of finished goods.
“Africa will not be politically independent if it continues to rely on aid,” he said, adding that it is for this reason that China does not offer aid but is interested in fostering a win-win partnership that is based on mutual trust and respect.
He said Africa has the capacity to become a major player on the international stage, and China stands ready to assist the continent to achieve its developmental goals.
These goals can be achieved by boosting agricultural production, he said, as the sector has a greater capacity than most other industries such as tourism to be a lynchpin for socio-economic development, mainly because investment in agriculture benefit the people directly, especially poor people, of whom a significant number are farmers on the continent
“Africa is gifted with numerous resources such as land, water, good climate and labour force to feed itself,” said Ambassador Lin, who is a former ambassador to Liberia and Malawi.
“China is willing to share experiences with Africa on how to transform its agriculture sector.”
He urged Africa to invest more in infrastructure development, including road and rail, to ensure the smooth movement of farm produce, services and people across the region.
There is also need for the continent to increase the use of irrigation, technology and research to boost production.
Another major issue for Africa is to co-opt youths and women in agriculture development, since these make up the majority population in the region.
The International Conference on African Agriculture, Rural Development and Sino-Africa Cooperation (CAARDSAC), which runs from 21-28 September, aims to create a platform for better communication and scholarly exchange among Chinese and African researchers.
Some 20 researchers from Africa are participating in the conference, which coincides with the 50th Anniversary of the Centre of African Studies of Nanjing University (CASNJU).
CASNJU was established in 1964 and has played an important role in promoting African studies in China. sardc.net
