By He Wenping
As China increasingly puts its political, economic and trade
ties with Africa on the fast track, US politicians and think tanks
have viewed the developments with mixed reactions.
One school of thought maintains that China's unstoppable rise
and its expanding influence in Africa has made it a major
competitor in the post-Cold-War world economy. This is especially
true for energy resources and other key strategic resources.
The other, less mainstream view, is more positive. It holds that
it is short-sighted to simply see China as a rival in Africa. The
US and China can become partners in African cooperation.
In mid-2006, the Council on Foreign Relations independent task
force evaluating and formulating possible US policies in Africa
released a lengthy report titled More Than Humanitarianism: A
Strategic US Approach toward Africa.
It devotes a whole chapter to China's growing influence on the
continent, saying: "China comes to Africa in the twenty-first
century not only with a need for natural resources, but also with
the financial resources and political influence to pursue its
objectives vigorously."
The task force sees this as a challenge to US interests in
Africa.
Amid criticism of China's African policies by Western human
rights activists, non-governmental organizations and research
institutions and think tanks, some positive assessments have also
emerged in recent months. The official US response to this
discussion has been positive, apparently aware of the potential for
US-China cooperation.
In November 2005, US Assistant Secretary of State for African
Affairs Jendayi Frazer visited Beijing for strategic discussions on
bilateral cooperation in Africa. This was an historic first.
It indicated that African development has gained prominence in
the Sino-US bilateral agenda. The common understanding both sides
reached in the discussions is that China and the US share some
"common concerns" over African affairs and have identified numerous
areas for cooperation.
On the eve of the second China-US Strategic Dialogue in
Washington in early December 2005, Frazer held a press conference
on African issues. The assistant secretary of state made clear the
US stand on China's African policies as well as the US view on
African affairs.
Frazer said at that time, "I don't see this kind of relations as
rivalry. China's interests or activities in Africa have not become
direct competition against America.
"China has the right to work in Africa or any country or region,
and Africa still needs people to provide more beneficial
assistance."
She continued, "As a matter of fact, I believe both sides have
many areas for cooperation (in Africa)."
Indeed, China and the United States will find many meeting
points for their interests if the two sides focus on promoting
development and stability in Africa instead of on their different
values and modes of development.
These areas include:
Pushing for security and stability in Africa and removing
terrorist threats. Both China and the United States share concerns
over the potential threat of terrorism in Africa, as the continent
is faced with many security challenges posed by existing terrorist
hotbeds.
The African Union still expects the international community to
provide funding, equipment, training and experience as it builds
its own peacekeeping strength.
Helping Africa's economic and political development.
Developing countries that suffer from difficulties in economic
development and serious social conflicts cannot rely on copying the
multi-party democratic election system to solve their problems.
China can share its experience in state administration and
political rule characterized by gradual political reform and
development of the rule of law.
Promoting sustainable development of energy resources in Africa.
Both China and the US are major energy-consuming countries and do
not wish to see irrational rises in oil prices.
Both China and the US want to ensure sufficient production of
oil and natural gas for future energy demands.
Helping African countries better adapt themselves to
globalization. The development and security of rich countries
cannot be built on a widening gap between the rich and the poor.
Frightening cracks have appeared in the playing field leveled by
the bulldozer called globalization. The international community is
obligated to pull Africa out of the fissure.
Raising the standards of education and public health in Africa.
The United States' Century Challenge Account and Presidential
Anti-AIDS Emergency Assistance Program and China's Sino-African
Cooperation Forum Action Plan focus on these two key areas.
These major areas in which China and US share interests in
Africa support the view that the two countries have many areas for
cooperation.
Above all, each side should understand the other's presence in
Africa from a historical perspective.
China respects the United State's and Europe's legitimate
interests in Africa. At the same time, the US and Europe should
understand the uniquely Chinese pattern of Sino-African cooperation
by looking at it from the perspective of historic development and
results.
China and the US can cooperate in Africa in these areas:
Security: More and stronger efforts can be made in beefing up
peacekeeping in Africa, while nurturing and enhancing the
continent's own peacekeeping capabilities.
The two countries should first exchange intelligence and
experience in conventional and unconventional security. They should
also join efforts in helping Africa build up a strong peacekeeping
force by cultivating each country's own comparative advantages in
such areas as funding and training (the US) and weaponry (China's
conventional arms are effective and affordable).
China has already joined the UN multi-national peacekeeping
forces for missions in Africa. The US should be more active in
dispatching peacekeeping troops to the continent.
Political development: The achievements of Western countries in
building democracies are no doubt a treasure trove for nations of
the world.
However, national conditions vary dramatically from country to
country in political, economic and social development.
Therefore, the initial stage of discussing political development
should focus on exchanging information. This should include
discussions on experiences and lessons in development and criteria
for political development assessment.
Infrastructure development: China enjoys an excellent record in
infrastructure projects with low cost and high quality built in
Africa over the past decades.
The United States has the advantage of capital and project
management skill. Therefore, China and the United States can
jointly push forward Africa's development through coordinated
investment and construction of infrastructure.
For instance, the two countries can help Nigeria modernize its
customs and port management as well as modernize its laws and legal
system while improving the country's roads and railway system.
Energy resources development: As major energy-consuming
countries, China and the United States should not only cooperate
closely with oil-producing nations but also with each other. They
should smooth out relations between energy reserves, capital,
technology and transportation. They should exchange information on
raising the economic efficiency of energy resources and protecting
the environment while exploiting energy resources and developing
oil derivatives and renewable energy.
Trade and investment: Increasing opportunities for African trade
partners to do business and invest. This includes further opening
the China and US markets to African products and increasing
investment in Africa. This requires better coordination between the
US-African Economic Growth Act and the China-Africa Cooperation
Forum Action Plan.
Education: The development of human resources has become a key
topic for the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. The Chinese
government has markedly increased capital outlays in this area in
recent years, mainly for bringing Africans to China for
training.
For decades, numerous US philanthropic institutions along with
churches and social organizations have been promoting elementary
education in local communities in Africa.
China and the US can cooperate in such areas as supplying
teaching facilities, training teachers and building education
networks. This could include building schools, especially rural
elementary schools.
Health: Each of the two countries has its own advantage in this
area. China-African cooperation in medical care has been successful
for decades. Highly effective Chinese traditional herbal medicine
has been developed for malaria. The US leads the rest of the world
in AIDS testing, prevention and treatment.
China and the US should consider an arrangement whereby the
United States provides capital for building hospitals and China
supplies medical professionals to train African doctors and nurses
to fight disease.
All said, if China and the US cooperate more closely and
substantially on development projects in Africa, this will promote
the healthy development of China-US ties while increasing benefits
for the African people.
The author is a researcher with the Institute of West Asian
and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social
Sciences.
(China Daily April 10, 2007)
