Posted on 08/04/2013 9:16:47 PM PDT by TexGrill
From an African perspective, China is a vast country shrouded in myth and preconceived ideas, especially when it comes to Chinese doing business on this continent. This is largely perpetuated by the lack of real information on both sides: the Chinese need to know how they are actually perceived so that they can actively work to improve their image, and their African partners need to operate from an informed position in order to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by Chinese investment. Just how wide the gaps on both sides are was highlighted during the recent journalist study visit to Beijing.
Conversations with representatives from media and other Chinese organizations all had a common theme: a desire to learn more about Africa, a willingness to learn from Africans about how to better understand the continent and plugging the widening knowledge gap from both sides.
Media reports about China in Africa have often highlighted huge aid packages, support for pariah regimes and the ruthless exploitation of workers and natural resources in some of the poorest countries in the world and these have sparked fierce debates. China's secrecy has fuelled rumours and speculation, making it difficult to gauge the risks and opportunities in China's growing involvement in Africa.
(Excerpt) Read more at chinafrica.cn ...
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