China-Africa Relations Shift

ChinAfrica ^ | 05/30/2013 | Martyn Davies

[TexGrill]

President Xi Jinping's trip to Africa was as refreshing as it was reinforcing. Considering the significant effort and financial commitments of China's foreign policy toward Africa under Hu Jintao's administration, there are concerns as to whether or not Beijing's generous policies will change with the new government. While there was less mention of sizeable multi-billion dollar deals during Xi's time in Africa, this probably reflects the China-Africa relationship as it matures. His three state visits to Tanzania, South Africa and the Republic of the Congo were more about geopolitics than new commercial initiatives.

Yes, China's relationship with Africa is driven by pragmatic commercial interest, but I would argue that the major underpinning factor supporting its foreign policy is geopolitical - Beijing seeks to win friends, build alliances, project influence and be recognized as the emerging great power that it is.

The rapidity and scale of this involvement - through multi-billion dollar transactions and political summits - has resulted in the continent leaning toward China's commercial sphere of influence. This trend has been accelerated by the (Western) financial and economic crisis as African economies reorient toward the emerging rather than the developed world. But as China's strategy toward Africa matures, so too must that of African countries. Beijing is no longer just an actor in Africa's resources sector, but is broadening the scope of its commercial foray into Africa. African governments need to respond accordingly and be more agile in their policy-making vis-à-vis China's engagement.

[TexGrill]

Now Japan is following China's path in dealing with Africa.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks TexGrill.

[Jimmy Valentine]

They are welcome. Let’s see how they do in “The Heart of Darkness”.