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China aims to expand influence in Africa
2006-11-04
China is translating its growing influence in Africa into an unprecedented summit Saturday with the nations of the world's poorest continent, hoping to present itself as a sincere partner as it hunts for natural resources and allies. On Friday, senior Chinese and African officials stressed the positive in China's growing role in Africa and called for expanding trade and other cooperation as they finished preparations for the summit. Chinese officials noted the decades-old ties between China and Africa that started in Cold War political solidarity and have evolved into economic benefit, and on Friday rejected suggestions it was acting as a colonial power in its search for oil and markets in Africa. "Africa needs China and China needs Africa," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on the eve of a summit of leaders of China and 48 African countries in Beijing. But China's growing influence in Africa has also attracted criticism. Labor and business groups in Africa have complained about poor treatment by Chinese companies and a flood of low-cost manufactured products. The World Bank has said China's hefty -- and freely disbursed -- loans could contribute to corruption and African debt. Liu dismissed those criticisms. "When China is building roads and schools and providing health infrastructure and agricultural technology to African countries, are we damaging human rights in Africa? Are we hurting good governance in those countries? African people are benefiting from China's projects," said Liu. China will also be seen as friendly with some leaders heavily criticized in other parts of the world for gross human rights abuses, such Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Human rights groups have accused China of abetting the abuses in those countries. Chinese officials say their country's involvement in Africa has improved the lives of ordinary Africans without meddling in political affairs -- strict adherence to China's diplomatic policy of noninterference. The summit is intended to offer a showcase for both sides to prove the relationship is working. Chinese leaders, the heads of state or government of more than 35 countries and envoys from the rest are expected to approve a declaration of mutual support. Beijing will announce an aid and investment package. Beijing is expected to sign deals and dole out other inducements throughout the weekend. On Friday, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said China was giving Liberia a $5 million grant for a use yet to be decided. Liberia and China also signed four memoranda of understanding, two of which covered possible mineral and oil exploration ventures. Beijing also agreed to make it easier for Chinese tourists to obtain visas to travel to Rwanda, joining nine other African countries with approved tourist destination status, the Xinhua News Agency said. Ministers drafting documents for the summit steered clear of controversy but touched upon defiance of the West and economic ties as the basis for Chinese-African cooperation. "China and Africa have had common experiences facing challenges to their identity and integrity," Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin told the meeting. Sirleaf said China is perceived in Africa as a less-demanding partner. "I think they (the Chinese) allow Africa a little more flexibility in determining what their own development agenda should be," she said. Besides using the summit to boost business and political ties, China is also using it as a mini-dry run for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, with government cars kept off the roads to ease the city's notoriously bad traffic, and African officials and journalists taken on tours of venues for the games.
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