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Playing Catch-Up
With China in Africa
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Article by Chris W. J. Roberts egular subscribers to for productive engagement in Africa’s CCAfrica’s African News contemporary growth and development. Clipping Service, or regular An invited group of distinguished business visitors to Africa, are scholars, private sector representatives, well aware of China’s resurgence across and officials from Canada, China, the USA, the continent. This is not news to anyone. Europe, and a number of African nations Two-way trade between China and Africa assembled at IDRC for open discussions increased from US$10 billion in 2000 to under Chatham House rules. A keynote US$166 billion in 2011. China Eximbank address by the former Chinese ambassador alone supported over US$60 billion of to South Africa Mr. Zhong Jianhua, who is transactions in the past decade. In 2009, currently Special Representative on African China surpassed the USA as the leading Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trade partner with the continent. Over 1 marked his first public discussion of Chinamillion Chinese are now living or working Africa relations in North America. there, with 800 Chinese state-owned Five overarching themes emerged (including national, state, and village during the conference. First, myths and enterprises) and 2000 Chinese firms active generalizations about China’s resurgence overall, excluding the growing number of in Africa tend to obscure or lag behind Chinese traders and proprietors popping the realities and the nuances. For example, up in retail trade and artisanal mining. simplistic descriptions of Chinese Estimates vary, but Chinese FDI exceeds “neocolonialism” in Africa produce more US$15 billion and could be as high as heat than light. Second, China, Canada, 9/11and US$40 billion. particularly Africa cannot be analytically The first ever Africa attacks in But in order to generate deeper captured as monolithic actors. Third, it is Trade Strategy, clear that Africa is more important to China understanding about China’s resurgence the U.S. than ever before and vice versa. At the same in Africa, the China Institute ofand the CIDA’s University of Alberta, in collaboration with time, Africa is becoming recognized within Africa Direct Canada as increasingly salient for economic the International Development Research 9/11 prosperity as well as foreign/security policy Centre (IDRC) and DFAIT, convened a initiative The first ever Africa attacks in conference in Ottawa in late September reasons. Creation of 2012 to explore Chinese and Trade CanadianStrategy, Fourth, China’s wide engagement with the U.S. experiences, policy options, and outlooks Africa causes Chinese policy to adapt NEPAD
across many dimensions. Despite obvious asymmetries, African states, crises, and civil societies act in ways that force Beijing to respond, learn, and sometimes change course. And fifth, as one distinguished scholar pointed out, “to understand China in Africa you have to understand China in China.” That is, Chinese businesses bring their experiences and practices from their home environments with them, and it is the strength of host institutions which can determine how Chinese entrepreneurs behave. For example, recently in Ghana unlicensed Chinese miners have been arrested and some retail shops closed. So, what exactly is China doing in Africa? It became clear that despite China’s current leadership transition at home, efforts towards Africa have not lost momentum. During the fifth Forum for China-Africa Cooperation turns in July to 2012, Canada’s attention Afghani China committed up to US$20 billion in 2002toG8 Summit in preferential credits African states for infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, Kananaskis + CIDA c and SME development. This is in addition commitment of the Can to existing grants, zero-interest loans, investment and 500commercial million $to Afghanis Allian Canada’sfunds, attention turns export credit channels. 2002to G8Canada in Busin Zero-tariff treatment is Summit to be phased Creation in for 97% of of products exported Fund for +from CIDA Sou Kananaskis c African Less Developed Countries, not just CCAfrica
and CIDA’s Africa. of the Can Afr commitment 9/11 Canada’s attention turns to Afghanistan 9/11 Canada’s 9/11 attention Canada’s 9/11 turns attention Canada’s 9/11 to Afghanistan turns attention Canada’s to Afghanistan turns to Afghanistan Africa Direct 500 million $ Allianc The first Africa The first ever The Africa first ever The Africa first ever The Africa first ever Africa attacks attacks inever attacks in 2002 attacks attacks in 2002 G8 Summit G8in Summit 2002 G8 inin Summit 2002 G8 in Summit in the Senate DFAIT ends DFAIT the in endsDFAIT the ends DFAIT the ends Sc Canada cuts Canada 5the cuts Canada 5 repo Trade Strategy, Trade Strategy, Trade Strategy, Trade Strategy, Trade Strategy, the the U.S. the U.S. the U.S. the U.S.CIDAKananaskis Kananaskis + Kananaskis Kananaskis +U.S. + + CIDA closes CIDAProgram closes CIDA closes closes for initiative for countries for Program for Program Program for reassesse to Canada African countries African African co Busine and CIDA’s and CIDA’s and CIDA’sand andCIDA’s CIDA’s commitment of the commitment commitment of the Canadian commitment of the Canadian of the Canadian Canadian Market Export Market Export Market Export Market Export Market Canada's as CIDA priority as CIDA priority as CIDA p Africa Africa Direct Africa Direct Africa Direct AfricaDirect Direct 500 million $ 500 million500 $ million 500 $ for million $ Alliance Alliance for Alliance forAlliance for Creation of Creation of DevelopDevelopDevelopDevelopapproach t countries, countries, countr Fund for Sou initiative initiative initiative initiative initiative toment Canada to Canada to Canada to Canada Business Business inBusiness inBusiness in in ment mentDFAITment Africa bu closes DFAIT closes DFAIT cl of offor Creation ofCreation Creation ofCreation ofCreation ofCreation Creation ofCreation of ofCreation Creation Canada closes Canada closes Canada closes Canada closes Canada closes Fund for Fund for Fund for Fund South South South South NEPAD CCAfrica in 2004 in 2004 in 2004 in 2004 embas-ignored embasemba Africa. NEPAD CCAfrica NEPAD NEPAD CCAfrica NEPAD CCAfrica NEPAD CCAfrica CCAfrica 4 diplomatic diplomatic Afri 4 diplomatic 4 diplomatic 4 diplomatic 4 Africa. Africa. Africa. Africa AfricaAfrica. Africa Africa sies sies sies
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