China is nicknamed the Red Dragon. The dragon, though a myth than real, is highly respected by Chinese culture as it symbolizes great power, good luck and strength. It represents power and authority, particularly control over typhoons, water, rainfall and floods. Abraham Olatunbosun reports that China has brought in all the above attributes to develop Africa.
Science especially archeology has shown that Africa is the cradle of humankind and that it was developing slowing and steadily at it’s pace until some external forces invaded its space carted away it’s able bodied men and women into strange lands to build the emerging economy of another continent. Some said it was an exchange or perhaps trade but could it be described as such when real quality in human capital was exchanged for such articles as gun and gin. No wonder Walter Rodney in his book: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa argued that a combination of power politics and economic exploitation of Africa by Europeans led to the poor state of African political and economic development evident in the late 20th century. Though, he did not intend “to remove the ultimate responsibility for development from the shoulders of Africans… [He believes that] every African has a responsibility to understand the [capitalist] system and work for its overthrow.”
Also Frantz Canon’s The Wretched of the Earth gave an insight into how the developmental strides of Africa was distorted. The psychiatrist Fanon in the book provided a psychological and psychiatric analysis of the dehumanizing effects of colonization upon the individual and the nation, and discusses the broader social, cultural, and political implications of establishing a social movement for the decolonization of a person and of a people.
It has been ages since colonization has “ended” on the African continent, but the continent has not healed from it and continue to searched for how it would continue from where it’s development was truncated. Perhaps this search may have come to an end with the assistance of a country who also witnessed a dose of colonization and has healed from it and has emerged from the ruins of colonization and wars to become the fastest growing economy on the planet. That country is no other than China.
China has presented Africa with a way out of its underdevelopment by offering a friendly package, Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Speaking on the project, the Chinese President Xi Jinping quoted the observation of an ancient Chinese , which states that: “Only with deep roots can a tree yield rich fruit; only filled with oil can a lamp burn brightly.” Xi noted that history follows its own rules and logic, and that with similar fate in the past and a common mission, China and Africa have extended sympathy to and helped each other throughout all the years. He said: “Together, we have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation.”
In one of his great speeches, Xi said: Marching on this path, China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. China has stood with African countries. Together, we have worked in unity and forged ahead.
He noted that China values sincerity, friendship and equality in pursuing cooperation. The over 1.3 billion Chinese people have been with the over 1.2 billion African people in pursuing a shared future. We respect Africa, love Africa and support Africa. We follow a “five-no” approach in our relations with Africa: no interference in African countries’ pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in African countries’ internal affairs; no imposition of our will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa. We hope this “five-no” approach could apply to other countries as they deal with matters regarding Africa. For China, we are always Africa’s good friend, good partner and good brother. No one could undermine the great unity between the Chinese people and the African people.
He disclosed that China pursues common interests and puts friendship first in pursuing cooperation. China believes that the sure way to boost China-Africa cooperation is for both sides to leverage its respective strength; it is for China to complement Africa’s development through its own growth, and it is for both China and Africa to pursue win-win cooperation and common development. In doing so, China follows the principle of giving more and taking less, giving before taking and giving without asking for return. With open arms, we welcome African countries aboard the express train of China’s development. No one could hold back the Chinese people or the African people as we march toward rejuvenation.
He added that China takes a people-oriented approach in pursuing practical cooperation with efficiency. With top priority given to the interests of Chinese and African peoples, China advances its cooperation with Africa to improve the well-being of Chinese and African peoples and deliver more benefits to them. We will fully honor the promises we have made to our African brothers. Faced with new developments and challenges, China will continue to improve institution building, develop new ideas and expand areas of cooperation with Africa to bring our cooperation to greater heights. Ultimately, it is for the peoples of China and Africa to judge the performance of China-Africa cooperation. No one could deny the remarkable achievements made in China-Africa cooperation, not with their assumption or imagination.
The Chinese President also said China takes an open and inclusive approach to cooperation. China is fully aware that long-term stability, security, development and invigoration for Africa is not only the longing of the African people; it is also the responsibility of the international community. China stands ready to work with other international partners to support Africa in pursuing peace and development. China welcomes and supports all initiatives that meet Africa’s interests, and believes that it should be the same with the wider international community. No one could stand in the way or obstruct international efforts to support Africa’s development.
The words of President Jinping is the moving spirit behind the FOCAC and the relaunching of African Development Renaissance and since the 2015 FOCAC Johannesburg Summit, China has fully implemented the ten cooperation plans adopted at the Summit. A large number of railway, highway, airport, port and other infrastructure projects as well as a number of economic and trade cooperation zones have been built or are under construction. The cooperation on peace and security, science, education, culture, health, poverty reduction, and people-to-people interactions has deepened. The massive financing pledged by China has been either delivered or arranged. These ten cooperation plans have brought huge benefits to the African and Chinese peoples. They have fully demonstrated the creativity, rallying power and efficiency of China-Africa cooperation, and lifted China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to new heights.
China has equally promised to build an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. It has even gone a step further with a promise to launch an industrial promotion initiative, and a China-Africa economic and trade expo in China is on the table to encourage Chinese companies to increase investment in Africa, and build and upgrade a number of economic and trade cooperation zones in Africa. China has a plan to support Africa in achieving general food security by 2030, work with Africa to formulate and implement a Programme of action to promote China-Africa cooperation on agricultural modernization. She has promised to implement 50 agricultural assistance programmes, provide RMB 1 billion of emergency humanitarian food assistance to African countries affected by natural disasters, send 500 senior agriculture experts to Africa, and train young researchers in agri-science and entrepreneurs in agri-business, and to support Chinese companies in Africa to forge alliance of corporate social responsibilities. China will continue to strengthen cooperation with African countries in local currency settlement and make good use of the China-Africa Development Fund, the China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation and the Special Loan for the Development of African SMEs.
The list is endless as China will launch an infrastructure connectivity initiative. She has decided to jointly formulate a China-Africa infrastructure cooperation plan with the African Union. We will support Chinese companies in participating in Africa’s infrastructure development by way of investment-construction-operation or through other models, with focus on enhancing cooperation on energy, transport, information, telecommunications and cross-border water resources; work with Africa to undertake a number of key connectivity projects; support Africa in developing the Single African Air Transport Market and open more direct flights between China and Africa; facilitate bond issuance by African countries and their financial institutions in China. And on the basis of following multilateral rules and procedures, support African countries in making better use of financing resources of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank, and the Silk Road Fund.
China also plan to launch a trade facilitation initiative and has decided to increase imports, particularly non-resource products, from Africa: to support African countries in participating in the China International Import Expo; among other numerous plan under the eight initiatives.
A series of important cooperation plans proposed by China during each Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit has been effectively implemented, which has given a great boost to the economic and social development in Africa and has been highly praised by African people and the international community.
Africa-China trade and cooperation have blossomed. A number of major Chinese-assisted infrastructure projects have been completed, including the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway, Kenya’s standard gauge railway from Mombasa to Nairobi, and Cote d’Ivoire’s Soubre hydropower plant. These projects provide transport and energy to develop local industries.
The facts are there for everyone to see that Africa has finally and gradually started moving towards development courtesy of a brother that China has proven to be.
