Sino-African relations: A win-win solution?

Modern political and economic relations between China and Africa commenced in the era of Mao Zedong, who was the first leader of the Chinese communist Party. Egypt was the first African nation to have formal diplomatic relations with China in 1956.

During the Cold War (1947- 1991), much attention was not given to Africa by global powers including China. This is because of the continent’s marginal role in international affairs. Thus, bilateral relations between China and Africa were affected by the Cold War and communist ideology while the US regarded Africa as “backwater” in diplomatic circles. Now that the Cold War is over, globalization has taken the centre stage. With globalization, Africa is relevant in international affairs because of the continent’s abundant mineral and natural resources.

Since the beginning of the Twenty-first Century, China has established increasing economic ties with Africa. Nowhere today in the world is China’s rapid rise to power more visible than in Africa. It is estimated that one million Chinese citizens with more than 2000 firms are operating in Africa. While the number of Africans visiting China annually has increased, only 200,000 Africans work in China.

The Sino- African relations is very topical. This is because international affairs analysts have declared that the real issue in the relationship is not African states and welfare of Africans but mineral resources. This is likely to be true bearing in mind the level of industrialization in China.

China is currently Africa’s largest trading partner. From the influx of multi-billion dollar investments in transportation, oil and mineral to the influx of merchants, labourers and cheap consumer goods, China has increased its influence in Africa through trade, education, infrastructural development and defence.

Across Africa today, China has, and is still acquiring substantial amount of natural resource assets, providing soft loans, grants and other incentives to states. China has equally stated its willingness to enhance and consolidate its input into African capacity building programmes. This is in areas such as human resource development, technical assistance and technology transfer. Indeed, China’s presence in Africa has altered the strategic context of the continent. This is because China maintains economic and geopolitical interests in Africa that is not coterminous with those of the USA, the EU and other Asian countries. With Sino-African relations, some African leaders and high profile Western diplomats see China as “a neo-colonialist or as a greedy cold-hearted resource scrambler.”

Contemporary events in the international arena propelled China in the last quarter of 2015 to pledge a grant of US$ 60 billion to African nations. On 19 Jan 2016, it was widely reported that China’s economy which grew by 7.3% in 2014, dropped to 6.9% in 2015, making it the slowest economic growth in 25 years. Having economic growth considered to be the slowest in a quarter of a century, what does this portend for China and global economy in 2016? Will the Chinese government make good the grant of US$ 60 billion to Africa? What will African nations particularly Nigeria benefit from their relationship with China?

From international relations standpoint, friendship between nations is based on interests. China’s commitment presents an opportunity for African countries to strategize wisely. For African nations to benefit from China, necessary diplomatic means must be used to ensure that China make good its promises reflected in multilateral agreements.

From the relations with African nations, China will get much of natural and mineral resources. This is China’s return on investment. It is expected that African nations will benefit from the relationship through trade, agriculture, transportation, and technology transfer.

With respect to technology transfer, African nations will have to work very hard. This is because of controversies associated with technology transfer from developed to developing nations. For instance, when there is a need for technology by manufacturing firms domiciled in developing countries, developed nations may not transfer what is suitable in most cases. By extension, the technology appropriate for use in developing countries may be denied by developed nations. When the technology transferred is appropriate and not denied, it is not affordable by users in developing nations. These are the reasons why advanced technologies that have been used successfully in developed nations are not performing optimally in most African countries.

In the Sino-African relationship, I am more concerned about what Nigeria stands to gain. It is worthy to state that Nigeria and China established formal diplomatic ties on 10 February 1971. Nigeria and China share a lot in common, from ethnic diversity to rich endowment in mineral and human resources. Today, China is the largest single market in the world with a population of about 1.394 billion, while Nigeria is the largest market in Africa with an estimated population of 178 million.

But while China is willing to support African nations, is Africa ready for such support? Africa, sadly, is not ready. If one looks at the economic and development indices of African nations, it will be clear that most African countries are not prepared to benefit from the relationship with China. Most of these countries have weak institutions of governance, fragile legal system, weak industrial base etc.

Is Nigeria able, willing and ready to benefit from its relationship with China? This question is motivated by the fact that Nigeria and China were contemporaries in development initiatives in the 1960s. Regrettably, China has left Nigeria behind in the development race. Unlike Nigeria, China has been able to harness its vast demographic, human and mineral resources to build a strong and virile economy. China’s economy has impacted positively on the lives of its citizenry. Thus, China is regarded as the fastest growing economy in the world.

(To be continued)

 

MA Johnson