Problems in Sino-South African relationship are but growing pains
CHINA and Africa’s relationship has had some problems, but these were growing pains which should be resolved, says the Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Tian Xuejun.
Xuejun was speaking yesterday at a China-Africa Colloquium at UCT.
The colloquium, titled “Evolving Sino-African Relations – Prospects and Opportunities”, was also addressed by the chairperson of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Xuejun said China had a sincere relationship with Africa, and was committed to infrastructure, cultural, education and technological advancements with the continent. This, Xuejun said, was to ensure Africa grows economically and developmentally.
China has previously come under fire for its role in Africa, with detractors saying the Chinese government was stripping the continent of its mineral wealth.
Chinese investment in Africa increased sharply over the past 15 years, from $500 million to $30 billion.
Xuejun said investments had been made in culture, education, technology and health.
Dlamini-Zuma said industrial beneficiation of natural resources, including marine resources, needs to happen.
“We export raw material and that means we export jobs with that,” she said.
Dlamini-Zuma said if beneficiation could happen in Africa, it would mean jobs for Africans.
China, she said, has been investing in skills development and “now will work with us in industrialisation”.
“We want this continent to be integrated, that’s central to development, but if you can drive from here to Somalia, how do we integrate if it is physically not connected.
“We want to ensure capital and commercial centres are linked by road, rail and air,” she said.
On energy, she said: “We are working with China and others to ensure an increase in the use of mixed renewable energy. We have to take the environment into account.”
Dlamini-Zuma said the AU’s Agenda 2063 places a lot of emphasis on young people, because Africa has the youngest population in the world.
She said for peace to be sustained, young people needed to be skilled. “If young people have no jobs and no skills and no food, of course they will revolt,” she said.