China eyeing Africa but ‘not as colonialists’

IT is not just Mandarin that is coming South Africa’s way. Beijing wants South Africans to consume as many Chinese products as possible.

The Chinese government is expected to use the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation summit, taking place in Sandton this week, to announce more Chinese investments on the continent, especially in South Africa.

Lin Songtian, Chinese director-general of African affairs, said that the Chinese government was encouraging more Chinese businesses to invest in the country.

He said China would use the forum to negotiate the terms of such investments with African states.

Lin, speaking in Beijing, said future investments in South Africa would include steel manufacturing, home appliances, textiles and a cement factory.

A number of Chinese companies have settled in South Africa, including vehicle manufacturer China Auto Manufacturers, crane and grading machine manufacturer Zoomlion, electronic company Hisense, and technology business Huawei, which is making inroads into the South African market.

Chinese company Jidong Development Group and the China-Africa Development Fund are involved in Mamba Cement, a Limpopo cement manufacturer.

Plans are at an advanced stage for a Chinese steel company to set up shop in South Africa.

Lin said his government hoped that the number of Chinese companies would increase after the ChinaAfrica summit.

“China aims to support Africa to speed up industrialisation and agricultural modernisation.

“The continent has resources, but there is a lack of capacity to create industries. Only production will create jobs,” said Lin.

Lin said agreements would be reached between China and African countries to build railway networks, highways, ports and airports. The Chinese also wanted to assist with electricity provision, piped water and communications infrastructure.

South Africa’s forum ambassador, Ghulam Asmal, emphasised that the relationship between China and Africa was not about the former’s domination of Africa. “It is not a matter of what China can do for Africa or what Africa can do for China, it is a partnership. [The forum] is not a donor conference.

“Through [the forum] we believe we will be able to champion the north-south road and rail development corridor. South Africa will work closely with China in ensuring that these infrastructure developments are successfully realised and would attract trade and investment towards Africa,” he said.

Since the first summit in Beijing in 2006, the Chinese have increased their presence in Africa and funded a number of infrastructure projects around the continent. China has been criticised for bringing its own labour to work on projects on the continent.

Lin rejected criticism that has suggested China was a new African coloniser, saying it was propaganda being spread by the US and European media.

“Colonialists use a gun to force you to open the door . . . They force you to change your political system, culture and behaviour.

“The African continent is for African people. We go there for a partnership,” he said.

The summit will start on Friday and end the following day.

The African continent is for African people. We go there for a partnership