China in Africa Project: Opinion
South Africa-China Relations: Getting Beyond the Cross-roads?
As published in the Sunday Independent, 29 August 2010
President Zuma’s visit to China this week completes the series of state visits to the BRICs that began in October 2009 in Brazil. With the largest business delegation to date, South Africa hopes that warm political and mushrooming economic relations will help address some of its pressing domestic socio-economic challenges.
Unveiling the Diversity of Chinese Finance in Africa
China increasingly is playing a crucial role in African economies. Two-way trade between China and Africa exceeded U.S. $106 billion in 2008 and Beijing is the leading trading partner with South Africa, the continent’s largest economy.
China could usher in a new era of banking in Africa
As published in the Business Day
The dramatic events of the past few weeks, starting with one of the world’s most powerful investment banks — Lehman Brothers — going to the wall and insurer AIG teetering on the brink, has left a wounded western financial world licking its wounds and looking anew at its model of global finance.
What China’s New Activism in UN means for Africa
The despatching of 135 Chinese peacekeeping troops to the troubled Darfur region this week as part of the UN-AU hybrid force highlights the changing role that China is playing in Africa. Once opposed to any form of international intervention in the domestic affairs of states, the Chinese government is becoming an active participant in UN peacekeeping, providing over 7500 military observers, engineers, medical teams and other specialists in support of peace and stability. Indeed, since 1990 China has sent troops to 15 UN peacekeeping missions ranging from East Timor to Western Sahara, making it the largest contributor among the five permanent members of the Security Council.
Lessons for Africa from China’s Rise
Charting Africa’s Chinese Future
As published in Africa-Asia Confidential vol 1 no 1
The extravagance on show at the China-Africa Summit in Beijing last November marked the beginning of a consolidation of ties between the two regions. The world watched in wonder as Chinese and Africa leaders celebrated their ever-deepening economic and political ties against the backdrop of Chinese acrobatic troupes, African drumming exhibitions, the piercing wail of Peking opera and panoramic tourist posters of the African savannah.
China in Africa
Nowhere in the world is China’s rapid rise to power more evident than in Africa. From multi-billion dollar investments in oil and minerals to the influx of tens of thousands of merchants, labourers and cheap consumer goods, China’s economic and political reach is redefining Africa’s traditional ties with the international community. Two-way trade has jumped from a modest US$10 billion in 2000 to over US$55 billion in 2006, making China the continent’s third largest trading partner while China’s US$1 trillion in foreign currency reserves are being mobilised to fund projects as far away as Katanga and the equatorial forests of Gabon. However, while the extravagance on show at the China-Africa Summit in Beijing last November was meant to celebrate the depth of new ties between old friends, the challenges of consolidating the relationship are significant.
