In recent years, China's presence in Africa has sparked debates over whether its involvement constitutes a new form of colonialism. While some Western nations criticize China for leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative to offload excess capacity, African leaders and businesses argue that the relationship is fundamentally different and mutually beneficial.
Évariste Ndayishimiye, president of Burundi, emphasized, \"China does not come to conquer others. Unlike past colonizers, China's approach has no strings attached and respects the sovereignty of African nations.\" Similarly, Julius Maada Bio, president of the Republic of Sierra Leone, highlighted the voluntary and reciprocal nature of China-Africa ties, stating, \"We are not fools. Our relationship with China is a win-win, aimed at mutual growth and development.\"
The core of China-Africa cooperation lies in infrastructure development, economic support, and capacity building. China has been instrumental in constructing vital infrastructure such as dams, roads, and hospitals, which have significantly boosted regional integration and trade within Africa. Countries like Nigeria and Kenya have benefited from these initiatives, enhancing their economic stability and connectivity.
In addition to infrastructure, China's contributions to healthcare and education have been pivotal. Medical aid and technical training initiatives, including scholarships and the establishment of Confucius Institutes, have improved access to quality education and healthcare services across the continent.
Omar Shoukry Sakr, founder and CEO of Nawah Scientific, shared his perspective: \"Our relationship with China is a strong, win-win partnership. Chinese expertise and commodities have been invaluable to our growth, and our exports to China are thriving.\" This sentiment is echoed by entrepreneurs and business leaders who view the China-Africa relationship as a modern model of international cooperation.
Critics argue that China's involvement mirrors historical colonialism, but African voices counter this by highlighting the equality and respect inherent in the current partnerships. Temie Giwa-Tubosun, CEO at LifeBank, stated, \"As long as we're doing business on an equal footing, it's not colonialism—it's just business.\"
David Monyae, director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, pointed out the irony in Western criticisms: \"Both China and Africa have endured a century of humiliation by Western colonial powers, yet the same term is now used to describe China's actions in Africa.\"
Looking ahead, the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation aims to further strengthen these ties under the theme, \"Joining hands to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.\" This summit represents a commitment to continued collaboration, driving global modernization and shared development for years to come.
Reference(s):
Is China 'colonizing' Africa? Cooperation differs from colonialism
cgtn.com
