Is China Africa’s solution to prosperity?

On Thursday 29th of May, IKV Pax Christi and NiZA organized a public debate on the role of China in resource exploitation in Africa.

Jacqueline Maris opened the evening with giving a short overview of the current Chinese investments and business involvement in Sub Saharan Africa. Although China is not yet the biggest player, it was obvious that their interest and involvement is experiencing a rapid growth.

It was clear that all panellists agreed that China offers Africa a new approach. Different than the west, China interferes less with national policies. Rigobert Minani, (Head of the Congolese organisation Centre d’Etudes pour l’Action Sociale) emphasized that we should not be afraid of the Chinese, but that they are bringing great opportunities for Africa’s (economic) development.

This was confirmed by Mr. Albaqir Mukhtar (Director of the Sudanese Centre al-Khatim Adlan for Enlightenment and Human Development) who did, however, note that the relation between natural resource exploitation and conflict in his country is evident, and that the Chinese hardly acknowledge or counter that. “It is our Western responsibility to push for standards for doing business in fragile states” said Egbert Wesselink (Program manager IKV Pax Christi Economic Dimensions of Conflict)

Mr. Jan van der Putten (Director Eyes on China and former China correspondent) gave the audience some insight in the Chinese point of view: “China considers itself a country that has just risen from the ‘third world level’, and therefore sees itself as an equal partner to African nations that are still struggling to get there.” Minani and Mukhtar added that generally the Chinese are not perceived as new colonialists that come to exploit the continent’s wealth. Contrary to the Western countries Chinese are more considered as equal business partners.

About 35 people were present and many stayed long after the debate to discuss some more on China’s business on the African continent and the way we perceive that in the West.