China to pledge $60 B for African development plan

 Whilst China is pouring financial assistance into Africa, a South African foreign ministry official, Ghulam Hoosein Asmal told AFP ahead of the conference: “This is not an aid conference, it’s a partnership conference”.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged $60 billion to development in Africa, as part of what Chinese and African leaders have called a “win-win cooperation”.

Over the past three years, China also sent 1,771 medical workers to 32 African countries, carries out a campaign dubbed “Brightness Action” to provide cataract treatment in 10 African countries.

But until now, China has sought to rely on its soft power in relations with Africa-persuasion and attraction as opposed to the coercion of hard power.

Xi, who is co-chairing the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation where several African heads of state were attending, outlined a broad ten-point development plan driven by China.

During the meetings, Xi expressed China’s willingness to strengthen economic ties with the African countries in areas such as investment and finance, infrastructure construction, manufacture, agriculture, production capacity and healthcare, as well as cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

China has also declared that it has established a logistics base in Djibouti-a move that critics say is a cover for a military base in Africa.

Sticking to that Chinese tradition of non-interference in local politics, Xi said on Friday: “China strongly believes Africa belongs to the African people and African problems should be handled by the African people”.

“We will also continue to support United Nations peace-keeping missions in Africa, ” he said.

Xi – accompanied by his wife Peng Liyuan – landed in South Africa after a brief visit to Zimbabwe, where Chinese projects have helped prop up an economy plunged into crisis under President Robert Mugabe’s rule.

Citing a Chinese proverb, he urged participating leaders to make a concerted endeavor to make a success of the event and consolidate the foundation for further deepening Africa-China cooperation in the future.

South African President Jacob Zuma welcomed the new development plans announced by his Chinese counterpart.

Shinyekwa also proposed that China and African countries work together to set up special economic zones on the continent.

Xi said that after 30 years of reform and opening-up, China is now in the position to help Africa realize sustainable self-development with technology, equipment, skillful professionals and capital.

“It is not only Chinese people who are victimised in Africa, I don’t think the Chinese are specifically targeted”, Zhong said during a media briefing.