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Introduction and context
Rhys Jenkins and Chris Edwards (2004) predict that China will become the world's largest exporter by 2010 and the second largest economy by 2020. In the first 10 months of 2005, trade between China and Africa rose by 39% to over $32bn, largely fuelled by imports of African oil, mainly from Sudan1. Globally, China accounted for over 40% of the total growth in global oil demand over the past four years, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
In the past, China's African presence benefited from a shared history as an object of European imperialism and its ideological commitment to anti-imperialism and national liberation. China's declared principles of respect for national sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs appealed not only as a contrast with motives of some former colonial powers, but for less elevated reasons to rulers threatened with internal dissent.
Its relationship with Africa now, writes Stephen Marks (2006), is slowly shifting from Cold War ideology to a more classical pursuit of economic self-interest in form of access to raw materials, markets and spheres of influence through investment, trade and military assistance. This is part of a wider effort to 'create a paradigm of globalisation that favours China'.
This new orientation has found institutional expression in the first China-Africa Co-operation Forum held in Beijing in 2000 - a forum to promote diplomatic relations, trade and investment between China and African countries.
More recently, China has articulated its policy on Africa in an official paper issued in January 2006 in Beijing. On the economic front, China's policy is one of strengthening and facilitating the economic development efforts for both China and Africa in trade, investment, financial and agriculture cooperation, debt reduction and relief and infrastructure.
China's economic policy is shaped more by its huge development needs and Africa is only just beginning to grapple with the implications. Its aggressive pursuit of resources to feed its booming economy has come with both costs and benefits for Africa.
Footnote:
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According to Chinese Customs figures reported by the BBC in January 2006.
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