China and Africa: Newfound bedfellows

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: When it comes to China’s bilateral relations, the media tends to focus on China’s trade spats with the US, its key role as a go-between in negotiations with North Korea, and its ongoing ideological row with Japan. Only a few very keen and perceptive analysts have honed in on the growing importance of the African continent on China’s foreign policy agenda.

Consider some of these facts: trade between China and Africa has increased 10-fold from US$4 billion in 1995 to $40 billion last year, making China the continent’s third largest trading partner (the US and France are one and two, respectively); Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have both made very high level visits to Africa in the last 12-18 months; 30% of China’s oil imports come from Africa; and China has invested millions of dollars in the mining sector in several African countries in addition to giving close to $1 billion in direct aid.

China’s push into Africa has been motivated by several factors. Topping the list is Beijing’s quest for natural resources. China became a net oil importer in 1993 and is today the second largest consumer of petroleum after the US. In the global competition for rapidly dwindling oil supplies, China has adopted a “no political strings” attached policy towards Africa and does not meddle in the internal affairs of these countries.

For example, China maintains a very visible presence in Sudan buying well over 50% of the country’s oil exports. China even has a peacekeeping force in place in Sudan to guard the country’s oil pipelines.

Similarly as the world’s largest user of copper, China has invested over $150 million in Zambian mines. China’s status as a food importer as of 2005 is another consideration. Africa provides it with an excellent wholesale source of wheat and grain.

Africa is also a ready market for Chinese exports that are now not so welcome in many western countries. Textiles, electronics and other such products that are produced for rock bottom prices in China have a readymade market in several impoverished African countries, most of which have a poor manufacturing base of their own. Africa also provides Beijing with a backdoor route to export some of its goods onto the US and Europe.But its not entirely about economics, there is a political angle.