As it tries to strengthen ties with African nations, China is fending off accusations that it was acting as a neo-colonial power. "Africa needs China and China needs Africa," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on the eve of a summit of leaders of China and 48 African countries in Beijing.
China rejects accusations it's a neocolonial power in Africa
BY JOE McDONALD
AP
BEIJING (AP) - China on Friday rejected suggestions it was acting as a colonial power in its search for oil and markets in Africa, saying that growing ties with the continent will reduce poverty.
"Africa needs China and China needs Africa," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on the eve of a summit of leaders of China and 48 African countries in Beijing.
The summit will promote trade and other cooperation between China and Africa, and Liu said China would announce "a series of important measures" to improve Beijing's relations with Africa.
Asked to confirm reports China would forgive billions of dollars in debt and offer other aid, Liu said there would be an announcement during the summit. He didn't elaborate.
Beijing's links in Africa - where China now gets 30 percent of its oil - has brought criticism of its business practices but Liu rejected suggestions that China's growing commercial and political ties represented a modern form of colonialism.
"The African governments and peoples highly commend China-Africa relations and they express gratitude for the long-standing assistance of the Chinese side," he said.
"No African peoples have accused China of practicing neocolonialism on their continent."
He said that 35 heads of state, six heads of government, several vice presidents and 300 African journalists would take part in the summit.
Liu also rejected an attack by World Bank President Paul Wolfwitz, who told a French newspaper last month that Chinese banks ignore human rights and environmental standards when lending in Africa.
"The World Bank is not the only one that provides help to African countries, and there is no individual international organization or country that can monopolize relations with African countries," he said.
Liu said Chinese and African leaders would also use the summit to chart a course for future relations.
"The establishment of a new type of strategic relationship between China and Africa is meant to promote mutual development and to raise the living standards of Africa and China, and to contribute to the development of world peace," he said.
"When China is building roads and schools and providing health infrastructure and agricultural technology to African countries, are we damaging human rights in Africa? Are we hurting good governance in those countries? African people are benefiting from China's projects," said Liu.
"Africa needs China and China needs Africa," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on the eve of a summit of leaders of China and 48 African countries in Beijing.
The summit will promote trade and other cooperation between China and Africa, and Liu said China would announce "a series of important measures" to improve Beijing's relations with Africa.
Asked to confirm reports China would forgive billions of dollars in debt and offer other aid, Liu said there would be an announcement during the summit. He didn't elaborate.
Beijing's links in Africa - where China now gets 30 percent of its oil - has brought criticism of its business practices but Liu rejected suggestions that China's growing commercial and political ties represented a modern form of colonialism.
"The African governments and peoples highly commend China-Africa relations and they express gratitude for the long-standing assistance of the Chinese side," he said.
"No African peoples have accused China of practicing neocolonialism on their continent."
He said that 35 heads of state, six heads of government, several vice presidents and 300 African journalists would take part in the summit.
Liu also rejected an attack by World Bank President Paul Wolfwitz, who told a French newspaper last month that Chinese banks ignore human rights and environmental standards when lending in Africa.
"The World Bank is not the only one that provides help to African countries, and there is no individual international organization or country that can monopolize relations with African countries," he said.
Liu said Chinese and African leaders would also use the summit to chart a course for future relations.
"The establishment of a new type of strategic relationship between China and Africa is meant to promote mutual development and to raise the living standards of Africa and China, and to contribute to the development of world peace," he said.
"When China is building roads and schools and providing health infrastructure and agricultural technology to African countries, are we damaging human rights in Africa? Are we hurting good governance in those countries? African people are benefiting from China's projects," said Liu.
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