China's expanding relations with Africa root in their historical
friendship, not the motive of seeking colonial control and
exploitation, a leading Zimbabwean scholar said in an interview
with Xinhua on Sunday.
Professor Claudius Mararike from the University of Zimbabwe made
the remarks when commenting on growing warnings by the Western
media that Beijing was intent to win control over the continent's
vast natural resources.
Mararike said the warnings were merely an envy of the mutually
beneficial ties China was building in Africa, especially in the
economic sphere, which western countries were unable to match
because of their control-based approach and mentality.
"Their (western countries) eyes are on the assets of Africa
which they want," Mararike said, adding that China has always been
a close ally of the continent and what was happening was a natural
evolution of the friendship between the two.
In the past, much of the two sides' focus was on politics. It
has began to shift to economy as both China and Africa reform their
economies and create opportunities for their cooperation in various
areas such as trade and investment.
Mararike is a well-known sociologist in the country who has
dedicated himself to the research of the relations between China
and African countries. He recalled China's consistent support for
the continent which dated back from Ghana's early years of
independence in the 1950's to Egypt's bitter attempt to assert
sovereign control of the Suez Canal.
"The relations between China and Africa must be understood in a
historical context. China is not all of a sudden jumping onto
Africa. It has cultivated these relations over a long time - before
and after Africa's independence," he said.
He said China has a fast-growing economy and this has alarmed
western countries to grope for ways to contain its rising global
power. "Their (western countries) main concern is to deal with
China. It's a game of politics and economics," he said.
Mararike said what had proven a major attraction to Africa was
China's friendliness and willingness to partner with African locals
in investment projects, something western businesses were often
unwilling to do.
The professor pointed out what has alarmed western countries is
a series of investment agreements and projects China has been able
to win in a number of African countries in recent years.
In Angola, Gabon, Sudan and other countries, Beijing has won oil
deals. The Asian country has also secured similar deals in mining
in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Angola and other
countries. Resources long were considered preserves of western
companies, he said.
?
Mararike also said such developments are neither surprising nor
alarming. "They (Chinese) are reaping what they sow over the years,
and after all they are reaping together with the owners of the
resources," he said." The western companies want to reap alone, and
this is why they are not preferred now," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)
