From: Judy Miriga

Good people,

China is expanding and greasing corruption in Africa using corrupt leaders who agree to steal from taxpayers. Chinese influence in Africa is taking away wealth and resources from Africa to boost their Economy. When they do not pay taxes, how is that profiting Africa in return………How will Africa manage to get out of their poverty mess and maintenance and replenish the tear and wear from environmental destruction Chinese commit in Africa if there is no taxes paid in return………??? How is their activities profiting Africa ???

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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On Sun, Mar 31, 2013 at 8:08 PM, Mike Ikwalala wrote:
To me, this is yet another oversimplification of a subtle and complex relationship [with China] aimed at siphoning Africa’s wealth without a fuss. Just as we have been unsuspectingly embracing every Western handout wrapped up in a ‘development support’ packaging, we’re in for another shock of a generation. Chinese are not stupid. They know what they are doing. We don’t. The African mindset has hardly changed for the last 50 years when it comes to dealing with foreign partnerships. We still get lured to bed so easily by every ‘monied’ man who approaches us. We don’t seem to learn any lessons from the harsh treatments of the last 50 years partnership and alliances.

Yes, we need FDI to flow in so we can keep up with the global economical trend. Yes, we can’t ignore China in its upsurge to global dominance. My only worry is, are we doing something different from what we have been doing for the last 5 decades when it comes to closing deals that have national implications? From what I can see, it’s business as usual. It’s all about political stunt and appearing ‘investment friendly’. But in the end, it’s not the Chinese who will lose, it’s (as always) we!

On Sun, Mar 31, 2013 at 6:55 PM, wrote:

A friend in need is not always a friend indeed!

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the Tigo Tanzania Network

From: Mobhare Matinyi

Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 15:06:58 +0000
Subject: The simplicity of China-Africa relations

We have the responsibility to defend and protect our country; the Chinese won’t.

Subject: The simplicity of China-Africa relations
From: abduldello@gmail.com
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 06:45:41 +0000

Well saidi Matinyi, but there is more to look at the China – Tanzania relationship. It is probably not just counterfeit and low quality products, it is also about the involvement of Chinese companies in corruption to win big construction bids (especially road construction) and leaving us with jobs half done. We pay for these constructions through big loans that have almost doubled our national debt within just two years. Its our own stupidity yes, but coming from a long time friend is not a big deal. China knows about all this, and nobody knows if these companies get their Government support to do what they do.

Regardless of what we hear and see, we must be very careful not to end up in having a counterfeit relationship with China.

Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on the Tigo Tanzania Network

From: Mobhare Matinyi
Date: Sun, 31 Mar 2013 05:00:09 +0000
Subject: The simplicity of China-Africa relations

The simplicity of China-Africa relations

Mobhare Matinyi, Washington DC. The Citizen, Tanzania. Thursday, 28 March 2013 20:30.

Just ten days after taking office as the leader of the People’s Republic of China, President Xi Jinping landed in Tanzania on Sunday to begin his three-nation historic tour of Africa that included South Africa and the Republic of the Congo. He had just concluded his first foreign tour in Russia.

President Xi’s visit to Russia was explicable, but his decision to come to Africa before anywhere else stunned and even angered Western capitals and their biased press which always sees the worst side of Africa. He didn’t care!

Perhaps what was more surprising was Xi’s decision to start his visit in Tanzania, arguably the real friend of China in Africa for five decades now. Fine, a third of Sino-Africa trade is with South Africa, and Congo-Brazzaville supplies crude oil, but why Tanzania?

To quickly recap, Tanzania started relations with China immediately after the independences of Tanganyika and Zanzibar, and continued after the unification in 1964. Tanzania and China signed the Treaty of Friendship in February 1965 when President Julius Nyerere visited the country in the first of his five visits although economic, technical and military relations had already started in 1964.

Several agreements and visits by civilian and military leaders of the two countries followed including three Tanzanian presidents who came after Nyerere, and three Chinese premiers starting with Zhou Enlai in 1965, Zhao Ziyang in 1983, and Li Peng in 1997.

When the then Chinese president, Hu Jintao, visited Tanzania in February 2009, the leader of the world’s most populous nation and the emerging superpower noted admirably in his speech that the China-Tanzania relationship had become “a model for both China-Africa and South-South cooperation.”

The stories of China and Tanzania go centuries beyond modern history, a reason why Kilwa archaeological excavations recovered many Chinese coins dating to the Song Dynasty which ruled China between 960 and 1279. Yes! That far back!

The Chinese will never forget how Tanzania led other African nations in supporting Beijing’s efforts to regain its seat at the United Nations, kicking out the Taiwan-based Republic of China.

Between the two friendly countries there is a lot to justify their closiness, like the Tanzania-Zambia Railway (Tazara), and much more in foreign policy and ideological matters to warrant Xi’s decision to pay such an honourable visit to the United Republic of Tanzania. Putting it short and simple, Tanzania and China are friends in need and indeed.

But again, why did he choose to visit Africa after Russia, snubbing the big powers? President Xi wanted to send the message that China is serious about its relations with Africa. Why Africa? Well, historical ties are there, but in addition to that China needs Africa and Africa needs China, and between them there is neither hypocrisy nor hidden agenda.

I like the way Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete puts it every time the Western press bothers him. In one incidence in December 2011 he said: “Africa needs markets for its products; Africa needs technology and infrastructure for its development. China is ready to provide all that. What is wrong with that?”

Speaking in Washington DC in 2009 at the United States-Africa Business Summit, President Kikwete told Americans: “Why complain about China? Just come to Africa and invest the way the Chinese are doing.”

There is nothing complicated between China and Africa; it is give and take. Africans are aware of the situation that exists currently in which China seems to benefit more, but these things can be settled out with time and without the help of the West. Some of these challenges are counterfeit products, the sudden growth of the Chinese diaspora in African cities, and the poor quality of Chinese workmanship.

But I don’t agree with those who lament that China buys raw materials from Africa but brings in finished goods. Come on! Who prevented Africans from doing the opposite?

As we speak today, annual China-Africa trade stands at $200 billion, and if the trend continues Africa will soon surpass the sluggish economies of the US and the European Union. Shockingly, US-Africa trade stands slightly below $100 billion, while the EU is taking forever to conclude an economic partnership agreement with Africa.

If that is the case then, why should President Xi bother about the “powerful” West? Is that difficult to figure out? Again, China has what Africa needs and Africa has what China needs, and that is all we need in our mutual understanding and respect as Xi told the world and Africa on Monday. Nothing is complex!

Probably, it is time for those who trumpet aloud about new Chinese colonialism to Africa to be realistic. Africans want to move forward and they have no time with anyone who wants to impose their will on others. Africans are growing tired of receiving charitable donations and being lectured endlessly; let the world understand!

http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/editorial-analysis/20-analysis-opinions/30043-the-simplicity-of-china-africa-relations

China-Africa Relations Scrutinized in AfDB’s New Book
20/09/2011
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http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/article/china-africa-relations-scrutinized-in-afdbs-new-book-8375/

Press conference (audio)

New AfDB Study Takes in-depth Look at China-Africa Partnership
The African Development Bank today released a book titled “China and Africa, An Emerging Partnership for Development?” In recent years, China has been the prominent emerging partner for most of Africa and new China-Africa relations have generated heated debates. Is China really the sole winner in its relations with the African continent? This book challenges this idea by analyzing opportunities and challenges for both parties.

According to AfDB Vice-President and Chief Economist, Mthuli Ncube, “China’s growing presence reflects this country’s growing economic and political power in the world and its appetite for natural resources of some African countries aims to fuel its economic expansion.” On the one hand, China needs natural resources; on the other, it plays an important role in providing financing and expertise needed for the continent’s development.

Trade between Africa and China is quite substantial. In 2009, trade flows rose to 93 billons dollars, an eight-folds increase in a decade. African exports to China come mainly from the four resource rich countries. Indeed, natural resource and oil exports account for three-quarters of Africa’s exports to China and only six countries receive two-thirds of Africa’s total imports from China.

Chinese trade and investments are mainly related to extractive industries and infrastructure. More than 35 African countries benefit from funds in this sector. Investments increased seven-folds in six years. Improved infrastructure facilitates African products access to regional and international markets. Opening special economic zones run by Chinese offers additional opportunities to strengthen manufacturing capacities in many African countries.

China’s growing role is complementary to those of Africa’s long-standing traditional development partners, who are still dominant in terms of official development assistance, trade and investment. In addition, these traditional partners often provide some forms of aid such as budget support, which is very effective. The Bank considers that traditional donors and emerging partners such as China complement each other. The AfDB wishes to leverage Chinese resources and development expertise for the benefit of African economies.

This new book is the culmination of Bank work in the framework of the “China in Africa” project. It contains contributions by some of the leading experts in China-Africa relations, and received financial support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

Documents
China and Africa: an Emerging Partnership for Development? (8.2 MB)
Working Paper 129 – China’s Engagement and Aid Effectiveness in Africa (574 kB)
Working Paper 128 – China’s Manufacturing and Industrialization in Africa (420 kB)
Working Paper 126 – China’s Trade and FDI in Africa (637 kB)
Working Paper 125 – China and Africa: An Emerging Partnership for Development? – An Overview of Issues (382 kB)
Working Paper 124 – Post-Crisis Prospects for China-Africa Relations (543 kB)
China in Africa: A New Development Partner? (366 kB)
China-Africa Trade: A Path to Mutual Prosperity? (22 kB)
Development Research Briefs – Impact of the Financial and Economic Crisis on China’s Trade, Aid and Capital Inflows to Africa (688 kB)
Working Paper 107 – China, Africa and the International Aid Architecture (543 kB)