CHINAl: Leaders of more than 40 African nations holding summit in Beijing.

Record ID: 608232

  • Title: CHINAl: Leaders of more than 40 African nations holding summit in Beijing.
  • Date: 3rd November 2006
  • Summary: (W2) BEIJING, CHINA (NOVEMBER 3, 2006) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SUDANESE PRESIDENT OMAR HASSAN AL-BASHIR DURING ROUND TABLE WITH PRESIDENT HU JINTAO
  • Embargoed: 18th November 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACEX319C917FCHNDZDPDFFQFQ9
  • Story Text: Leaders of more than 40 African nations are converging on Beijing for a summit at which China will seek to bolster its influence on the resource-rich but economically backward continent.
    The weekend summit underscores China's deepening links with Africa, whose mineral and oil wealth it covets - and whose countries form an important strategic bloc vote in world bodies.
    Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo met with Chinese President Hu Jintao for handshakes and meetings on Friday (November 3) night, the eve of the summit.
    Both nations are players in China's economic strategy on the continent.
    President Hu concluded in April of 2006 an offshore exploration deal with Kenya during a visit to the continent.
    And China and Nigeria signed an $800 million crude oil deal to supply 30,000 barrels of crude oil per day to China in July of 2005.
    But Beijing's efforts on the continent go beyond business.
    China is expected to announce a package of measures covering aid, trade and social development for Africa during the forum's summit meeting - amid concerns from rights groups about links with Sudan and Zimbabwe.
    Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao (pron: lee-oh djee-ehn chah-ow) declined to detail any numbers about aid or loan concessions, but dismissed accusations of China practising a new form of colonialism in Africa.
    "The African people as well as the Chinese people who once suffered at the hands of colonialists know best what the right definition of colonialism is," he told a news conference.
    Liu said critics of China's economic interests in Africa were "narrow-minded."
    "I want to point out that colonialism is not far away from us, and it hasn't been long since it has ended. And the Chinese and African people still remember their suffering under the hand of colonialism very clearly. I would urge those with a narrow-minded approach towards China-Africa relations to adopt a broad-minded and broad-hearted approach to looking at our relationship, and work together with China and African countries for the development and prosperity of the continent and the world," said Liu.
    Liu also rejected criticism from World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz that China was ignoring human rights and environmental standards when lending to Africa.
    "I would also like to say that the African leaders have expressed that they believe China is their trustworthy partner and we are friends. And they are ready to engage in comprehensive cooperation with China on the basis of equality and mutual benefit and common development. My question is that, when China is building schools, providing health, infrastructure and agriculture technology to African countries, are we damaging the human rights of African countries? Are we hurting the good governance programme of those African countries? Aren't the African people benefiting from our programme?" said Liu.
    China's trade with Africa is expected to top $50 billion this year.
    And while the summit is largely about handshakes and banquets, analysts also expect it to be an opportunity to cement trade and investment deals that have been in the pipeline.
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