African analysts'' expectations for enhanced China-Africa cooperation
DATE:2015-12-04 SOURCE:Xinhua News Agency
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PRETORIA, Dec. 2, 2015 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma in Pretoria, South Africa, Dec. 2, 2015. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)
JOHANNESBURG, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is on a state visit to South Africa, will join African leaders for Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation on Friday and Saturday.
With one day until the event, South African analysts have raised their expectations and suggestions for enhanced cooperation between the two lands. Here are some of their views:
AREAS OF FOCUS
Through the summit, China would offer solutions to challenges facing Africa, Douglas John, a researcher at the Midrand University in Johannesburg, told Xinhua.
He said the summit would see strengthened cooperation in five areas: industrialization, agricultural modernization, health, people-to-people exchanges and security.
A WAY DIFFERENT FROM THE WEST
Ralph Mathekga, the head of political economy at Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, a South African think tank, said China''s assistance and support to Africa could be in a way different from the West.
"Africa has been for a long time been getting unfavourable conditions from the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. These include tariffs which have been passed on through Western aid which is not in the interest of Africa and we expect China to do it differently, actually it is in China''s interest to do so," he said.
"China has surplus capital, cash and experience in infrastructure and finance to liberate Africa from the Western financial institutions," Mathekga said.
Mike Danish, a lecturer with International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, advised Africa to take advantage of China-initiated new international financing institutions, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the BRICS New Development Bank, for infrastructure development and poverty reduction.
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Local employees and Chinese engineers work together at a construction site of a China-funded Standard Gaugue Railway line in Taita-Taveta, Kenya, March 19, 2015. (Xinhua/Pan Siwei)
AFIRCA AS A UNITY
Mathekga suggested African nations act as a whole when cooperating with China.
"Africa is not a country, not monolithic and has diverse interests with China being an economic giant. I expect an African Agenda,"Mathekga told Xinhua.
He said Africa should come up with proposals to make a "meaningful" relationship, not a blindfolded one with China.
MUTUAL BENEFIT & EQUAL STATUS
Mathekga said that the cooperation between the two sides was based on mutual respect and benefit.
His view is echoed by some South African government officials who have on several occasions stated that Africa and China are equal partners with the same bargaining power.
South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Nomaindiya Mfeketo, recently said African countries wanted China to help African companies to enter the Chinese markets.
AFRICA''S ANTI-CORRUPTION
Gideon Chitanga, a researcher at the Center for Study of Democracy at the University of Johannesburg, said he expected China to facilitate a process of "political and institutional leadership renewal" in Africa to fight corruption and enhance economic efficiency.