Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶) denied that Beijing was developing ties in Africa purely to satisfy its need for energy, as he headed for talks with African leaders, state media reported yesterday.
Speaking while on the plane to Egypt, where he is due to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak before the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation begins today, Wen said Beijing had an important role to play in Africa’s development.
“Energy cooperation is just one area” where China and Africa are working together, he said.
“In no way has China come to Africa solely for its energy sources,” the People’s Daily quoted him as saying.
“The aim for China in helping Africa is to reinforce its own role in development,” Wen said.
Some Western critics have accused China of worsening repression and human rights abuses in Africa by supporting countries such as Sudan and Zimbabwe in its drive to gain access to natural resources.
But other observers have said the closer ties between the two sides are focused on industries that would improve African development such as agriculture, electric power, transportation and water drainage.
China is also seen as a key player in ending the six-year war between the Sudanese government and rebels in Darfur. It is a leading weapons supplier to Sudan and importer of its oil.
The summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh comes as Beijing bids to expand its diplomatic and economic influence on the resource-rich continent.
Chinese companies have been pouring investments into oil and other raw materials in Africa to fuel the country’s booming economy.
At the last China-Africa summit in Beijing in 2006, China pledged hefty aid and promised to step up its trade relations with the continent.
Direct Chinese investment in Africa soared from US$491 million in 2003 to US$7.8 billion last year. Trade between the two has increased ten-fold since the start of the decade.
Meanwhile, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming (陳德銘) said China was considering abolishing import duties on some commodities from Africa and make sure Chinese exports to the continent were safe as part of a package to boost already thriving economic ties.
Chen outlined the proposals in an article published yesterday by the state-run China Daily.”
Among the new measures Chen proposed are exempting unspecified types of commodities from customs duties, setting up logistics centers in Africa and creating an inspection system to weed out trade in substandard consumer goods. China would also continue to build schools and hospitals, support malaria-prevention programs and improve farming methods in Africa, Chen said.
“China has closely followed the development of Africa and sincerely wishes to make its contributions to the African people in developing their nations and creating a better life,” Chen said.
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