China defends its presence in Africa

A Chinese Diplomat has defended his country’s increasing presence in Africa. The Chinese Acting Ambassador to Rwanda, Wang Xinm.Li said China is not motivated by the continent’s resources but sincere support.“Our friends will continue making noise but this will not stop us from supporting African states and improving people’s standards of living,” he said.He insisted no one will stop China’s engagement in Africa’s economic and political fields. “You cannot expect no noise from other causes of the world,” Wang Xinm.Li said but added that, “Nobody will silence us.”The US and European governments have tried to link the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Chinese policy in Darfur, saying they run counter to the Olympic spirit.Mid this year, reports said, a group of 108 members of the US House of Representatives sent a letter to the Chinese government warning that the Beijing Olympics could be endangered if China did not revise its foreign police, citing Sudan as a case in point.Some American entertainment figures have raised threat of an Olympic boycott unless China moves more forcefully to use its influence in Sudan with which it has profound economic and military ties.Hollywood actress and activist Mia Farrow, who was in Rwanda recently, said China, Sudan’s main oil customer and arms supplier has a lot of influence in blocking the deployment of a United Nations and African Union peacekeeping force.“China’s responsibility to play a constructive role in ending this Genocide extends beyond their relationship as Sudan’s primary economic partner and diplomatic protector,” Mia Farrow was quoted as saying.“Mia Farrow was here (Rwanda) doing a lot of propaganda against China but she should go to Iraq and do the same,” Wang Xinm. Li told reporters on Friday. He added that the campaign against China is a “political motive” of other powerful states yet China enjoys a normal relation with Sudan as it has with other African countries.Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has accepted the 3,500-member reinforcement team to bolster the African Union force. He blocked the deployment of the 20,000-strong peacekeeping force envisioned in a plan worked out by the former U.N. secretary general, Kofi Annan.“Since the breakout of the crisis of Darfur, China has done much in that regard and has used its influence and unique position and relations between the two countries to alleviate the crisis in Sudan,” the Chinese Diplomat said.He said China has diplomatic missions in all African countries except five- Burkina Faso, Swaziland, Malawi, Gambia, Sao Tome and Principe. This has raised concerns of other World Powers about China’s engagement in economic and political relations with Africa.Last year, Beijing held a Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and China pledged to offer $5 billion in preferential loans and credits, and double aid to Africa by 2009, while announcing a package of assistance, investment, trade and other key projects for public health and education in Africa.About 41 heads of state and senior officials of 48 African countries took part in the diplomatic event which was held under a theme “Friendship, Peace, Co-operation and Development.”Wang said there is a need to promote a balanced, co-ordinated and sustainable development of the global economy to enable all countries to share its benefits and realize common development and prosperity.Last year, China and Rwanda recorded a total trade turnover of more than US$34million. Rwanda exports to China have increased by more than 80% between 2004 and last year.Also a number of Chinese companies have started investing in Rwanda. A Chinese based company recently launched a subsidiary in Rwanda to provide digital Pay-TV and broadband Internet services.Rwanda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Charles Murigande in the recent past said China’s investment shows its commitment to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. China is actively involved in infrastructure construction, finance, technology and communications, education, Health and road construction in Rwanda. Ends