China-Africa cooperation: Debunking Western myths

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Beijing from September 4 to 6 with the theme of "Joining hands to advance modernization and build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future."

China and Africa share a longstanding friendship, respecting, appreciating and supporting each other. The results of their cooperation in infrastructure development, agriculture, healthcare and education are undeniable.

Yet, some Western media and politicians have been continuously accusing China of debt traps, neo-colonialism and dumping its overcapacity in Africa, etc. By dissecting  their narratives, one can find out their criticisms are unfounded and baseless.

First, the so-called China-created debt trap narrative is misdirection. According to the World Bank's International Debt Statistics, in 2022, Africans owed $655.6 billion to external creditors. China's public lending, however, accounted for less than 10 percent of that. More than 35 percent of that debt was owed to Western banks, asset managers and oil traders. And on average, they charged twice as much interest on their loans. The Western countries are actually the ones who ensnared Africa in "debt traps."

When these former colonizers see China's rising strength and desire to cooperate with African countries, they perceive it with a mindset imbued with colonialism and stereotypes.

Actually, China has played a pivotal role in Africa's development by constructing and renovating vital infrastructure and facilities like railways, highways, bridges, dams, ports, schools and hospitals, etc., which have bolstered regional integration, trade and industrialization, and enhanced local people's livelihoods. Statistics show since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000, Chinese investments in Africa have helped build or upgrade more than 10,000 km of railways, nearly 100,000 km of highways, 1,000 bridges, 100 ports and 66,000 km of power transmission and distribution.

Furthermore, China's investment projects in Africa are aimed not only at meeting Africa's immediate needs, but also at addressing the challenges that hinder the continent's future development. In healthcare, China's medical support has significantly improved Africans' access to medical care. Education and technical training initiatives, such as scholarships, Confucius Institutes and Luban workshops, have enhanced human capital and supported Africa's modernization. Across the length and breadth of the continent, China's engagement has been anything but neocolonialism.

The accusation that China is dumping its overcapacity in Africa is even more groundless. Actually, most of Africa needs investment in energy and diversifying the source of energy. When huge needs and enormous potential collide, China softens the blow.

The Itimpi solar power station in Zambia is a good example. With an annual capacity of 130 GWh, the power station, designed and built by a Chinese company, caters to Zambia's industries. During the construction, over 1,200 locals were trained to provide skilled workers for new energy projects.

But while making these unsubstantiated claims against China, what have the Western countries done to the African people and the land? To give just one example, U.S. oil company Chevron has dumped tons of hazardous oil waste directly into the ocean shallows near Angola's northern coastline, posing a major threat to marine life and ecosystems.

What lies underneath this smearing campaign is the West's Cold War mentality and its attempt to hide its political greed in Africa. Its attacks are driven by growing anxiety and insecurity about its own waning power and declining influence within the global system, combined with the inability to accept the reality of China's rise and success.

China-Africa cooperation exemplifies international relations based on equality, not domination, showcasing a new approach to global partnerships rooted in mutual respect and benefit. 

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