Community of Common Destiny: Neo-Colonialism: What has China done in Africa?

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China and African countries have enjoyed a long friendship. Today, China is Africa's largest trading partner and it does business with its African counterparts in unprecedented ways. But, some in the West have accused China of practicing neo-colonialism. What is China really doing in Africa? Is China enforcing colonialism on the continent? What is at the heart of the relationship between China and Africa? CGTN’s Lindy Mtongana went from Nairobi to Beijing, to find out.

LINDY MTONGANA NAIROBI, KENYA The relationship between China and Africa has grown in leaps and bounds over the years, bringing technology, skills and infrastructure to the continent -- in the spirit of friendship and win-win cooperation. But there are some skeptics, those who feel that China is merely seeking to re-colonise Africa. Join me, as I try to sift through fact and fiction – starting right here in Kenya!

Kenya's Madaraka Express has only been around for a couple of months. Built by the Chinese – it's a Standard Gauge Railway. And It's just one of many infrastructure projects China is involved in Africa. The train travels daily between Kenya's capital Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa. And since its launch in May this year, its only grown in popularity.

HARRISON KIMANI CREW MANAGER We have been having a very overwhelming demand of passengers which was really a surprise for us because that was not what we really expected from the beginning.

And passengers are positive.

The demand is so high, but for sure it is a big thing for Kenyans, for us who travel frequently to Mombasa this is a breakthrough actually.

I'm from Virgina in the United States, - its really cool. I didn't know what to expect. Its very smooth and very quick, I'm really enjoying it. Its beautiful.

Experts believe the SGR is a game-changer for Kenya and East Africa, and the embodiment of China and Africa's win-win partnership.

PROF. PETER KAGWANJA AFRICA POLICY INSTITUTE The monumental achievement of China in East and Central Africa is the building of the Mombasa Railway, what we are calling the Madaraka Express. The Madaraka Express is perhaps the best indication that the relationship between Africa and China is not colonial, its liberating, its emancipatory.

But the China-Africa win-win relationship is not a new concept, in fact it dates back to the 1950s. The Bandung Conference of 1955 marked the first ever meeting between China and African and Asian countries. Breaking ties with the colonial west. And extending a hand of friendship spanning two continents. Now, decades later, that friendship endures – in the form of the Forum of China Africa Cooperation – known as FOCAC. And in December 2015 China's president was in South Africa – to pledge Beijing's commitments to Africa.

PROF. PETER KAGWANJA AFRICA POLICY INSTITUTE It's a single event on African soil that has been attended by so many heads of state. The document that emerged from the FOCAC spelt

China is leaving its mark across the continent, as new railway lines link African countries and cities in ways never seen before.

But what drives China's continuing commitment to Africa? I went all the way to Beijing to find out more.

DR. HE WENPING AFRICA RESEARCH DIRECTOR, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES I think China and Africa we have very strong complimentary points. As people know China is the second biggest economy so we have very rich experience for developing special economic zones and also enterprises building. And even the anti-poverty experience is very rich.

Indeed Africa needs the development expertise China can offer. But what does China get from this relationship?

DR. HE WENPING AFRICA RESEARCH DIRECTOR, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Economically we know China has been experiencing recently very rapid economic development, so we are short of those resources. So we need a lot of like copper, oil, you name it. And Africa can offer these resources. And also we need a market. And Africa you know there are more than 1 billion population there, and 54 countries so the whole continent has potential.

China's need for the market and resources Africa has to offer, has sparked criticism of a neo-colonial intentions. But the experts I spoke to strongly reject these claims.

DR. HE WENPING AFRICA RESEARCH DIRECTOR, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES When we recall the older time, the colonialism time, the resources were taken away from the African continent by force. This is the number one difference. They came over, conquered the land and then took away the resources. But now its different. You cannot imagine that any country would come over to the African continent and take resources away without any negotiation. Now its equal footing.

PROF. PETER KAGWANJA AFRICA POLICY INSTITUTE I would out-rightly say the tag of China as a colonial or neo-colonial power is basically part of propaganda. The reality is different. The idea that is governing is a partnership between equals, mutual respect and win-win kind of scenarios.

China is also accused of controlling all the natural resources in Africa. In fact, most of Africa's minerals and oil are exported to European countries, its former colonizers. Most of China investment is in the service and manufacturing industries. He Wenping said China is trying to help African people to develop for themselves and by themselves.

DR. HE WENPING AFRICA RESEARCH DIRECTOR, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Of course China's help is just one drop in the whole ocean, so the majority of things I think should be done by African governments and African people themselves. We just offer our help to show our sincerity our willingness, that together with African countries we can join hands, join efforts to move forward.

LINDY MTONGANA BEIJING, CHINA I am thousands of kilometres away from the Kenyan capital Nairobi. And being here in Beijing, you'll find that distance has never mattered in a friendship that's spanned decades. China and Africa have a lot to gain from this mutually beneficial relationship. Lindy Mtongana, CGTN, BEIJING, CHINA.