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 China spent $10bn on similar schemes throughout Africa.
Liberia doesn't get many visits from world leaders, which is odd given its massive reserves of iron ore, timber and rubber. Since no one else seems interested in the war-ravaged nation, China has moved in. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, a former economist, clearly sees some benefit for Liberia - 50,000 jobs in the port of Buchanan, for example.
In Sudan, as Western governments complain, Mr Hu did not make Chinese aid or trade conditional on ending the Darfur crisis. Instead, he financed the building of a new presidential palace.
Sudan's economy is expected to grow by 13 per cent this year (faster even than China's), in part facilitated by the dams and roads the Chinese have built in Sudan. What was the West offering?
One-party China is in no position to set democratic or good-governance conditions on their African dealings. So it doesn't. Chinese involvement comes with 'no strings', domestic |
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| ‘The Chinese treat us as equals. The West treats us as former subjects,’ says President Festus Mogae of Botswana |
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non-interference a point of honour. And China doesn't preach: it is not in Africa to effect cultural or political changes. Its leaders' only concern is their own economy.
All of which comes as something of a relief to African leaders. China's economic empire-building is little different from America's - but at least it's transparent.
In the words of President Festus Mogae of Botswana: "I find that the Chinese treat us as equals. The West treats us as former subjects."
What benefits Africa is not aid and sanctimony, but trade and economy. Conditional aid hasn't improved African governance, nor made Africans prosperous. So, after 50 years and a trillion aid-dollars, perhaps it's time for a change of tack. What Africans need are jobs: the Chinese will provide these, and gladly. 
FIRST POSTED FEBRUARY 6, 2007
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