-
Advertisement
Africa
OpinionLetters

Letters | Chinese influence in Africa can help turn Europe into a better partner

  • China’s developmental approach offers an alternative to Western policies towards Africa that have failed for decades
  • Europe can still be an important player in Africa, but it must treat African countries as equals

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
1
China-donated Covid-19 vaccines arrive in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on February 10, 2021. Photo:  Xinhua
Letters
Feel strongly about this letter, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification.
How can Sino-Africa relations help change European policy towards the continent? Since its decolonisation, Africa has been marked by what seems like chronic economic and political dependency, whether with regard to former colonial masters or international organisations such as the European Union, International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

That dependency has been accompanied by decades-long economic malaise, political instability and high corruption. Western governments and international organisations have delivered a set of structural reforms to Africa in the form of aid policies in exchange for pro-market reforms, political liberalisation and openness to Western markets and products.

Advertisement
The result of those policies – known as the Washington Consensus – faces enormous criticism. Africa continues to suffer meagre economic growth and is still dependent on or indebted to Western governments and international organisations.

China’s economic growth in recent decades marked the development of transformative and closer trade relations between China and Africa in the 21st century. The two share the same opinion on the Western-led campaign for human rights and structural reforms. China and most of Africa regard economic development as a priority over concerns such as individual rights and liberalisation.

Advertisement

African countries have viewed the rapid economic development of China as an example and a reliable alternative to the political system and economic structure that Western powers have pressured Africa to adopt. Africa needs to rely on a regional power and a major manufacturing economy to provide economic support for its development.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x