China steps up African economic, trade ties to compete with US’ ‘game changing’ moves
- Beijing began investing in Africa in the 1970s and has brought much of the continent under its Belt and Road Initiative
- But Washington has made a new commitment to the continent, highlighted by first lady Jill Biden wrapping up a five-day trip to Namibia and Kenya earlier this week
China is again increasing economic support for Africa after decades of building infrastructure and extracting minerals to match a new US bid for influence on the continent that depends heavily on foreign help.
President Xi Jinping said in a mid-February message to the 55-member state African Union that China was willing to “enhance cooperation” and “facilitate coordination” in international and regional affairs. Chinese state media reports have noted agriculture, trade and more infrastructure as priorities from 2022 onwards.
On Wednesday, China dropped 98 per cent of tariffs on exports from Burundi, Ethiopia and Niger. This is part of broader efforts by Beijing to implement Xi’s promise to increase imports from Africa.
Additional support for the largely impoverished continent is likely to help China keep its lead over the United States in helping Africa move ahead economically, analysts said.
The US is trying to increase its influence in the global south, especially in Africa, to counter the Chinese
“Amidst the US’s strained relations with Russia and China over various contentious issues … the US is trying to increase its influence in the global south, especially in Africa, to counter the Chinese,” said Mandira Bagwandeen, a senior researcher at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town.
Beijing began investing in Africa in the 1970s, and after stepping up activity in the 2000s, over the past decade brought much of the continent under its Belt and Road Initiative.