Relations between China and Africa got a boost when Yale University through its Macmillan Center for International and Area Studies organised a conference at the Lagos Business School.
The conference examined how to strengthen economic co-operations between China and Nigeria, as well as the entire continent.
Chinese Special Representative on African Affairs, Zhong Jianhua, told journalists that China’s interest is to let the African continent become truly developed.
Assistant Business Editor, KELECHI MGBOJI, brings excerpts of the press conference.
Challenges China faces in achieving targets in Nigeria
The co-operation and bilateral relation is a good one. On the political front, it is good. On the economic front, in terms of trade, the cooperation we get from Nigeria is also good. But the challenge is obvious.
We set a pretty high target. For example, the Chinese government sets aside $60 billion to be invested in Africa either through loans or investment in projects in three years’ time. At the official level it is a huge challenge.
Everyone is talking about win-win co-operation. But what about the lose-win, win-lose or lose-lose? No one can guarantee results. That’s where the challenge lies.
You can have a target, a purpose, but how to fulfill it is the task. It involves wisdom, determination and courage from every one of us.
A Chinese philosophy says, “If you think you can win and let the other party lose, you will lose eventually.”
Of course, if you lose and let the opponent win, that is also not the solution.
If you run to win, you must let your partner also win. This is the only way you can help maintain a long-term friendship and long-term relationship.
We believe in long-term cooperation.
China’s interest in African aid
China’s interest is economic co-operation. By this co-operation, if the people improve their living standard on the African continent, their demand will increase. This demand will provide opportunity not only for China but also for the world.
We did this to the world before. We provided a huge opportunity. We provided the world with the huge Chinese market. This is what we want to replicate in this continent.
So, with this economic co-operation between China and Africa, we see the future demand of this continent increasing tremendously. We engage in this process by helping Africa to develop even faster and become greater.
When this is achieved, they also reward us with greater opportunity and provide demand for our own products. That is what we call win-win.
Would Chinese interest in Africa not lead to re-colonisation?
History of human beings have been characterised by development and progress.
Our ancestors, I mean the ancestors of all of us as human beings, not only China, may have been slow in thinking, and eventually we did have a colonial period in history. It was ugly, bloody and notorious.
I think every human being should learn from that history.
Colonialism will never lead us to the bright future that we desire. It may have benefited other continents but it caused a lot of damage to this continent. It caused huge sacrifice on the other side too.
The Chinese are not stupid. The best benefit for China, certainly, cannot come from recolonising Africa.
And after its hundreds of years of bloody history, this continent will never allow anybody to colonise it again. On both sides, we do not have that kind of opportunity to do that, even if both countries are stupid.
Now, what is the best result for China? I still return to the earlier topic. The best result for China is let the African continent become truly developed.
And this development will actually bring the whole world the biggest opportunity, just like China offered to the world.
We do not believe that the reforms that took place in China were as a result of colonialism.
We offered to the world the best opportunity. Most developed countries benefited hugely from Chinese investment. We want to have the story repeated on the African continent. Let people enjoy from the development.
This has already been proved a success story.
We have no reason to go back to the old history of colonisation and colonialism. That was stupid.
How China contributes to the wellbeing of developing countries
One thing you should never forget is that we, the Chinese people, actually broke some people’s monopolised market.
You do remember when those who bought oil monopolised the market and decided what the price of oil would be. They paid six pence per barrel.
But when the Chinese came into this market, we certainly broke up this monopolised system. We made the producing countries enjoy $100 per barrel.
The difference is that those who enjoyed six pence in history became angry. They were angry because the Chinese have put a stop to what they enjoyed.
Look at it on the other side. When you sold oil for six pence per barrel, how much did you pay for imported suit? You paid $500 because the only supply is from Europe.
How many barrels of oil did you have to export before you bought a suit in the past? Today, when you buy a Chinese-made suit, how much do you pay? Less than $3, the cheapest.
Why do you complain about colonisation from China? It is because some people have been made very angry in the market place. I think we are doing something good for the people who sell oil.
Lessons Nigeria can learn from China about inflation, fallen revenue, insecurity, and more
We have suffered the same problems Nigeria is suffering today. So we approach the problems based on our experience.
When I was still a junior employee in the Foreign Ministry, inflation in China rose to about 80 per cent. You know what that means. People worked harder. Workers were organised to work 24 hours a day.
When you have the crisis, it also means you have opportunities there in. It is a time you are pushed to make positive changes.
More so, when you have challenges and there are friends willing to help, you just know that such challenges can be overcome.
