China continues to cement its position as a major power in Africa, with President Xi Jinping pledging $50 billion in financial support over the next three years to strengthen diplomatic and military ties with the continent, Bloomberg reported.
The announcement came during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, where dozens of African leaders met with Xi to discuss their countries’ development needs.
This latest engagement demonstrates Beijing’s long-standing commitment to Africa, with the Chinese president having visited the continent five times since taking office.
According to Bloomberg, this level of engagement contrasts sharply with the United States, where neither President Joe Biden nor former President Donald Trump made official visits to Africa during their terms in office.
Many African leaders who visit Washington do not meet with the US president, a fact that Paul Nantulya, a research associate at the US government-funded Center for African Strategic Studies, pointed out: “The US really needs to do better.”
Growing trade and growing influence
Beijing’s power in Africa is growing not just diplomatically but economically. Last year, China’s trade surplus with the continent hit a record $64 billion, according to Bloomberg.
China has also emerged as the foreign power with the most positive influence on Africa’s youth, overtaking the United States, according to a recent survey.
For his part, Djibouti’s Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf stressed the importance of relations with China earlier, saying, “African countries, and the African Union, rely on Chinese cooperation. This is number one because other partners have failed to support us.”
However, Bloomberg says, China’s growing influence is not without challenges, as it has faced criticism over accusations of debt traps, exploitation and corruption linked to its investments in Africa.
“In response to these criticisms, China appears to have adjusted its strategy, shifting to smaller, more profitable deals,” she adds.
In this regard, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa hinted at possible trade tensions, calling on the Chinese President to “make more sustainable investments and create jobs.”
Despite the criticism, China appears to be staying committed to expanding its role in Africa, with Premier Li Keqiang assuring African companies that his country will open its markets further to African businesses, allaying concerns about trade imbalances, Bloomberg says.
