China Daily

Li Keqiang Trip to Africa

David Shinn
6 May 2014
The address before the African Union by Premier Li Keqiang contained many standard
themes in China-Africa relations such as support for poverty reduction and a desire to increase
people-to-people and cultural exchanges. I was struck by the references to the earlier China-
Africa relationship. While this is not a new theme, it is an important and legitimate one. The
fact that Premier Lis visit comes about 50 years after the historic 10-country tour of Africa in
1963-1964 by Premier Zhou Enlai is significant. Li also cited the oft-mentioned African support
for Chinas entry into the United Nations in 1971 and made a couple of references to the
construction of the Tanzania-Zambia railway in the 1970s.
As for new themes, Premier Li said China wants to go beyond the building of
infrastructure in Africa and extraction of resources from the continent. He cited a willingness to
assist Africa in building regional aviation networks. Although details are lacking, this could
potentially help fill an important need. The premier emphasized the intention of China to
cooperate on environmental protection in Africa and promised to construct a biodiversity
protection center in Kenya. While China has paid increasing attention in recent years to the
imperative of improving the environment in both China and Africa, his remarks signal a
significant increase in the effort China may devote to environmental challenges. Premier Li also
promised to support the construction of high speed rail in Africa. Frankly, I was surprised this is
one of Chinas priorities as I question whether it is a priority for Africa.
Before leaving China, Premier Li mentioned the growing pains that China is
experiencing in Africa. He is exactly correct to address this issue. The more engaged China is in
Africa and as more Chinese live and work in Africaan estimated one to two millionthe more
misunderstanding there will be until each side gets to know the other better. Growing numbers
of Chinese traders and entrepreneurs are competing with African counterparts. Chinese products
are increasingly underselling similar products made in Africa, stunting African production.
Some 30 African countries have large, persistent trade deficits with China. Some of Chinas
labor and worker safety practices are less rigorous than those found in some African countries,
which leads to misunderstanding. These are the kinds of issues that China needs to respond to.
They are African concerns, not Western-generated ones. While China can ignore Western
criticism of its practices in Africa, it should not ignore African concerns.