Chinese Diplomacy Maintains Important Ties with Africa

In an effort to re-affirm diplomatic relationships with the African continent, the highest diplomatic official of China has chosen to visit four African countries in his scheduled trip in the new year.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has formally begun his six-day diplomatic tour of the African continent by visiting Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal. Among the main reasons for visiting these African countries is the substantial bilateral trade with the continent. The total value of bilateral trade between China and Africa has reached US$172.83 billion from January to October last year.

According to Zhang Hongming, an expert in African studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the bilateral trade relationship is economically strategic. This is particularly true because of the fact that Africa is a major source of raw materials such as crude oil, rare metals and wood products. Zhang has also emphasized the constructive role of China in developing African countries in terms of investments and aid funding.

Another expert on African studies, He Wenping, at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has pointed out that the visit of the top Chinese diplomat has effectively refuted the skeptical views that China has now redirected its diplomatic focus to other major industrialized countries instead of giving importance to developing countries like those in the African continent. China's development strategies in the African continent include the annual training programs for 300 African management personnel and technicians. China is also planning to release loans amounting to US$20 billion to finance the infrastructure.

China has obviously sent the right positive signals to the African nations with the visit of the Chinese foreign minister. It emphasized the fact that China still considers the African continent as important in terms of diplomatic and economic relations.