China/Senegal

Chinese President embarks on African goodwill tour

Article published on the 2009-02-13 Latest update 2009-02-14 09:22 TU

Chinese president Hu Jintao walks with Senegal president Abdoulaye Wade
(Photo: AFP)

Landing in Dakar Friday afternoon, Chinese President Hu Jintao kicked off a lightning tour of four African countries. With increasing Chinese interest in African resources, Hu seeks to reassure African governments that the relationship will benefit them as well as his country.

Hu was greeted at the airport by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade. No public statements were made, though the two leaders were scheduled to speak privately and sign unspecified agreements, according to the Senegalese Presidency.

Hu was in Mali Friday morning for photo opportunities in front of Chinese-funded development projects and will speed off to Mauritius and Tanzania after less than 24 hours in Senegal.

Chinese economic growth has spurred a drive for resources, and a new-found interest in Africa. According to official Chinese statistics, trade between Africa and China had a record year in 2008, reaching 106.8 billion dollars (82.7 billion euros), growing 45 per cent in a year.

China-Senegal relations were frozen for ten years because Senegal recognised Taiwan, which China regards as a breakaway province, but they were re-established in 2005 when Senegal joined the one-China policy. Since then, China has stepped up its aid and investment in the country.

“In January, Beijing announced that it would extend aid worth 8.9 million euros for sports, cultural and sanitation projects in the country,” said RFI correspondent Sheriff Bojang Jr. But “some experts remain wary of China’s interests in Senegal and the China-Africa Corporation in general”.

“China is depleting the natural resources of Africa in a way which is even worse than what was done 40 years ago,” Aboulaye Bathily, Professor of history at Dakar’s Cheikh Anta Diop University, told RFI.         

Because the Chinese tour targets many former French colonies, where French companies continue to have a strong presence, a French business delegation was sent to the same countries in an attempt to counter growing Chinese competition.

"We don't fear Chinese competition. French companies, in construction and elsewhere, are winning markets in many countries," said Patrick Lucas president of the interational branch of France's employer's union, Medef. "But there [in Africa], we have a real problem, because we don't have the same capacities [as the Chinese]."