By Liu Zhiqin    Source: Global Times    Published: 2015-11-18

Assistance now including intellectual capital as well as infrastructure

Most Chinese people think of Africa as a far-off, remote land. Many people got to know about it from books, movies and pictures of wild animals, deserts, and the generally poor living conditions. The people and the culture of Africa remain mysterious and interesting to people outside the continent.

However, cooperation between China and Africa goes back a long way. China received several hundred students from African countries in the early 1960s. Later on, some of the students became diplomats, even ambassadors to China, and some were elected as leaders in their countries. They also made great contributions to enhancing relations between China and Africa.

China has also provided lots of support in order to promote economic development in Africa over the past 50 years, including helping African nations to build major landmark projects such as a stadium in Mozambique, a conference center in Ethiopia and an international airport in Maputo. In 2014, both sides signed construction contracts worth $71 billion, including a transcontinental highway project connecting 54 cities.

All these projects benefit the local environment and improve the livelihoods of the people. This contrasts noticeably with Western input in the continent. People in Africa have realized that Western people want the continent to stay the way it is, so that it can remain a holiday resort for rich people - the more primitive, the more attractive.

But China is totally different. It has provided an efficient shortcut for Africa to save at least 50 years in boosting its modernization. The reason for the difference between these two approaches is very easy to understand: Unlike China, Western countries never give their support without preconditions. China simply offers support and friendship toward the African people.

In the past century, around 350,000 Chinese engineers and technicians have worked on more than 1,000 projects in Africa. These contributions go beyond mere financial aid.  

Some Western experts are wondering why China has been so successful in Africa. The answer is clear: China has had the same experience in suffering from poverty, backwardness and lack of technology as African countries in the last two centuries. So we know the best way for Africa to develop its economy. That`s why China can always provide what is needed.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced in 2013 that over the next three years China would help African countries to train 30,000 special experts and provide 18,000 African students with scholarships. This showed that China`s effort to stimulate the African economy has changed from focusing on infrastructure to building intellectual capital.

Next month, President Xi will meet the leaders of African countries to outline further cooperation in the near future. We are convinced that China will give effective and comprehensive support to help Africa become a strong partner in setting up a new world trade order that will benefit both sides.

Africa can play a unique role in helping with development of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative launched by China. Hundreds of years ago, Africa was the destination for goods on China`s maritime silk-road, which exchanged millions of tons of commodities and helped spread the cultural influence of China.

To further develop relations between China and Africa, there are certain initiatives that should be considered.

First, a joint bank or foundation could be set up to combat poverty, including offering financing to deal with droughts, natural disasters and disease epidemics like Ebola. Second, a joint sports research institute could be launched to concentrate on studies and academic research in various sporting fields.

And a comprehensive university could be built to help train a new generation. Lastly, a joint climate change research institute could be established in order to develop new technologies for meeting challenges in finding a balance between the climate and human activities.  

The author is a senior fellow at the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at the Renmin University of China.