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China says more than half of foreign aid given to Africa

Edison Chen

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(Reuters) - More than half of China's foreign aid of over $14 billion between 2010 and 2012 was directed to Africa, the government said on Thursday, underscoring Beijing's interest in the resource-rich continent to fuel its economy.

Some Chinese projects have attracted attention for China's support of governments with poor human rights records and lack of transparency, such as Zimbabwe, Sudan and Angola.

It provided no breakdown of aid recipients or any yearly figures. In 2011, China put its total foreign aid over the past six decades at 256.29 billion yuan ($41.32 billion).

While the number pales in comparison with the United States' foreign aid, which is about $46 billion for fiscal 2015, China says its aid has no political strings attached, unlike many Western countries.

"China adheres to the principles of not imposing any political conditions, not interfering in the internal affairs of recipient countries and fully respecting the right to independently choose their own paths and models of development," the government said in a policy paper.

Aid was given in the form of grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, the policy paper said, and nine countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Zambia had been forgiven a total of 1.24 billion yuan in mature interest-free loans.

Some in Africa say many Chinese projects benefit local people little, with materials and even labor imported directly from China. Dam schemes have proven divisive too.

China's close links with oil-rich African states, including Sudan and Angola, have fueled criticism as well that Beijing only cultivates relations to secure access to energy and raw materials to power its surging economy.

The Foreign Ministry said China's relationship with African nations goes well beyond its quest for resources and encompasses agricultural, health and infrastructure-related projects.

"China's cooperation with Africa is far from being limited to the sphere of natural resources," ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. Foreign aid "is an important manifestation of China's international responsibility".

The paper made no direct reference to such criticism, but said China was dedicated to helping economies boost their ability to export by providing infrastructure like roads and railways and by pursuing a policy of aid for trade.

In one project, it said, Chinese experts trained 500 Liberians to weave bamboo and rattan into products they could sell.

"This program has not only created jobs, brought the locals more income and lifted them out of poverty, but also boosted the bamboo and rattan industry in the country," the paper said.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Megha Rajagopalan)

China says more than half of foreign aid given to Africa| Reuters
 
(Reuters) - More than half of China's foreign aid of over $14 billion between 2010 and 2012 was directed to Africa, the government said on Thursday, underscoring Beijing's interest in the resource-rich continent to fuel its economy.

Some Chinese projects have attracted attention for China's support of governments with poor human rights records and lack of transparency, such as Zimbabwe, Sudan and Angola.

It provided no breakdown of aid recipients or any yearly figures. In 2011, China put its total foreign aid over the past six decades at 256.29 billion yuan ($41.32 billion).

While the number pales in comparison with the United States' foreign aid, which is about $46 billion for fiscal 2015, China says its aid has no political strings attached, unlike many Western countries.

"China adheres to the principles of not imposing any political conditions, not interfering in the internal affairs of recipient countries and fully respecting the right to independently choose their own paths and models of development," the government said in a policy paper.

Aid was given in the form of grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, the policy paper said, and nine countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Zambia had been forgiven a total of 1.24 billion yuan in mature interest-free loans.

Some in Africa say many Chinese projects benefit local people little, with materials and even labor imported directly from China. Dam schemes have proven divisive too.

China's close links with oil-rich African states, including Sudan and Angola, have fueled criticism as well that Beijing only cultivates relations to secure access to energy and raw materials to power its surging economy.

The Foreign Ministry said China's relationship with African nations goes well beyond its quest for resources and encompasses agricultural, health and infrastructure-related projects.

"China's cooperation with Africa is far from being limited to the sphere of natural resources," ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. Foreign aid "is an important manifestation of China's international responsibility".

The paper made no direct reference to such criticism, but said China was dedicated to helping economies boost their ability to export by providing infrastructure like roads and railways and by pursuing a policy of aid for trade.

In one project, it said, Chinese experts trained 500 Liberians to weave bamboo and rattan into products they could sell.

"This program has not only created jobs, brought the locals more income and lifted them out of poverty, but also boosted the bamboo and rattan industry in the country," the paper said.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Megha Rajagopalan)

China says more than half of foreign aid given to Africa| Reuters

China is on a very good path.
I have one question, if a government releases stats, how common people confirms them? And in case they're wrong, can you guys challenge them in court?
I know India suffers from corruption and government can lie to any extent to get out of any situation. How does China deals with these problems?
Just out of curiosity, I'll visit China sometime soon to see all the development and want to start some import business.:enjoy:
 
China is on a very good path.
I have one question, if a government releases stats, how common people confirms them? And in case they're wrong, can you guys challenge them in court?
I know India suffers from corruption and government can lie to any extent to get out of any situation. How does China deals with these problems?
Just out of curiosity, I'll visit China sometime soon to see all the development and want to start some import business.:enjoy:

If you want to start business, I recommend you find a Chinese business partner, all problems done. I remember our Indian poster @sms is in China right now, you can ask him details or how things work in China.....:coffee:
 
China is on a very good path.
I have one question, if a government releases stats, how common people confirms them? And in case they're wrong, can you guys challenge them in court?
I know India suffers from corruption and government can lie to any extent to get out of any situation. How does China deals with these problems?
Just out of curiosity, I'll visit China sometime soon to see all the development and want to start some import business.:enjoy:

Lying about economic statistics wont serve any purpose in long term since government has to make policies on those important figures, well unless government officials don't care about economy.

Regarding corruption, I believe the elite or high ranking officials have reached the consensus that corruption is eroding the public's trust in the party and the party has to self-cleanse itself in order to retain the power, which I believe is very hard. Of course, the party high officials care about the party's ruling of China, but lower ranking officials might just want pocket themselves and then flee the country. That's why I firmly oppose investment immigration policies of those rich developed countries.
 
China is on a very good path.
I have one question, if a government releases stats, how common people confirms them? And in case they're wrong, can you guys challenge them in court?
I know India suffers from corruption and government can lie to any extent to get out of any situation. How does China deals with these problems?
Just out of curiosity, I'll visit China sometime soon to see all the development and want to start some import business.:enjoy:

Bro, Try to start export business to china ..and help to reduce trade deficit :D ... they are in big need of rare earth minerals, precious and semi precious stones and Granite ...all of these easy start ups with very low investments.

Regarding challenging stats by Govt. .. it's one way street. There is nothing close to RTI in China. But remember Chinese Govt. always prefer not to release data than releasing wrong stats.

Corruption is rampant in China but less evident in day to day life. You'll not have to face cops asking for money .. not at-least in big cities :)

But at higher level officials .. it all different story!! I agree with @Okemos and oppose investment immigration policies of western countries.
 
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