The West, Debt and Other Takeaways From Chinese Foreign Minister's Visit: Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa — China's new Foreign Minister Qin Gang wrapped up his first international tour to Africa this week, during which he visited five diverse countries -- Ethiopia, Gabon, Benin, Angola and Egypt -- and stressed that China does not see the continent as an arena for a power struggle between the West and Beijing.
For more than three decades it's been a tradition that the top Chinese diplomat's first foreign trip is to Africa. President Xi Jinping, who's entering his second decade in power, has invested heavily in the continent through his Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, which has expanded since its initial inception and includes Chinese investments in projects that build land and sea trade routes to continents around the world.
It was originally envisioned as a collaboration between the U.S., China and Africa. But relations between Washington and Beijing soured under the Trump administration, with the U.S. voicing concerns about the risk of China spying and stealing genomic data. Beijing called the allegations"ridiculous." Ethiopia was also an important stop for the ambassador, Nantulya noted, because the two-year war in Tigray has been detrimental to Chinese business interests and hundreds of Chinese workers had to be evacuated. Beijing had even tried its hand at a peacemaker role, though it was the African Union that eventually secured a cease-fire late last year. During his trip, Qin pledged support for reconstruction efforts now underway in the region.
The West has frequently accused China of practicing"debt trap diplomacy" by trying to gain leverage over indebted developing countries. Qin rejected that in Addis Ababa, asserting that"China has always been committed to helping Africa ease its debt burden."
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