Hu returns to Africa

Hu hopes to focus on consolidating the political and economic gains from the first ever China-Africa Summit that was held in Beijing last November. China’s trade with Africa has soared from about US$ 3 billion in 1995 to US$ 40 billion in 2005.

It is expected to reach US$ 100 billion in 2010. Chinese investment in Africa has crossed the US$ 6 billion mark. Chinese aid to African states is increasing, and at the summit with African leaders, Hu unveiled a new commitment worth US$ 5 billion.

India keeps debating

China’s relentless diplomatic advances to Africa have drawn much criticism from the West — on issues ranging from Beijing’s readiness to do business with dictatorial regimes, to mercantile economic policies focused on resource extraction, especially oil, and dumping cheap manufactured goods.

India has little sympathy with the western arguments, for most of them are based on a deep-seated reluctance to accept an end to old-style geo-politics in Africa dominated by Europe and the US.

As it debates the impact of a rising China on Africa, New Delhi, however, needs to pay some attention to the growing critique from within the continent of Beijing’s policies.

Doing business with the governments alone and ignoring internal conflicts can be risky. Chinese oil workers in Nigeria have often been kidnapped. Loss of local manufacturing jobs from cheap Chinese exports has angered workers across the continent.

If India wants to avoid the charges of “neo-imperialism” that have been directed against China, it needs to develop a policy of sustainable partnership with Africa. The Indian delay in responding effectively to the new opportunities in the great continent could be put to some good use if New Delhi were to draw the right lessons from China in unveiling the long overdue diplomatic initiative towards Africa.

ADB in Shanghai

Reflecting the rapidly expanding economic engagement with China, the African Development Bank is holding its next board meeting in Shanghai in May. This will be the first time that finance ministers and central bank governors from Africa will meet in Asia, and only the second one outside Africa. China is one of 24 non-African shareholders in the African Development Bank, along with the US, Japan, France, India and Britain.

Taming the Internet

The tension between the command culture of the Chinese Communist Party and the free-wheeling universe of the Internet continues. At a recent study session of the Politburo, Hu summed up the challenge: “Whether we can cope with the Internet is a matter that affects the development of socialist culture, the security of information, and the stability of the state”.

China’s Internet usage jumped by almost 24 per cent last year to reach 137 million, according to the China Internet Network Information Centre. Nearly one in 10 Chinese have Internet access and many go online to read news, chat with friends, shop, and engage in debates. A growing number of bloggers airing “irresponsible views” has alarmed the CCP which is demanding new ways to regulate the Internet.

Hu is asking officials to become more tech-savvy and improve their ability to administer the Internet. He wants the state agencies to deploy advanced technologies to “better guide public opinion” through the Internet. “We should spread more information that is in good taste, and promote online products that can represent the grand Chinese culture,” Hu declared.