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I have always been impressed with China's socio-economic role in Africa. Evidence of infrastructural investment is everywhere in countries in Africa they have bilateral relations with. Its recent summit of most African states shows that China does not intend to have the 'Policy of State Interest shown by colonial masters and other donor countries. This signifies cohesion and cooperation among African states.
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Ahmed Ojullah Bangura, Bradford City, UK, 14 Nov 2006.
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My dear brothers and sisters across the continent, we are at a unique position today to correct the mistakes of our ancestors, with our new found relationship with the Chinese. They have their interest, and we have ours.W e are at the dawn of a monumental paradigm shift. A shift of power not seen since the rise of the U.S. (West) after WW II. Most of Africa was asleep at the time under oppressive colonial rule. As far as economics was concerned, the rule of the game was written to benefit Europe, and Europe alone, the rules were non negotiable. Today, its different.
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However, as we begin our partnership with the Chinese, 2 things have to be corrected before Africa and Africans can negotiate from a position of power.(1) A single African currency. (2) Economic/Market integration. 99% of currencies used in Africa, are considered "NOT VALID FOR CONVERSION OUTSIDE THE CONTINENT". Why should our fellow brothers and sisters in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe(2000% inflation), etc all be issueing worthless paper money backed by absolutely nothing? Would you let someone pay you with Zimbabwean dollars? The Europeans have left Africa, enough of the blame game,it is time we make this two issues a reality. The Europeans and the European Union are not fools, they have seen the future (China), and they have made the neccessary changes accordingly.
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Africa (Africans)WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? THE WORLD IS NOT WAITING FOR YOU. We have a new opportunity with China, please let us negotiate from a position of power, we owe it to our children and those yet unborn, we don't have the Europeans to blame anymore. Thank you, and God bless our beloved continent.
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David Kolawole, Providence, RI, 9 Nov 2006.
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The Africans fought for their independence. The colonial masters granted political independence but quietly resolved that they would never permit true economic independence. From the debt trap to the gradual total isolation of African economies siting one bogus charge of corruption or another since the end of the cold war. I would be much delighted to know any nations in this world that have sincerely made the type of trade proposal the Chinese are now offering in order to help Africa prosper economically. Without China's interest in Africa, all this sudden talk of Africa as a 'resource rich continent' would give way again to the usual western press potrayal of Africa as a bare desert or immense jungle teeming with unimaginably poor and diseased litany of near-savage tribes and wild animals, killing each other in countless senseless wars.
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China appears sincere to simply buy African resources at a fair price in exchange for the desperately needed infrastructure and provide funding for vital projects which would lift Africans out of poverty. Ofcourse China's economic interest clearly supports a more prosperous bouyant Africa that would become a reliable major trading partner, which would sustain a shared prosperity and development for both developing economies. The same logic does not make sense for some already highly developed colonial powers with an already established reliable trading partners outside Africa. And whose economic interests appear to demand that Africa must remain poor in order to be susceptible to their whimps and caprices.
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Sandra Mensa, Accra, Ghana, 8 Nov 2006.
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Raw materials are worth nothing if they are not explored. Raw materials in Africa have been exported to the West for a low price for centuries. Now, China provides more profits to Africa. Isn't it good news to those people with a strong will to develop? Members in one family may often conflict each other, problems in the China-Africa relation can be solved eventually.
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Friend, Shanghai, China, 8 Nov 2006.
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Are we not changing our dependency from one colonial power to another? Let us learn to be independent. Isn't that what we fought for???
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Ashak, Canada, 8 Nov 2006.
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It is a question of wait and see. How about those who pretend to protect human rights in the coninent but still support bad regimes that work in their favor? With all their concern where is our continent today? Had it not been for cheap goods from China how would most Africans afford to buy some basic goods eventhough not durable? So it is hard to tell who cares. Most important is we must care about people first.
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Turay Alhaji , China Shenzhen, 8 Nov 2006.
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First, the China/Africa conference featured African and Chinese business people, who in my view should drive business growth in future, rather than the state run monopolies, and should be the primary actors in this relationship. Private sector growth is the future; joint ventures and other forms of mutualy benefetial alliances should be 'de rigueur'. If African producers can take advantage of the tarriff reductions by the Chinese, there is hope, just as they should under AGOA, American aegis.
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Our governments should promote the growth and survival of business entities in areas where comparative advantage resides. African governments have been hostile to the emergence of strong businesses run by fellow Africans for fear of political competition. Our survival depends on this. African entities should partner with Indians, Malaysians, Swiss, Americans, whomever, with the key criterion being mutual benefit. But Africans shouldn't just wait for governments, indivuduals should take the initiatives within possibiities made possible by SADC, COMESA, etc.
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Philbert Muzungaire, New York City, 8 Nov 2006.
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Partnership with China is a good step in the right direction on one account. Based on the fact that Africa can learn from China on how to be self-reliant then there is no need to worry. However, China might benefit more if it continues to send most of its nationals to Africa and exploit Africa's cheap labour. Africa has had this experience before in one way when the West in assisting Africa it was benefiting more. This could be a scenario with this intended partnesrhip with China. African Leaders ought to be careful and not rush to engage China without clarifying issues. In a way Africa is in dare need of development, but it would not be wise for Africa to desparetly engage everyone.
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Africa should get ideas from Asia and else where and then chart its own destiny. African leaders as they steer Africa towards China's direction they ought to first clean the mess in some quarters - corruption, wars, health issues etc.
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Chishala Francis Chisembe, Cape Town - South Africa, 8 Nov 2006.
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Like any other nation in the world, China has its own national interests in Africa and any part of the world. However, I would say that China is not selfish in pursuing its interest in Africa. Unlike USA, who is always talking about "America's Interest", China tends to talk about the interests of Africa and China.
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What the Chinese show to Africa is true friendship and solidarity. Any one who happened to be in Beijing last week during the Beijing Summit can feel this. All you see and feel in Beijing and China is good things from Africa. The media, official or non-official, are telling the people how to respect Africa and its people. Can we see this in the West?
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There are lots of saying about the cooperation between China and Sudan in the oil. I visited Sudan a year ago. What I saw was that China help Sudanese build a whole oil industry, from oil extraction to oil refinery. What China gets is the profit from the joint ventures and the extra oil that can not be processed in Sudan, at market price. Isn't this the cooperation model Africa wants? I really do not understand the negative comments about the Sino-sudanese cooperation. People should ask what the Sudanese people think. Their judgement should be the right judgement.
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Zhong Weiyun, Beijing, China, 7 Nov 2006.
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Brothers and sisters of African descent, please take a moment and ponder about the ultimate 'simple' solution to our curent woes and mishaps in the continent we so dearly call ours.
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Fellow Africans, it is ample time to desist from deceiving ourselves and come into unadulterated honesty with our own instincts. No one has to be prodigious to phathom the mere fact that Africa's heftiest enemy is INEPT LEADERSHIP! It simply does not matter how numerous the aid we receive, how snazzy a diplomatic negotiation we are able to reconcile with China, or how pityful we may want the rest of the world to perceive our perennial horrendous situation.
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As long as we remain unwilling to put leadership in the right hands (patriotic educated elites); as long as it continues to baffle our so-called 'leaders' that the countries they lead are not equivalent to their personal handkerchiefs and should therefore stop treating them as such; As long as we remain exotic with the limited-term rule of civilized governance, we are unfortunately going to remain at the mercy destitution indefinitely. Good luck to all of us on these endeavors, and I thank you.
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P.S: I beleive we are all Africans and therefore know the history of our continent, right? If that is so, let someone please tell me where is the likes of Thomas Sankara and why couldn't he be here with us today!
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Lamin Han Mbye, Kentucky, 7 Nov 2006.
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Is Africa changing economic colonial masters now? It is very disturbing to see how Africans continue to be economicaly exploited even under democratic rule. I think our leaders should demand joint business ventures between Africans and foreign direct investors so that in the end Africans become owners of businesses in their country and that way we shall have fulfilled the true promise of our hard earned freedom from colonialism.
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Matseliso Mpela, New York, USA, 7 Nov 2006.
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As a person of Nigerian descent, I am extremely impressed and gratified about the Africa-Asia connection. It's about time. Nigeria is one of the wealthiest nations, but suffers from mass corruption. I only have optimism and great hopes. Africa is on the brink of an economical revolution. All blacks everywhere across the globe must recognize and partake in this.
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Dee, Dallas, TX, 7 Nov 2006.
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The sino-African relationship is certainly a welcomed development. Today, contrary to popular belief, Africa is the wealthiest resource producer in the world, with a combined total output of 15 million barrels of oil a day, with many more oil fields untapped,largest gold and diamond deposits in the world, now you see why the Chinese are giving Africa a blank check.
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In all fairness to the Europeans, who have absolutely no natural resource under their cold continent, what they lack in natural resource, they made up for in cleverness. They left the cold shores of Europe for south Africa, to lay claim to unlimited quantities of mineral resources as far as the eyes can see, layed claim to huge swaths of land (colony) with more oil and gold than the Africans knew what to do with. They even started taking the Africans themselves as part of the resource ( but thats another story).
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African's today still haven't learnt that the only way forward is their own unity, and oneness. Why should an African need a visa to travel within his own continent, while the British and Americans travel visa-free to most African countries? How do we promote trade and Unity with one another when a Senegalese still needs a visa to visit South Africa. A Nigerian needs a visa to visit Kenya, a Ghanaian needs a visa to visit Cameroon. But Europeans do not need a visa to roam around the continent.
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Africans by their own doing, turn logic on its head, and wonder why the continent remains poor(financially). Africans should use this once in a life time opportunity to negotiate a NEW DEAL for the continent. Thank you.
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God Bless The Black Race, and our beloved continent.
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David Kolawole, Providence, RI, 7 Nov 2006.
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I believe the FOCAC meeting is a great thing. The Continent needs another avenue than IMF SAP-loans that subject countries to a modified slave/master relationship. The West only has the interest of furthering its own agenda at the destruction of the original people of Africa. All may not go well initially, but anything must be better than table scraps from the West. I pray that the good people of the Continent are not afraid and, God willing, use this avenue to reconnect us all.
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John, Kentucky, US, 7 Nov 2006.
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Africa needs to really be careful. Sounds like colonialism all over again. China is only interested in the continent's resources. Only time will tell.
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Ann Dubose, USA, 6 Nov 2006.
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African leaders are forming a new regional economic entity called Sinophone bloc as opposed to Francophone and Anglophone. The Sinophone will be dependent on China for soft loans and small industries development. This will help dictators buy time and continue subjugate their people as Chinese aid or help has not the dreaded attachments and conditionalities, i.e. human rights, good governance, anti-corruption, etc.
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Aden Ali, Khartoum, Sudan, 6 Nov 2006.
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Africa - China relationship is about the only positve news being said about Africa in the last 50years. Ofcourse there must be discordant tunes of disapproval from the very ones whose deliberately engineered policies have held Africa down in poverty and misery for centuries.
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CJ, Abuja, Nigeria, 6 Nov 2006.
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What is that country in the world which helps Africa without eyeing anything? China is the only country which donates truthfully and with no conditions. It is up to our leaders to know what they have to do to exchange in a win - win situation with China. They should develop their respective countries. Infrastucture especially. Thanks.
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John Nhema, Ottawa, Canada, 6 Nov 2006.
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The analysis of the situation in Africa is becoming more evident to the leaders of the world. There is no "first world" without the resources of the "third world". When we as Africans internalize this and make this a part of our very being then the dollar chasing will become a thing of the past. China has shown that it can be a friend to Africa and only time will tell if the bond of blood between our two peoples can be broken. Africa must demand technology transfer from any potential business partner whether Asian or European. Africa holds the upper hand in the great game, that is the way it has been destined to be.
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Kitamu Re, New York, NY, 6 Nov 2006.
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Make no mistake the chinese are here for profit. If we show any weaknesses we shall be abused.
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Chibuye, London, 6 Nov 2006.
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I think this is beyond phenominal. Unlike the US, China is realizing the future of world power isn't military, it's financial. I'm impressed china is making moves to explore the potential in Africa and not exploiting, plus the countries are benefitting majorly. African countries should develop this relationship with India now, and that's how development is made.
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Duroc, Nebraska, US, 6 Nov 2006.
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As a black American, I think china's interest in Africa is of great significance. A year ago I visited Ogun State, Nigeria, and it was a very great experience that I never forget. I think Africa is the next great phenomenon that is on the brink of greatness. We black Americans want to make our contribution to the development of African countries. In short, partnering with China is a good decision for Africa and future generations of Africans. God bless you!
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Lloyd Parks, Mayor, Gould, Arkansas USA, 6 Nov 2006.
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I believe that Africans' ability to process its recourses instead of exporting raw material is important. Africa’s plan must include increasing resource manufacturing on the Continent. These treaties must benefit Africa’s manufacturing sector. If not I have no hope that the relationship with China will benefit Africa in the least.
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Marshall, Tampa, FL, 6 Nov 2006.
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It is of the utmost importance that Africa and the African diaspora lay down our lives for the continuation of the Motherland. The West has laid the seeds of destruction on the continent and have been watering their poisonous growth by their economic miracles that always benefit themselves and their African cronies. How many centuries have to pass before this logic is imbued by all Africans, meanwhile Africa and Africans continue to die the death that is wished upon us.
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No one can deny the above, so let our eminent statesmen and women negotiate with the new kid on the block - China. Any deals done must benefit Africa as well as any other trading block, because the whole world belongs to all of us. Africa must, I say must be wise and African peoples must learn from our past mistakes and our leaders must negotiate for Africa and not for themselves.
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Africans are the true children of the book and your time has come. Africans have so much to give the world and the world owes you so much. Learn the lessons that the Chinese learned, when they had to resist the encroachment of the poisonous western world. Chairman Mao had a vision and that vision today has come to fruition. Africans have their own history and can formulate their own salvation.
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The poison goes deep my brothers and sisters. I dare not mention the extent to which they have tried to destroy the African spirit. The poison runs through our veins and the medicine that is needed is a kind of awareness that needs a careful and considered response to give life to the African future. That future is every child that make up the new African generation.
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I implore all Africans to beware the devil that stalks and takes hold of the new beginning that is at your fingertips every new day that dawns.
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I wish you well.
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M. Elwin, United Kingdom, 6 Nov 2006.
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Africa today is like a Hungry man, who is looking for food. As an African Proverb says, "When you are hungry, you do not ask where the food is coming from. You Eat and give thanks to God for the Provider".
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Whatever is China's motive in Africa, it will not be worse than the motives of the Colonialist. The Colonialist came to Africa uninvited, they stole our wealth, or People and our dignity and all they left us is pain and suffering disease and so on.
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Today, we Africans are wide awake. We are not sleeping any more. All we have to do is to make sure our leaders understand the Geo-political game that is going on, and play it well. This will be a win-win situation for all sides. They want our raw-Materials, and we want their investment to Develop and improve the life of our people. THAT SHOULD BE OUR GOAL, AND WE SHOULD SETTLE FOR NOTHING LESS...
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I believe we are on the correct PATH, AND THE SUMMIT WAS A GOOD START...BRAVO-AFRO-SINO RELATIONS!
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Shamsu Deen- Cole, Highland Park, New Jersey, 6 Nov 2006.
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