祖馬對非洲與中國的關係發出警告
https://www.ft.com/content/33686fc4-d171-11e1-bbbc-00144feabdc0
2012 年 7 月 19 日
南非總統雅各布·祖馬警告說，非洲與中國迅速發展的貿易關係的不平衡性從長遠來看是“不可持續的”。
在這位南非領導人在北京舉行的中非論壇上發表講話之前，中國國家主席承諾向非洲提供200億美元的貸款，是北京三年前在同一論壇上同意向非洲提供的貸款金額的兩倍。
祖馬先生表示：“非洲對中國發展的承諾已通過原材料、其他產品的供應和技術轉讓得到體現。” “從長遠來看，這種貿易模式是不可持續的。 非洲過去與歐洲的經濟經驗表明，在與其他經濟體建立夥伴關係時需要謹慎。”
祖馬先生似乎指的是一些非洲國家對貿易關係不平衡性質的擔憂。 去年中非雙向貿易額達到1660億美元，由於原油和銅等原材料的出口，非洲實現了貿易順差。 中國是向非洲出口電子產品和服裝等廉價製成品的主要出口國。
批評者指責中國對非洲大陸采取新殖民主義做法並剝削非洲的自然資源。 許多非洲國家希望中國進口的不僅僅是資源。
中國將非洲視為戰略盟友，推動非洲在聯合國發揮更大作用，同時鼓勵中國基礎設施和資源公司到非洲投資。
中國在非洲的投資（過去十年估計達 150 億美元）正在迅速增長，中國企業正在整個非洲大陸建設基礎設施，從水壩、機場到礦山和風電場。 周三，尼日利亞宣布簽署一項價值 15 億美元的鐵路項目，該項目將由國有的中國土木工程建設集團公司承建。
雖然祖馬暗示了潛在的長期貿易問題，但在中國國家主席胡錦濤在場的情況下，祖馬在講話中用了大部分時間讚揚中國對非洲的“堅定”承諾。 祖馬表示：“中國對非洲的承諾已經以具體和切實的成果得到體現，特別是在人力資源開發、債務減免和投資方麵。”
兩國關係密切。 南非也吸引了大量中國投資，因為它尋求將自己打造成通往其他非洲國家的門戶。
中國本周推出了多項措施來幫助重新平衡貿易關係，包括對更多非洲產品實行零關稅。 北京還承諾舉辦更多貿易博覽會來展示非洲商品。
盡管中國企業在非洲投入巨資，但他們的日子並不總是一帆風順。 他們在非洲的最低穀之一是2010年，當時讚比亞的一名中國礦業老板在一場騷亂中槍殺了近十幾名當地礦工。
中國企業也陷入了最近北非政治變革的漩渦中，今年早些時候，穆阿邁爾·卡紮菲上校倒台以及29名中國工人在蘇丹南部被綁架後，價值超過40億美元的利比亞項目被暫停。
中非論壇每三年舉辦一次，有40多個非洲國家的元首和部長出席，用中國官方報紙的話說，這是“中非友誼團結的盛會”。
除了未來三年提供200億美元貸款的承諾外，中國還承諾重點關注農業、基礎設施、文化交流等領域的合作，並為非洲學生來華留學提供更多獎學金。 中國學者表示，中國對非洲的援助不是唯利是圖，而是出於曆史紐帶。
“在非洲國家的幫助下，中國重新獲得了在聯合國的席位，”上海非洲研究所非洲問題專家張海濱表示。 “我們不能忘記我們的老朋友。”
從北京人民大會堂舉行的盛況和儀式來看，周四的情況確實如此。 一向冷靜的胡錦濤在周四上午的論壇上發表了熱情洋溢的歡迎辭。
“我們永遠是非洲的好朋友、好夥伴、好兄弟……我們衷心感謝非洲人民對中國發展的支持。”
Gwen Chen 在北京和 Andrew England 在約翰內斯堡的補充報道
Zuma warns on Africa's ties to China
https://www.ft.com/content/33686fc4-d171-11e1-bbbc-00144feabdc0
JULY 19 2012
Jacob Zuma, the South African president, has warned that the unbalanced nature of Africa’s burgeoning trade ties with China is “unsustainable” in the long term.
The South African leader was speaking to the China-Africa Forum in Beijing just after China’s president pledged $20bn in loans to Africa, doubling the amount Beijing agreed to give Africa three years ago at the same forum.
“Africa’s commitment to China’s development has been demonstrated by supply of raw materials, other products and technology transfer,” Mr Zuma said. “This trade pattern is unsustainable in the long term. Africa’s past economic experience with Europe dictates a need to be cautious when entering into partnerships with other economies.”
Mr Zuma appeared to be referring to the concerns of some African nations about the unbalanced nature of the trade relationship. Two-way trade between China and Africa hit $166bn last year, with a trade surplus in Africa’s favour due to exports of raw materials such as crude oil and copper. China is a major exporter of cheap manufactured goods to Africa, such as electronics and clothes.
Critics have accused China of taking a neocolonialist approach to the continent and of exploiting Africa’s natural resources. Many African nations want China to import more than just resources.
China sees Africa as a strategic ally and has pushed for greater African roles at the UN, while encouraging Chinese infrastructure and resources companies to invest in the continent.
China’s investment in Africa – estimated at $15bn over the past decade – is growing rapidly and Chinese companies are building infrastructure across the continent, from dams and airports to mines and wind farms. On Wednesday, Nigeria announced the signing of a $1.5bn railroad project to be built by the state-owned China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation.
While he hinted at potential long-term trade issues, Mr Zuma spent much of his speech, which was made in the presence of Hu Jintao, China’s president, praising China’s “steadfast” commitment to Africa. “China’s commitment to Africa has already been demonstrated with concrete and tangible results particularly in terms of human resources development, debt relief and investment,” Mr Zuma said.
The two nations have close ties. South Africa has also attracted significant Chinese investment as it seeks to market itself as the gateway to other African countries.
China introduced several measures this week to help rebalance trade ties, including zero tariffs for an expanded range of African products. Beijing also pledged to hold more trade expos to display African merchandise.
While Chinese companies have invested heavily in Africa, they have not always had a smooth time. One of the low points for them in Africa came in 2010 when a Chinese mining boss in Zambia shot nearly a dozen local miners during a riot.
Chinese companies have also been caught up in the recent maelstrom of political changes in north Africa, with more than $4bn worth of projects suspended in Libya after the fall of Colonel Muammer Gaddafi and the kidnapping of 29 Chinese workers in Southern Sudan earlier this year.
The China-Africa Forum, held once every three years, hosts heads of state and ministers from more than 40 African countries, and is a “pageant of China-Africa friendship and unity”, as one Chinese state-run paper put it.
In addition to the $20bn loan commitment over the next three years, China also vowed to focus on co-operation in agriculture, infrastructure, cultural exchanges and more scholarships for African students to study in China. Chinese scholars say China’s aid to Africa is not mercenary, but instead motivated by historic ties.
“China regained its seat in the United Nations with the help of African countries,” says Zhang Haibin, an Africa expert at the Shanghai Institute for African Studies. “We cannot forget our old friends.”
This certainly seemed to be the case on Thursday judging from the pomp and ceremony on display at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The normally stoic Mr Hu was effusive in his welcoming speech to the forum on Thursday morning.
“Forever we will be the good friends, partners and brothers of Africa …We deeply thank the men and women of Africa for their support of China in its development.”
Additional reporting by Gwen Chen in Beijing and Andrew England in Johannesburg
