How Do The Majority of Africans Perceive Chinese?
China has enjoyed a long-standing and fruitful relationship with many African countries. According to Wikipedia, trade between China and Africa increased by an impressive 700% during the 1990s, and today China is Africa’s largest trading partner. The establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 further solidified the relationship, with cooperation extending beyond economics to military, cultural, and healthcare projects. Chinese influences are visible in African construction and economy.
China has provided crucial support to Africa in four key areas: infrastructure construction, agriculture, healthcare, and human resources development. The country has built thousands of kilometers of roads and railways, airports, ports, power plants, and stadiums. Additionally, China has established agricultural demonstration centers and sent specialists to share their knowledge, as well as providing healthcare through medical teams that have treated tens of thousands of people across 40 countries. Moreover, China has trained over 10,000 people at various levels in African countries, while also providing over 7,300 government scholarships to students.
Despite these significant contributions, many ordinary African citizens view Chinese investment with skepticism, seeing the Chinese as plunderers who occupy vast tracts of land and resources for their own benefit. Some even suggest that Chinese investment has caused land prices to rise. While the Chinese government has opened the door to cultural exchange and monetary investment, many ordinary Africans do not see how Chinese investment has helped them in their daily lives.
In contrast to other countries, China is not as involved in Africa’s NGO sector. NGOs of American and European origin can be found all over Africa, even in refugee camps, where they assist Africans in developing their soft skills and improving their lives. While China has been making efforts to improve its own NGO sector, it still lags behind other countries in this area. Nonetheless, the hard skills and assistance provided by China remain significant and impactful.
As China continues to work with Africa, it is important that the country not only provide hard skills but also improve its reputation by addressing the concerns of ordinary Africans. A more balanced relationship, where China provides both hard and soft skills to help Africa develop, is key to strengthening the China-Africa relationship and achieving long-term success. Ultimately, a successful partnership between China and Africa will bring harmony and progress to both regions.
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