Mr Mugabe, whose government signed 10 economic accords with China this week, including on expanding Zimbabwe’s largest thermal power plant, praised Beijing’s role in Africa, contrasting it favourably with that of Western nations.
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China’s President Xi Jinping has told African presidents at a summit that his country would provide $A81. “We’re committed to strengthening the current multi-faceted and multi dimensional relations between African countries and China”.
In a declaration adopted in Johannesburg the leaders pledged to “continue to support each other on security matters and maintain peace and security”.
On Friday the summit exhibited photos showing FOCAC achievements and also held a China-Africa manufacturing exhibition.
These measures would change the structure of the economic relationship between China and Africa, away from the unbalanced trade relationship where Africa mainly exported raw materials to China and mainly imported manufactured goods.
At the closed door session, President Buhari said he was satisfied with the outcome of the forum while pledging Nigeria’s commitment to Africa’s development.
China’s President Xi Jinping speaks during a Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Sandton, Johannesburg, December 4, 2015.
Analysts say that resource-rich Africa has become yet another battleground for influence between Washington and Beijing, following the establishment of the U.S. Africa Command.
He said the $60 billion support is meant to ensure that the plan is successfully implemented within the stipulated three-year period by addressing three issues holding back Africa’s development, namely: “inadequate infrastructure, lack of professional and skilled personnel and funding shortage”.
President Jacob Zuma welcomed China’s support to the continent, saying it would go a long way to bolster existing cordial ties. “At first China was asked why were were buying so much commodities, and now we are being asked why we are not buying more now that prices are low”.
Because China-Africa cooperation is inclusive, it will help balance global economic development as well.
In the bigger picture, the Chinese want to harmonise Africa’s Agenda 2063 – a 50 year developmental framework drawn by the African Union – with China’s Belt and Road blueprint of connecting Eurasia with roads, railways, cyber-optic highways, industrial parks and smart cities. China is taking a gamble on future African growth by unlocking the “bottlenecks” to development, as President Xi described them.
He called on African leaders to be ready for an improved relation with China, adding that China was ready to take relation with Africa to the next level in a mutually beneficial cooperation.
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President Zuma said while mineral resources are a blessing, they have also made Africa vulnerable to exploitation.
