Washington, D.C. — The "divergent" interests of the United States and China "can be reconciled to Africa's benefit," according to representatives from Africa, China and the United States who took part in a trilateral exchange of views over the past year.
However, stark differences in approach can also produce diplomatic and economic complications that need to be regularly addressed, according to participants in the trialogue process, which was launched in August 2006 to promote conversation on the differing American and Chinese approaches to investment and aid on the African continent.
Participants in the discussions included academics, policy analysts and current and former government officials. They met in South Africa in August 2006, in China in March and last week in Washington, DC for their third and final gathering.
China's rapidly expanding economy has fueled a growing interest in Africa's natural resources, which has pushed up prices of raw materials Africa produces and has led to massive increases in Chinese trade and investment throughout the African continent. China has also become one of Africa's largest aid donors - all but two countries have been Chinese aid recipients. In November 2006, during a summit with African leaders, the Chinese government pledged to double its aid to Africa by 2009, matching a similar pledge made at the 2005 G8 Summit, where leaders of the largest developed countries promised to double aid to Africa by 2010.
Among the conclusions trialogue participants shared during sessions at the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) was the hope that Africa can benefit economically from growing competition between the two majors powers. The African delegation introduced a set of principles [aimed at ensuring that growth produces benefits for Africa. "More and more democratic and peaceful, Africa today battles not against colonialism or neo-colonialism, but against exclusion from the global economy, diseases and poverty," the African delegation's document says. The principles address how business should act, how international assistance should be managed and how African governments should respond to globalization.
Participants in the trialogue made clear that they did not reach consensus on all the issues they discussed. "We sometimes had to agree to disagree," Princeton Lyman, a former U.S. ambassador and policymaker and co-chair of the American delegation said, adding that the process nevertheless produced invaluable insights into policy thinking for all the parties involved. The summary document lists areas of agreement, areas of discussion and areas of divergence. During the presentation of the trialogue process at AEI, Patrick Mazimahaka, deputy chairman of the African Union Commission, criticized Beijing's policy of aiding African governments without pre-conditions, citing China's cooperation with Sudan. "In terms of democratization and good governance in Africa," he said, "we have been asking China to review its policy of noninterference."
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China is also facing criticism over labor standards and environmental concerns along with product safety and quality control for corporations working in Africa. However, AEI conference participant Deborah Brautigam, a professor at American University, believes China may be instituting higher corporate standards, citing Beijing's recent consultations with the International Finance Corporation. Brautigam called on African countries to insist upon these standards when negotiating with the Chinese.
Several Trilateral Dialogue participants said they favor the creation of an official forum for Chinese, African, and American dialogue on interests and challenges in Africa. Many see American and Chinese interest in Africa as a positive opportunity. According to Michael Spicer from Business Leadership South Africa, "There is a feeling of new beginning, a dawn of a new era - there's optimism,"
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