A solidly-built China-Africa relation would serve as a basis for global peace, security and stability, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said on Wednesday in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, China.
"If China-Africa relation, friendship and cooperation are built on solid rock with mutual interest, respect, understanding and appreciation, we will serve as a basis for peace, security and stability in the world," he told the 2nd China-Africa Peoples' Forum.
He told the forum being attended by many African leaders and their Chinese counterparts that world peace and security was the responsibility of all of mankind and noted that without peace and security, economic activities would be impaired and prosperity would be unattainable.
Obasanjo also called for increased involvement of China in Africa's infrastructural development and greater Chinese investment in Africa particularly in partnership with Africans.
The former president also suggested that China and Africa's economies would be greatly interwoven and mutual interests enhanced if there was greater Chinese investment in productive ventures in Africa.
This, he said, could be done either solely by Chinese enterprises and entrepreneurs and Chinese national or provincial governments or in partnership with African investors and entrepreneurs.
"Why can't we trade in Yuan between China and Africa?" he queried.
He noted also that over the last 15 years, with the quickening of rate of economic development in China, its relation and cooperation with Africa moved to a higher level of increased trading and economic transactions, particularly in the area of building and construction and commodities.
Twenty years ago, trade between China and Africa was less than 10 billion dollars in 2011 it was more than 166 billion dollars.
Obasanjo particularly called for increased collaboration in the areas of education, health and culture.
He said: "African students have enjoyed scholarships from China to study in Chinese institutions; we need more of it and we need the provision of more Chinese teachers to teach Chinese language in African educational institutions.
"This need is not a one-way affair. Chinese students can study in African universities."
"Such exchanges are secure investments to enhance and stabilise our relations in future. It is also good for people-to-people friendship, cooperation and for building long-lasting relations."
Turning to his African counterparts, Obasanjo said one lesson that Africa must learn from China was that economic development could not go at a high rate without basic infrastructure.
"Learning the lesson is one thing; doing something about it is another. Our strategic partnership should see China and Africa doing something positive about infrastructure deficit in Africa."
A Chinese non-governmental organisation, Network for International Exchanges, packaged the forum with the theme: People's Voice, People's Friendship and Cooperation for the People. NAN
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I think Chief Obasanjo is beginning to lose it. Even China prefers the dollar as a trading currency over its own yuan. I am beginning to wonder if he has fallen out of grace with the United States and wants Nigeria to fall off the precipice with him. What next would Gen. Obasanjo come up with? That we should perhaps, begin to use the Russian rubble as our trading currency? Even the Russians prefer the dollar over their own currency in terms of trading as a benchmark currency. My position here is not one that would seem to endorse anything. However, in this current global economic climate, it would be quite difficult to re-invent the wheel. Secondly, China, a formerly poor country, which just over 20-years ago found its footing in the beauties of capitalism, but still uses the communist slogan as a way of keeping its citizens under perpetual inebriation, would not venture to want to coalesce with Nigeria on regional economic sovereignty? It's either Chief Obasanjo has been supplied with a good dose of young Chinese women, or these statements are being made to cause the US and the entire Western world to re-evaluate their treaty agreements with African countries. The US dollar is still the currency of choice for global trading, even the British uses it as abenchmark currency over its pound sterling. Obasanjo's statements would play into the global body politik with what Iran has been wishing for. I don't think Nigeria, China, Russia, India, Brazil, and other members of the fast developing and emerging economies are quite ready to mount this type of colossal challenge against the US. The United States has been a friend of Nigeria and Nigeria's aspirations for true internal and external independence and sovereignty. We are still paying for the bold mistakes Gen. Obasanjo made in 1976 when he nationalized most foreign entities without proper legislative "due process" which would have helped Nigeria through technological transfer.But, the inconsiderate approach he used as a military person further infuriated our global partners which foreclosed on our ability to get cooperation in areas that would've hastened our quest for total industrialization. Gen. Obasanjo should always realise that China would not offer you anything unless it suits their economic interests tenfold. We should be looking out for what is best for Nigeria, but taking steps to put Nigeria on a collision course with our long-standing partners because one feels his ego has been bruised is something our policy-makers must think through carefully.
****Quick Correction*** The last sentence should read "Our policy-makers should take steps at NOT putting Nigeria on a coliision course with its global trading partners.
As a Black man from the Americas, I must say that many (not all) African "leaders" must be weeded out if the continent is to move forward. The Chinese are playing on a weakness that effects many Black people, even here in America. That weakness is money,greed and ignorance. Any fool can see that Chinese interest in trading with Africa is the beginning stages for a "re-colonization" effort, this time by pale faces from the far east. The Chinese are notoriously homogenous and have a real problem with Black people. (Google Lou Jing)....The only reason the Chinese have been able to gain such a foothold in Africa is because of the incompetence of many of the leaders. They are providing financing of development in exchange for mineral/land and other concessionary rights. Those are symptoms of the structure of a colonization effort. SMH..To my Brothers and Sisters in Africa, please be smart in who you choose/allow to lead the continent going forward. Peace
I agree with Mr. Obasanjo that African trade with China which stands at about $166 billion should mostly be conducted in the yuan. There is a very serious move by the international community to dump the dollars hence some Western countries are quickly trying to come up with the so-called Special Drawing Right (SDR) to ensure the West is on top of things. China ought to be important to every serious African country today as the country has not demanded that African countries structurally adjust their economies to benefit the World Bank and IMF multinational cabal. African countries have a unique opportunity to bargain for what they want out of this relationship unlike the imposition of harsh conditionalities we have seen from the West for many centuries.@EK CHUAH:I think your observaton is skewed and based on a lack of adequate understanding of facts.If you are serious about making a contribution to this topic here is my question to you: What is the purpose for the United States setting up a meddlesome military outfit called Africom ? Who else will it benefit if not your country. Why don't you research Africom and look up what retired US Admiral Robert T. Moeller said about the outfit in an article in foreign policy: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/07/21/the_truth_about_africom
How on earth would American combat troops benefit Africa where Chinese trading partners fail? The bottom line is that even the European Union with its battered economy is also turning to China for help.Any African country which fails to see this freight train barreling toward it will have itself to blame when it is too late. I regret that my country is way too slow in engaging China for much needed infrastructure which it will never negotiate with the West on equal and favourable terms.
@mingione: You must be out of touch or dishonestly misinforming readers in this forum. Mr. Obasanjo has said nothing wrong and unfortunately, most blacks or Africans like have totally overrated the Africa-West relationship. The same accusation you are accusing the Chinese is what the West has been doing for over 200 years, while the Chinese is trying to do it now with a much more civilized way adding more favorable conditions for Africa. China is a great country, and the expansion is not only to Africa, if you can observe the western economic trend, you will also see Chinese footprints. Mr. Obasanjo never said that Africans should dump the dollars. He is only talking about favorable trade conditions between Africa and China. Thirdly, Russia, as you wrongly pointed out is a member of the BRICS countries and they are already trading with China in Yuan, so stop misinforming readers. Fourthly, Mr. Obasanjo is one of the most intelligent, smartest, most courageous leaders Africa has seen, even Nelson Mandela will tell you that. Because he fought president Botha of South Africa and his apartheid regime, hand in hand with the ANC when Mandela was still in Prison. Obasanjo lead the United Nations Committee to South Africa, and most of his recommendations lead to Mandela’s release and the collapse of apartheid regime in South Africa, but that is just anyways. Mentioning the said privatization and technological transfer is also misinforming. Please go back to records and see why General Obasanjo came up with the privatization process, and stop dreaming of Western technological transfer, unless you are still as naïve as or previous leaders, who sold their kids in slave trade centuries back. Finally, if you are an economist, you will know that it is better to produce ourselves in Africa; unfortunately, African leaders have failed to provide the basic infrastructures needed for Africa’s economic progress, which Mr. Obasanjo is emphasizing here. Please, stop character assassination using Chinese girls to blackmail the man. In any situation, Africans and their governors must learn to us their brains. God gave us everything for free but it seems that we choose to be to remain ignorant.
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