China Seeks “Strategic Partnership” With Africa

After making economic inroads throughout Africa, China seeks to strengthen political ties. Speaking in Nigeria – Africa’s top oil-producing nation – China President Hu Jintao promised respect for African sovereignty, which contrasts with the ongoing US demands for democracy and a war on terror. The Chinese president’s tour has included stops in the US, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Kenya. "China is saying it wants to build a new world order based on consensus and tolerance, not the clash of civilizations," said former Nigerian foreign minister Bola Akinyemi. Some African leaders view China as an expert for guiding developing nations on a path to modernization, and indeed Hu obtained agreements on oil-exploration in exchange for investing in Nigerian refinery development and power generation. Such agreements mirror those that once helped China modernize in the late 20th century. Rising oil prices have intensified competition for accessing any new sources for oil. With ready cash, China and other Asian countries continue to beat some western firms to potential oilfields by offering soft loans along with non-oil investments. – YaleGlobal