This archive report was first published on 6 September 2019.
China's Growing Partnership with Africa: Boosting Self-Development ¶
Malagasy farmer Georges Ranaivomanana can finally afford enough bricks to build his own house this year thanks to the growing of hybrid rice introduced by Chinese experts. The 55-year-old farmer has seen a significant increase in his harvest, from 2 tons per hectare with local Malagasy seeds to 8 to 10 tons per hectare with hybrid rice.
China's cooperation with Africa has led to significant economic growth and development in the continent. In May, the China National Hybrid Rice Research and Development Center set up a research center in Madagascar, partnering with the country's agriculture ministry and local companies. The Chinese experts have successfully bred a number of hybrid rice types that suit the local climate with the highest yield of 10.8 tons per hectare.
China's commitment to fulfilling its promises to Africa has been evident in the past year. The first China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo was held in June in central China's Changsha City, with an air route with east Africa's big city of Nairobi opened two weeks ahead of the expo. A total of 84 deals worth 20.8 billion U.S. dollars were reached in trade, agriculture, tourism, and other fields during the three-day event.
China has been Africa's biggest trading partner for 10 consecutive years, with an accumulated investment of over 110 billion dollars. In 2018, trade volume between China and Africa amounted to 204.2 billion dollars, up 20 percent year on year. The cooperation between China and Africa has led to the development of infrastructure, including the construction of industrial parks and ports.
For example, in Ethiopia, the Chinese-built Dire Dawa Industrial Park is almost complete, and people expect a better business environment and new opportunities. Abdulkerim Yasin, a businessman in Ethiopia's eastern city of Dire Dawa, is hopeful that the commissioning of the industrial park would revive the business environment in the city and its surroundings.
China's Belt and Road Initiative is a new driver of economic development from which Africa stands to benefit. The initiative aims to promote the integration of China's Belt and Road construction with African development strategies with dozens of tangible programs that really bring benefits to the African people.
China's cooperation with Africa has also led to the development of e-commerce platforms. In Rwanda, 18-year-old high school graduate Mike Manzi will start his new life at the Alibaba Business College in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province. Manzi is one of 30 Rwanda students enrolled in the "International Business Cross-border E-Commerce" class.
China's experience has offered references and opportunities for Africa's development and prosperity. In Namibia, Basil Karedzera, a clearing and forwarding agent in the city of Walvis Bay, said a new Chinese-built port terminal is going to make business transactions smoother. The new port terminal, constructed by China Harbor Engineering Company, is expected to encourage bigger international tourist liners to bring in tourists in the port city.
