From The Guardian:
Mr Wen’s tour is a showcase of Chinese deal-making. Accords in Egypt on oil, natural gas and telecommunications were followed by a $66m loan to Ghana for a telecommunications project and hints of $600m for a hydroelectric dam. Congo was offered economic, commercial and technical cooperation. Tanzania and Uganda are expecting fresh credit lines and infrastructure projects.
There was no doubting the trip’s chief interest: oil. With an economy that grew by 10.3% in the first quarter of this year, China’s need is ravenous. Worried by Middle Eastern instability, it wants more oil from Africa, which already accounts for up to a third of its supply.
See also “China’s soft-power diplomacy in Africa” from Asia Times:
The flurry of diplomatic activity underscores China’s hunger for energy and supplies that, critics say, has led it to cooperation with some unsavory regimes in Africa and beyond. This month, rights watchdog Amnesty International accused China of fueling conflicts and human-rights violations by selling arms to repressive regimes such as Sudan and Zimbabwe in exchange for oil and minerals (see How to curb China’s arms trade, June 14).
But Beijing has defended its record. “It is one-sided or wrong to say China’s growing ties with Africa are purely for oil,” assistant foreign minister He Yafei told a press briefing last week. “The aim of Sino-African cooperation is mutual benefit … it is particularly conducive for the development of African countries.”
Also, “South Africa: China’s Aid To Africa Not Tied To Political Motives, Says Chinese Premier” from BuaNews.
