An edition of the Riz Khan show on Al Jazeera English, which originally aired on June 25, 2008, examines the potentially fragile relationship between China and Africa and asks if China is exploiting African nations or offering real economic growth and opportunity to sub-Saharan Africa?
Joining Riz Khan in the discussion are Richard Behar, an investigative journalist whose lengthy Special Report: China in Africa was published in the June issue of Fast Company; Dr. John Afele, former Director of International Program for Africa at the University of Guelph in Canada, and author of Digital Bridges, Developing Countries in the Knowledge Economy; as well as David Shin, former U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, and now a Professor at Georgetown University in Washington D.C.
Among the topics discussed are the impact of China’s increasing role in Africa on the U.S., the impact of Chinese products on the development of light manufacturing in Africa, the degree to which Africa itself can influence China’s role there, and how Chinese “no-strings-attached” loans may or may not undermine Western development aid usually associated with certain conditions.
The show also answers questions by callers.
* Riz Khan – China in Africa – 25 Jun 08 – Part 1
* Riz Khan – China in Africa – 25 Jun 08 – Part 2