Towards Mutual Benefit?

In 2006 China hosted the Third Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) attended by 48 African heads of state and high level representatives. This unprecedented high level meeting witnessed the birth of “a new type of strategic partnership” between China and Africa.

Chinese policies including its role as a donor and creditor will certainly have an important impact on the future of developing countries in Africa and the global challenge to combat poverty. Questions are being raised by a range of different stakeholders on what China’s increased engagement means for poverty reduction, democracy, the management of natural resources and human rights in Africa.

A new report analyses Chinese development assistance policies. It assesses China’s role as a donor to Africa, an area that is little explored compared to trade and investment. The report explores Chinese views on the country’s role in development policies. It also features Chinese government responses to concerns by external stakeholders about the increased Chinese cooperation with Africa. The report was produced by the Swedish development aid organisation Diakonia in collaboration with Eurodad. It is based on desk studies and interviews with Chinese decision makers, institutions, organisations and researchers but also donors to both China and Africa, carried out in Beijing.

The report maps out the main institutions involved in Chinese development assistance, and addresses the issue of volume and criteria for calculating Chinese aid levels. More specifically the report looks at three issues that are the subject of lively discussions in relation to development assistance and China’s engagement in Africa: 1) Aid effectiveness 2) The Chinese no political strings attached policy 3) Debt sustainability.

The report aims to contribute to an increased knowledge and understanding of China’s role in Africa. The primary target group is Civil Society Organisations engaged in various types of development work but the report will also be of interest to other stakeholders who are considering China’s role in Africa. The report concludes with several suggestions for various stakeholders, including Western governments/traditional donors, CSOs and the Chinese government.

For a hard copy of the report, or to raise questions and comments, contact the author Penny Davies, penny.davies at diakonia.se. The report itself can be downloaded from http://www.diakonia/china and http://www.eurodad.org/whatsnew/reports.aspx?id=1654

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