After a dramatic fall in its trade and investment in Africa, Beijing pledges a return to exponential growth
The year 2009 was one of broken promises. China declared repeatedly that its relations with Africa would not be affected by the global financial crisis (AAC Vol 2 No 3). In an effort to build up momentum for a rebound in 2010 and as part of a long-standing tradition, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has already embarked on a tour of African countries in his first diplomatic engagement of the year. Beijing has been quick to enact the disbursement of aid packages linked to a new US$10 billion in concessional finance, along with increased science and technology cooperation. This was agreed at the 2009 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Egypt (AAC Vol 3 No 1)....
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