Contemporary Sino-Africa Relations

Concerns and opportunities

Term Paper , 2013 , 13 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Politics - Topic: History of Inernational Relations

In 1955 the first Afro-Asian Bandung conference was conducted a first step for the development of the Sino-African relationship. Just one year later the first relation between an African country, Egypt, and China was signed. Since then, many new relation agreements were signed. Up to now, there exist 49 relations between African countries and China. With these settlements much development between the African continent and China has occurred. Not only political connections were established, but also support on international levels was given between the countries. Also business sector relations were made, as well as cultural and social exchanges realized. Historical moments were shared and the economies on both sides of the relations rose. During the years a lot of chances for development, especially in supporting the African countries were taken, especially investments from the Chinese side. With this, new opportunities came up and respect from other countries regarding this relationship encouraged; however, concerns are evolving from the African population and westernized countries.
Within this paper, I will first of all reveal the history and development of the relationships between countries of the African continent and China. Further on, I will talk about the opportunities and concerns seen by those nations directly involved and also those seen from a westernized point of view. To sum up the paper, I will highlight prospects and possible future developments between Africa and China.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The development of Sino-Africa relations
  • The first steps
  • Reasons for the orientation towards Africa and its implementation
  • Up and down in the 1970's and 1980's
  • The “five points proposal”, “FOCAC” and “the year of Africa”
  • Contemporary situation
• Opportunities and Concerns
• Conclusion and prospects

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper explores the historical development and contemporary dynamics of Sino-Africa relations, focusing on the opportunities and concerns that arise from this partnership. The aim is to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolving relationship, examining its roots, motivations, and future prospects. Key themes addressed in this paper include:

• The historical trajectory of Sino-Africa relations, highlighting key milestones and turning points.
• The motivations and strategies behind China's engagement with Africa, examining the interplay of political, economic, and ideological factors.
• The opportunities and challenges presented by the deepening Sino-Africa partnership, considering the perspectives of both African nations and the international community.
• The future direction of Sino-Africa relations, considering potential trends and challenges in the years to come.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

Introduction

This introductory chapter lays the foundation for the paper by providing a brief historical overview of Sino-Africa relations, beginning with the first diplomatic relations established in 1956 between China and Egypt. The chapter highlights the growth and development of these relations, encompassing various aspects such as political support, business collaborations, cultural exchanges, and economic advancements.

The development of Sino-Africa relations

The first steps

This section delves into the initial stages of Sino-Africa relations, tracing their origins back to the Bandung Conference of 1955 and the subsequent establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Egypt in 1956. The chapter emphasizes the significance of these early steps, noting that China actively provided aid and support to African nations during their independence movements.

Reasons for the orientation towards Africa and its implementation

This section examines the key motivations behind China's engagement with Africa, highlighting the importance of countering Western and Soviet influence, gaining international recognition for the PRC, and promoting economic development in African nations. The chapter also discusses China's use of investments, infrastructure projects, and educational opportunities as tools to foster positive relations with African partners.

Up and down in the 1970's and 1980's

This section explores the fluctuations in Sino-Africa relations during the 1970s and 1980s. The chapter notes the rise of China's international influence and its substitution of Taiwan as the representative of China at the UN. However, the section also describes challenges faced by the partnership due to China's involvement in the Angolan civil war and the Tiananmen Square protests.

The “five points proposal”, “FOCAC” and “the year of Africa”

This section examines key initiatives that strengthened and restructured Sino-Africa relations in the late 20th century. It highlights the significance of Jiang Zemin's "Five Points Proposal" in 1996, the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000, and the designation of 2006 as the "Year of Africa" by the PRC.

Opportunities and Concerns

This chapter will analyze the benefits and challenges associated with contemporary Sino-Africa relations.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper examines the multifaceted relationship between China and the African continent, exploring key topics such as Sino-Africa relations, historical development, diplomatic ties, economic partnerships, political influence, infrastructure projects, opportunities, concerns, and future prospects.

• College: Fudan University Shanghai
• Course: Chinese Diplomacy
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Fredrik Utesch (Author)
• Publication Year: 2013
• Pages: 13
• Catalog Number: V231976
• ISBN (eBook): 9783656487166
• ISBN (Book): 9783656490920
• Language: English
• Tags: China, Africa, Afrika, Sino, Relation, Beziehungen, Contemporary, Gegenwärtig, Concerns, opportunities, Chancen