31Then there are the banks. China Export and Import (Exim) Bank is funding more than 260 projects across 36 African countries while China Development Bank had loaned more than US$1 billion to Africa as of March 2007. This money has so far helped build 9,000 kilometers of roads and railways as well as eight large- and medium-sized power plants.
32 One country that has attracted a fair share of Chinese attention is Zambia. More than US$300 million has been sunk into the mining, manufacturing projects, construction and agriculture industries. Zambia’s copper belt has proved such a hit with Chinese mining firms – as well as a host of spin-off industries – that Beijing set up a special development zone there earlier this year.
33 Beijing made a commitment to establishing at least five of these zones at the China Africa Cooperation Forum in 2006. One already exists in Mauritius and it has been reported that two more are planned for Nigeria.
34 The idea behind these zones is to provide access to Chinese officials who may grease the wheels of trade by providing business contacts, reduced tariffs and streamlined processes. Beyond this, though, it is difficult to say exactly what the zones entail, who funds them and how African businesses might benefit.
35“There is a little bit of opaqueness when it comes to China and Africa and this is one of those areas,” said Chris Alden, a lecturer in international relations at the London School of Economics who has written much on Asia-Africa ties.
Different approach
36The Chinese government has highlighted these zones as potential vehicles to deepen economic ties with specific countries. In this way, they can be seen as part of an approach to Africa that differs from that of Western countries. It is all about cash, with no questions asked about human rights or institutional corruption. However, loans from China are often used to hire Chinese companies. Similarly, infrastrucure investments are closely tied to access to natural resources.
37 The irony is that China may be acting like a developed country by taking a single approach to a very varied continen
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