Abstract
After independence in the 1960s, many African countries are still under the control of big powers in economic, social and cultural fields, especially by means of international aid. Africa’s economic autonomy is a key issue related to the healthy and sustainable development of Africa. It is true that various African countries have received aid since independence. Western aid to Africa has not been a small amount, but the effect is poor, a fact recognized by Western academia and governments. The author explains what autonomy of a sovereign government means in international relations, analyzes the economic autonomy of African countries both in strategy and action, compares the aid effect in the West and Emerging Market (case of China), and argues that only by having the right to govern its own affairs in various field, self-reliance, and self-determination in its domestic and international affairs, can African countries regain economic autonomy so that they can realize sustainable development. It is proposed that China should respond resolutely to the current international aid system by having the courage to hold high the moral and just banner of international development cooperation, cherishing the ideal and wisdom to serve the community of common destiny, and carrying out bold innovations to create a new system of development cooperation with other international partners.
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Notes
- 1.
In 1980, African foreign debt was 123.339 billion (USD), yet in 1990, it reached 288.773 billion (USD), and 338.510 billion (USD) in 1996. In 1980, the payment of principal and interest on foreign debt was 18.977 billion (USD), 27.738 billion (USD) in 1990 and 32.53 billion (USD) in 1997 (Yang Baorong 2011).
- 2.
“CFTA – Continental Free Trade Area”, African Union. https://au.int/en/ti/cfta/about. 2019-8-5.
- 3.
“What the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement Means for the Continent”, July 19, 2019. http://www.thezimbabwean.co/2019/07/what-the-african-continental-free-trade-area-agreement-means-for-the-continent/. 2019-8-6.
- 4.
The result of a poll themed “Opinions on China” conducted by Pew Research Center in 2015 indicated that most of the people in nine African countries held positive attitude to China: http://www.pewglobal.org/database/indicator/24/survey/17/, 2017-4-24; The result of a poll themed “Here’s What Africans Think about China’s Influence in Their Countries” (October 28, 2016) conducted by Afro barometer in 2016 involving 36 African countries indicated that 63% of their citizens hold positive attitude to China: http://www.afrobarometer.org/blogs/heres-what-africans-think-about-chinas-influence-their-countries. 2017-4-24.
- 5.
Li Jiasong, ed., Major Diplomatic Events of the People’s Republic of China (Vol 2: January 1957 to December 1964), Beijing: World Affairs Press, 2001, pp. 432–433, p. 438.
- 6.
Selected Works of Deng Xiaoping (Vol 3), People’s Publishing House, Beijing, 1993, pp. 289–290.
- 7.
Selected Works of Mao Zedong on Diplomacy, p. 370.
- 8.
Ibid, p. 467.
- 9.
At that time, many entourages suggested canceling the visit for security reason, but Premier Zhou said we should go on schedule, because President Nkrumah was in a difficult time and required our support even more. Huang Zhen, Paving the Road of Friendship to the Awoken Africa, Endless Remembrance, Central Party Literature Press, Beijing, 1987, p. 368; People’s Daily, January 18, 1964.
- 10.
Apart from emphasizing that assistance is mutual with no strings attached, the eight principles highlight the considerations of preferential terms for all aspects of recipients. The “Eight Principles” are: mutual benefit; no conditions attached; the no-interest or low-interest loans should not create a debt burden for the recipient country; to help the recipient nation develop its economy, not to create its dependence on China; to help the recipient country with project that needs less capital and quick returns; the aid in kind must be of high quality at the world market price; to ensure that the technology can be learned and mastered by the locals; the Chinese experts and technicians working for the aid recipient country are treated equally as the local ones with no extra benefits for them. Jiang Shixue, “China’s Principles in Foreign Aid”, China.Org.cn, November 29, 2011. http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2011-11/29/content_24030234.htm. 2019-7-20.
- 11.
Ibid, pp. 256–257.
- 12.
New China’s Diplomacy Over the Past 50 Years, edited by Wang Taiping, Beijing Publishing House, Beijing, 1999, p.540.
- 13.
Selected Works of Mao Zedong on Diplomacy, p. 249.
- 14.
“African Observation: China takes proactive measures to help expand African export to China”, 8:55, March 22, 2013, CRI Online: http://news.ifeng.com/gundong/detail_2013_03/22/23397282_0.shtml. 2019-8-1.
- 15.
By the end of 2009, China’s foreign assistance amounted to RMB 256.29 billion, in which RMB 106.2 billion is nonreimbursable assistance, RMB 76.54 billion interest-free loans, and RMB 73.55 billion concessional loans, and out of which 45.7% for African countries. The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, China’s Foreign Aid (April, 2011), People’s Publishing House, Beijing, 2011. From 2010 to 2012, China’s foreign aid amounted to RMB 89.34 billion, including free grants (36.2%), interest-free loans (8.1%) and concessional loans (55.7%). The aid projects involve social public facilities, economic infrastructure, agriculture and industry. African countries still remain the focus of China’s foreign aid, taking up 51.8% of the aid funds. The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, China’s Foreign Aid (2014), People’s Publishing House, Beijing, 2014.
- 16.
“Liberia Lauds Chinese Aid to CombatEbola”, August 14, 2014, The BRICS Post, http://thebricspost.com/liberia-lauds-chinese-aid-to-combat-ebola/; “Ebola rampant in four African countries, Chinese Medical Team Steadfast in West Africa”, August 8, 2014, Xinhuanet/People’s Daily: http://news.xinhuanet.com/2014-08/08/c_1111986545.htm. 2019-7-30.
- 17.
People’s Daily, August 4, 1998.
- 18.
People’s Daily, September 24, 2004.
- 19.
“Minutes of the Fourth Seminar on the Exchange of Experience in Training Educational Aid Personnel for Developing Countries”, Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, April 2006.
- 20.
“Ambassador Liu Xianfa: China Will Continue Helping Kenya in Training Technological Talents and Enhancing Self-development Capabilities”, June 30, 2016, www.huanqiu.com/China Times: http://world.huanqiu.com/hot/2016-06/9102175.html. 2019-8-2.
- 21.
“China Tops US and UK as Destination for Anglophone African Students”, June 28, 2017, The Conversation. For an analysis of the issue, see Li Anshan, “African Students in China: Research, Reality, and Reflection”, African Studies Quarterly,17:4 (February 2018), pp.5–44. asq.africa.ufl.edu/files/2_Li_Anshan.HD-ed-2.pdf. 2019-7-20.
- 22.
“Forum sur la coopération sino-africaine plan d’action de Johannesburg (2016–2018)”, 2015-12-15, https://www.focac.org/fra/zywx_2/zywj/t1324347.htm; Déclaration du sommet de Johannesburg du Forum sur la coopération sino-africaine,
2015-12-15, https://www.focac.org/fra/zywx_2/zywj/t1324348.htm. 2019-8-2; Zhou Yongsheng, “China Model Leads African Construction and Development – Innovation of the Aid to Africa at the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation,” International Aid, (2016) 1, pp. 14–19.
- 23.
“Déclaration De Beijing―Construire une Communauté de destin Chine-Afrique encore plus solide”, 2018-09-12, https://www.focac.org/fra/zywx_2/zywj/t1594325.htm; “Forum sur la coopération sino-africaine plan d’action de Beijing (2019–2021)”, 2018-09-12, https://www.focac.org/fra/zywx_2/zywj/t1594326.htm. 2019-8-1.
- 24.
My doctoral student Antoine Roger Lokongo in Congo-Kinshasa stated that Congo is endowed with plentiful natural resources and needs no aid but fair trade and investment. Many African scholars expressed the same view.
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Li, A. (2021). African Economic Autonomy and International Development Cooperation. In: Bourqia, R., Sili, M. (eds) New Paths of Development. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-56096-6_3
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