the middle east, biggest ever sporting event next year and for the castle national team. it's like a used to playing in front of expectant home crowds. they'll be hoping to convince both the fans and themselves that they really are ready to take on the world. and the richardson algy serra cuts off elevate stadium ah. all right, it's going to round up the top stories on the world health organization is urging unvaccinated and vulnerable people to delay that travel to hotspots. brazil has become the 1st latin american country to report on a cron cases more than 20 countries of now. before 2 cases of the new variance, none have so far been detected in the us alan fish as more from washington. this might be a new variant, but the advice from the public health officials here in the united states is the same old thing that we're been hearing for more than a year. where am i particularly endorse?

keep your distance, wash your hands if you've been vaccinated. that's great, get the booster if you happened, then get the vaccination as soon as possible. that is a concern that it will be here very soon. uganda is deploying troops across the border into democratic republic of congo as a battles. and on group it follows as strikes against the allied democratic forces as part of a joint operation with the congo is army. your group is based in east and congo and his pledged allegiance to isolate the u. s. and the taliban have concluded 2 days of meetings in katara where they discussed the humanitarian crisis in afghanistan. the taliban has asked us to unfreeze assets and remove sanctions. us as calling on the taller bond to ensure the rights of afghans and to form an inclusive government . the united nations says more than half of all afghans are suffering from acute food shortages. this winter, us secretary of state has worn russia,

that any aggression in ukraine will trigger what he calls serious consequences. anthony blinking is attending a meeting of nato foreign ministers to discuss rushes build up of troops on ukraine's border. sudanese security forces have use tear gas against the thousands of pro democracy demonstrators rallying in costume. protesters continue to demand a full transition to civilian rule. hundreds of people in the libyan capital of protested upcoming presidential elections. they calling for them to be postponed until the constitutional referendum takes place. the 1st round of voting is set for december 24th, but the legislative council councils are yet to agree on a constitutional framework to hold the election. those are the headlines on al jazeera right now. it, since i story, news,

news, news, news, 1000000000 budget back scenes and a pledge to continue funding development across africa. the can china avoid criticism over taking advantage of natural resources and startling, developing nations with unsustainable says, this is inside story. ah, ah, ah. hello the hello robin. welcome to the program. chinese president cheating ping has promised african nations, 1000000000 corona virus vaccines and it's pledge to continue economic investment in the region. she made the comment virtually as part of the annual for among the

china africa corporation. as the to day summit in senegal comes to a close, china emphasized how crucial a partnership is. china is africa, largest trading partner with nearly $190000000000.00 in trade. so let's take a closer look at china is long term investment plans in africa. chinese foreign direct investment in the continent was almost $3000000000.20, totaling all those $50000000000.00 ever all, almost a 3rd of that investment has gone into the construction infrastructure development areas. now that's helped me, china africa's biggest trading partner. it's also given china premier access to much needed raw materials to fuel economy is the largest importer of copper and cobalt from africa. most of it extracted by chinese finance companies. but this investment has also come with a heavy debt burden. chinese finance comes with an average full point, 2 percent interest rate far higher than other international options.

the well, it's bringing august. joining me from nairobi as hassan can n g, the director of whole international institute for strategic studies in london, anthony goldman, he's the head of pro media consulting, which advises companies and institutions on business and political risk in africa. and from beijing, china. we have an democracy, new research fellow at the center for china and globalization. a welcome gentleman to all of you, mr. can you just give you the 1st question? i mean, to understand china's contact with africa, we have to sort of go back to its origin and 1st contact you might say between the 2 continents that the 500 years ago, back in the 15th century, early trade was that initial contact that they had it was very important and it still remains important today. it is indeed true that the interaction between china on the continent got back hundreds of years ago at the time of cause that preceded

colonialism. and this is something that is also been established based on the evidence of chinese president along the coast and leased up in quote that actually go back about a 1000 years ago. now the actions were significantly mortified, of course, in the ongoing, the 2nd world war in which after the coming to the tomb, the communist party. so he preached to work with a lot of liberation movements for the company. and they remained very fortunate, specially on the left wing side of african politics and much of the cold war. and they being that he's paying him to, especially in the cold war period in we're trying to soften train us lessons, father by publishing a more presidency down. so robot economic as well. and then bringing in to the golden there because you've very neatly brought me to that post 2nd world war.

ready period and the cold war, andy that obviously saw china, you might say, come in under the radar, dare i say it into, into africa, to deal with those governments or more left leaning, more sympathetic clinical trial itself. and i'm quoting hippa mounts you don't hear what he also described himself in china as being part of the 3rd world. they, they recognise and has an affiliation with parts of africa that was very important in building a relationship. yes, i think so as part of that, i think that they were projects that are in china began to engage with following on from that support for countries in southern africa. so for example, building infrastructure we're way between 10000 year and san via that was seen as a kind of a landmark thing of in, in the 970 the landmark achievement in terms of infrastructure. mostly, i think,

in that period of the cold, well, the most visible presence was actually the tension between china and taiwan. and you could give to african capitals and see the competition if you like, between taiwanese built a policy or a chinese built national stadium. and in the center, this is an echo some of that competition, even today with china is still anxious that countries in africa didn't look too far to, to tie one for support. but on the whole, i think the tilt, since the end of the cold war has been much more in favor of china bill, your actual economic ties based solely around strategy and diplomacy is support for the ever increasing ever demand chinese industry. let me bring it on the mark that you want to come in, having our 2 previous speakers there and a and without giving of you as a full history lesson, which this program is not. certainly, chinese influence in the region and on the continent has been long standing and

continues to be certainly after this conversational virtual conversation they've had this year. no indeed. so he'll, so i would just very briefly start with $949.00 with the founding of the people's republic of china. and you quoted dr. jones, i think from j, one of the establishment of new china. the philosophy has been to treat africa with a spirit of sincerity, genuine cooperation and mutual respect. and i think that is a comment to read the decades since 1949 to today in terms of understanding the relationship between china and the content. would you say, though, that you say they want to try and treat all of these countries with equal respect? but there was also this cold war between russia and the united states of russia and the west. and they wanted to gain influence in africa as well. do. ready you think

that china itself at that time was also very mindful of what its position could be or should be in the future if and when the cold war ended. you know, certainly, and the world has changed tremendously since the early fifties. so geopolitically, of course, we've seen the cold war between the soviet union, right, states and trying to played an important part of that geo. strategically. and from that perspective, i think certainly africa has been seen as a battleground, maybe even a playground for, of course, colonial powers. and i think today as well, we've seen in the news, i'm sure on this top of the united states wanting to contest change in for africa. but i think one of the things to point out to you, touched on here is that china is always in itself,

is part of the developing world. and i think rightly so, today we're trying to, we'll never forget that it is a number of the group of developing nations. and if we go back to what she said about cross the river by feeling the sellers, i think what china has very clearly stated in the last few years is that it has found the way across the river. and now is willing to show that path. but without imposing any type of ideology or any kind of political or economic mechanisms around with that and letting africa other parts of the world develop on their own terms to get into any kind of didn't bring you in because of the china may see itself a whatever terms it wants to, but china is viewed by some i. e, the us in turns its influence across africa. it's bit of a bogeyman. i mean, they need to new enemy. you might say sometimes this how many can make enemy, and that is china. yes, i think there's something in that, i mean, i think,

i think it's the, at the beginning of china's new economic engagement with africa maybe 20 years ago . perhaps some of that rhetoric about, you know, china being their apartment. not having a kind of an agenda. the china had his own experience, a rapid growth and taking the glass poverty industrialization that might have had some current. i don't think it really does any more to think anybody in africa are really things that china is just, you know, another potential source of financing and other potential and a competitive for projects. and i think i was speaking earlier this week with the vision in an african countries in the back some of the better for people who are less about what china thought of africa and well water african needed from its partners. and i think this, the competition, if you like, between rival power doesn't do

a great deal for the people who ultimately mean to benefit in terms of actually providing project on their merits. projects that are commercially viable and have less kind of, of this rhetorical baggage. you know, that makes more sense perhaps in worship or, or even beijing, perhaps in between a paso or was ambia. we'll talk about the specific economy economics in a moment. but, and can just come back to you, you know, africa itself, and it's a subsequent nation's within the continent of how to deal with military crews, cross border confrontation, climate change in family and ethnic rivalries. each country has its own beset problems. how has china, in your opinion, been able to maintain a good relationship with all those different sorts of regimes and governments when they've had this whole range of problems across the continent? i think china has learned from some of the mistakes that were done by previous powers, especially europe and under the united states in parts because he does not choose

government will africans. and that is that attractive. and leadership which me often sometimes is not accountable. and sometimes they are terry. secondly, african countries up on the top of a growth, legible, in part because the country that has previously been classified at the thought was been though that's the political. but increasingly, of course, it's moving into the higher stages of being an economy. but sadly, i think because china looks at africa the partner and does not speak to involving the colonel affairs living, developing countries. it has allowed what friends and enemies within the continent to be able to work with china respect but with government of the day. and i think because of the kind of relation to build a why and it was literally poor. today, the perception of people talk machine that he's sticking to build even up the cost

of increase that in most countries, as in china has been able to be successful in areas where for instance, the west high speed. and also, because it does not have the baggage, and it's not viewed as negatively some of the, with the metropolis you've been though, as i did mention, they've been increasing a st. that a number of countries that thinking by the, indicating the state that it's going to prevent, sustain it pointing. there is this anthony goal, there is a real debate going on, isn't there at the moment about africa's results says what china wants and what it needs for in terms of manufacturing and product base. i mean, when we look at some of the statistics, 6 countries make up 68 percent of total exports. a goal counting for 3rd, a goal or libya. import oh, all from ga ball, but also impulse, oil and manganese republic of congo. a series of reports. we've had an algae there, a news on the democratic republic of congo extracts cobalt and copper. i mean,

there's lots of natural resources that china requires a know and, and the balance of payments is lopsided as well. you know, what africa is able to buy of china is, is far less than what china you might say takes from africa. you make a very good point. i mean, after is not a country. obviously there's a huge distinction between the, my favorite trading partners and some of those countries where maybe china has much less of a relationship and angola, africa, particularly important. or i think we've seen some growth in, in, in west africa. in reason is china's try to track nigeria with different degrees of success. but i think that on top of the products that the role cereals typically that china seeks to secure from africa, energy, security, maryland security, it needs for growth in that sense. it is fairly familiar to the kind of patterns of

economic engagement that other industrialized countries sequence africa, one of the differences boxes that china as a major manufacture o g and cheaper products is that actually there's quite a lot in paul trade is passionate with capture any official data between china and africa. quite a lot of that skipped, obviously because of the pandemic and the lack of travel over the last 18 months or so. but until then, there were regular flights from direct from china, parts of africa where small traders even were going picking up pretty good. see, and they sell a market. so i think that the picture isn't always captured by the big data if you like. and i think that there has been quite a deep relationship from the top, as well as at the bottom with africa even where china strategic interest do focus more on a particular and small countries. and the more shifting, paying and out the fact that they would be less money being invested in africa as

a continent that can be interpreted in many ways. one of the ways that it has been interpreted is that china is listening to what african needs and adapting its finances accordingly. others are suggesting that china is walking away from africa . what's your interpretation of it? well, i think the reality is much more complex and nuanced portrayed in such black and white binary terms. and i want to back up a little bit with you earlier speaker said about trainer learning some lessons from the european and perhaps the americans in dealing with africa. i would say it's much more profound than that. and the china brings a true sense of empathy in working with the continent because china has not that long ago struggled with exactly the same issues. high mortality rates mounted tricia and etc, etc. so i think that it's coming from a very,

very different place. and the philosophy, the governing principles are non interference and respect for each country and system and choices. so i think that allows it to deal much more effectively with the country of africa. now that leads us to the current question, what you just asked, what is trying to do now or going forward? i think it's important to recognize that china does not look at africa as a patron client relationship. but again, if we think about it as mutual respect, when, when there will always be adjustments, we look at trade with africa. it's been about $200000000000.00 a year over the last 5 years or so. but it goes up and down based on exactly this factors as well as domestic market considerations. so i think that the longer term direction is much,

much greater interaction and integration with africa. but we have to see how that unfolds in terms of investments, trade details, all kinds of other things, technical assistance i've been trying to provide about 45 set. it's for an aide to africa. and you let me just bring in mr. country you would not in your head to in, i think in agreement with some of the points are being made. but can i also add to what you might want to say. now in that as teaching ping has said that he wants to open green lanes for african agricultural exports. he wants to speed up inspection and quarantine procedures to increase a scope of products with 0 type of treatment to help achieve a goal. one of seems of equality of trade equality is that how you see it? that has been hard to respond to increasing sentimental the continent, the balance of payment, the heavily china. therefore, china trying to look ways and we pick them up because it is important though,

that they still increase the appeal of china while the comically speaking. sometimes i often to remit and economies eat on image, but by following it on path, it does not speak to me, africa, nissan making sense of balance. and i think those 2 things, one connected is to constants. however, our look at the recent means that by the leader of china as more public diplomacy, but it meant to be a piece of the continent. and generally, the local population that has been complaining about increased chinese influence in ways that sometimes these advantages efficient local antennae goldman. i'll be coming back to this question by 31 to andy mach balancing spring. and earlier in the week we showed on al jazeera report, why chinese mind officials had sanctioned the beating of

a local man in the democratic republic of congo for stealing cobalt rock. this was videoed, as we showed widely, we reported on it when anti mocked, says that, you know, china's initial false always the empathy with africa being equal with africa, understanding the needs of africa. when you see video like vase, it undermines that argument doesn't. it's about what china really wants, and this is the, you might say the tag, the western media, western governments grab, hold up and say, you see, this is what china is really about. well, it does, and i think that there may be a difference between policy from headquarters and what actually happens on the ground. and certainly i think that's not the only instance. everybody is a common man down there been a couple of instances from, you know, from west africa as well. similar things were relations at the coal face, always literally, due to theory quite sharply. i mean, i think that that's probably true with lots of foreign companies, but the idea that china is somehow very distinct and much better in that regard is

like, right. we have a few events, a lot of place on the ground is where it's been captured in the way you describe. and it's also true that in certain, in some of those countries where china has had it's most active engagement, it's also become a domestic political issue. in zambia, there's certain populace mileage the political parties make in making an issue out of chinese investments and other elements of chinese policy because although china was never clean, your power to see in africa has been quite a lot of immigration from china as part of it griffith over it ties with africa, and i think, you know, with a 1000000 people who move to africa over the last 20 years from china. and that's concentrated in a few places and sometimes not always with positive results. these are difficult changes to make and not, not changes that happen easier overnight and like coming for

a brief comment for you on that as well. no, i would absolutely agree. i think it's intellectually just honest to attribute the actions for the misdeeds. ready of an individual to a government policy. i mean, we all know that those of us that i'm sure every, all of us have interacted with large organizations, whether governmental or for profit. and one of the big challenges, especially for chinese enterprises working in a place far from harm with a different language, different culture, different customs that these are very, very difficult circumstances. i think it would be surprised some sort of mistakes, for instance, did not happen. we also need to recognize mining is a difficult business as rotten so these are unfortunate and i think that they should happen in an ideal world. but certainly as far as i know, there is no policy on the chinese side to control these types of actions. how

sudden can, can n g. i just come back to you now call. shooting ping has promised a 1000000000 doses of the coven 19 chinese made vaccine to the continent. obviously a welcome donation. but it comes in the context of the world health organization who promised them to kovacs the africa would be looked after western countries did nothing did very little. we've been reporting it for 18 months. they've done something but not enough, not enough of mutations to appear. china, we're again helping out as much as it possibly can. where do you stand on this? do you see this is some sort of medical, bribery in any shape awful. now i will say the extension of your politics going on, especially between the roots, are seen all rational lions different atlantic alliance. and i think why and they want the little bit, but especially from the united states to pain pain. i love monica teen. it has worked its way into lots of hats and minds of people efficient developing

walked on. so what did the nation means? eighty's bubbling to to the optics of china. we have been doing more excellently. it's i some of the propaganda that should be shared. of course we got some of the my rights violation and i think the very long way because the west has largely not enough freight and especially europe, united states has been trying out but cause i think it's got them with his own issues. and the other thing a lot of, but seen a national engine that has limited and the ability of the west to actually get africa in a way that is going to be appreciated. they're not coming very close to the end of the programmer. and the more kinds of combat to soft power. how important does that in terms of chinese policy? is it a word that's use? is it a phrase that use and do you see the vaccine donation in that same sort of area? absolutely. so i think soft power is sometimes referred to in the chinese context

of discourse, power. and in a world where we face global challenges, incorrect responses are required. the ability to be heard taken seriously, have one's views and opinions seen as legitimate is vital. and i think one of the big issues we're seeing here is at places with market driven economies like the us, they are not able to overcome structural limitations of we're profit companies wanting to protect their bottom line. whereas china, us is able to act in the interest of this country in the world. and i think this is an important factor in its increasing discourse power. well, i'm sure we'll be coming back to the subject, not too distant future. sadly, the gentleman, we have to leave it hudson can n g, anthony goldman and andy mark and i, roby london and basing gentlemen, thank you for joining me here. and thank you for watching as well. you can see the program again any time by visiting our website out there at dot com for further discussion gateway facebook page,

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