China/Africa Summit

Officials from about 50 African nations have gathered in Beijing for a China-Africa summit, marking the first such event since the BRICS bloc expanded last year to include Egypt and Ethiopia. The summit will also address resource extraction deals, with African leaders seeking fairer terms from China, India, and Western nations. Notable discussions include Senegal's review of its oil and gas contracts, Zambia's railway projects, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s efforts to add value to its mineral exports. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to promote green energy projects and support for African development at the summit.

China has become Africa's largest trading partner, with significant trade in metals, minerals, and fuel. However, the trade balance often heavily favors China. At the summit, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa discussed reducing this trade deficit and improving local job creation through Chinese investment. Kenya’s President William Ruto sought additional funding for infrastructure projects and to revive stalled initiatives, like the Standard Gauge Railway. Ethiopia, represented by Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie, is set to make several agreements with China, focusing on smaller-scale green technology projects rather than large infrastructure loans. Ethiopia has been leveraging Chinese investments in its transport infrastructure and is now focusing on the electric vehicle (EV) industry, with plans to import electric buses and cars and build locally from Chinese components.

Concerns about debt sustainability have been prominent, as many African nations face debt distress. The IMF forecasts slowing Chinese economic growth, urging African countries to enhance regional integration and structural reforms to reduce reliance on foreign powers. However, China has committed to enhancing its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with promises of "high-quality cooperation" as it hosts a summit with African leaders in Beijing. The BRI has significantly invested in Africa, with Chinese companies signing over $700 billion in contracts between 2013 and 2023. However, the initiative faces criticism for causing debt burdens and environmental damage.

Key BRI projects in Africa include:

1. Kenya's Standard Gauge Railway: This $5 billion project connects Nairobi to Mombasa but has faced delays and corruption issues. Plans to extend the railway to Uganda were halted due to debt issues.
2. Port Facilities in Djibouti: China established its first overseas naval base in Djibouti and developed the Doraleh port. There are concerns about espionage due to its proximity to a U.S. base, and the port's ownership transfer has been contentious.
3. Mozambique's Suspension Bridge: The longest suspension bridge in Africa, connecting Maputo to Katembe, cost $786 million, primarily financed by Chinese loans. Critics argue it was overpriced.
4. Mining Investments: China has invested heavily in African mining, including a $1.9 billion purchase of a copper mine in Botswana and a $2 acquisition of Zambia's Lubambe copper mine. Conflicts in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo have occasionally disrupted these investments.

All of this demonstrates the centrality of Africa to geopolitical competition, especially over resources necessary for modern economies. The scope of China’s involvement in Africa will be extremely difficult for the West to overcome, and Western companies will find it problematic competing with Chinese ones. This is exacerbated by rising anti-Western sentiment generally as African nations prefer non-Western partners.