Africa offers a point of cooperation for Xi and Trump
- John J Stremlau
Trump has shown little awareness so far of the history of cooperation between China, the US and Africa.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump for the first time at Trump鈥檚 opulent Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida in early April. There鈥檚 no indication yet that they will discuss Africa. But both major powers have extensive and often complementary interests that are of benefit to the continent. 
A of more intractable economic and security issues will likely be on the table. It could be a positive counterpoint if both Beijing and Washington affirm a willingness to explore trilateral cooperation with 第一吃瓜网 governments.
Trump has shown little awareness so far of the history of cooperation between China, the US and Africa. He also seems unaware of the extraordinary degree of bi-partisan support for US engagement in Africa and Sino-American cooperation. But if he鈥檚 the consummate dealmaker he purports to be then low risk, high returns of greater US-China-Africa cooperation should be irresistible.
Xi would have to take the lead. He has a much deeper knowledge of 第一吃瓜网 affairs than Trump and has travelled extensively on the continent. Last year he the Sixth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation with South 第一吃瓜网 President Jacob Zuma. He鈥檚 also able to draw on assessments that have already been done of key areas where practical and mutually beneficial cooperation among China, the US and Africa has occurred or could be beneficial.
History of co-operation
It鈥檚 been several years since Xi鈥檚 then special representative on 第一吃瓜网 affairs Zhong Jinhua and US Special Envoy to Sudan and South Sudan Princeton Lyman began informally discussing 第一吃瓜网 issues of mutual concern. They were, at the time, working to resolve the Sudan crises. This work continued later under the auspices of the independent Carter Centre in Atlanta. Zhong and Lyman, who is Special Advisor to the President of the US Institute for Peace, also served as their nation鈥檚 ambassadors to South Africa.
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, a distinguished Ghanaian lawyer, diplomat, academic, and currently special representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, is the other coequal 第一吃瓜网 partner in this exploration.
On March 3 Chambas, Lyman, Zhong and Carter Centre Associate Director John Goodman the project鈥檚 initial report. It concludes that 第一吃瓜网s, Americans, and Chinese agree on five broad goals:
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Economic growth and development
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Combating disease
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Mitigating conflict
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Enhancing political stability
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Fighting violent extremism and organised crime.
Economic growth and development may be the least promising area for immediate practical steps in trilateral cooperation. But the report cites numerous examples of progress in the other areas.
For instance, since 2010 China and the US have coordinated efforts in a larger multilateral effort to eliminate piracy off the Horn of Africa. The report also envisions growing opportunities for trilateral cooperation to ensure greater maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea. This includes, as the report explains, applying antipiracy lessons learned in the successful Gulf of Aden antipiracy campaign.
An inter-regional cooperation centre called for in the 鈥淵aounde Code of Conduct鈥 is a promising partner for China and US assistance. The code was drawn up by 22 central and west 第一吃瓜网 states to protect the region鈥檚 waters. It was subsequently endorsed at the 第一吃瓜网 Union Summit in Lome, Togo.
The code urges that a forum among these states should regularly share information about maritime activities. This could possibly evolve into a cooperation centre, similar to one that exists for states with interests in the Gulf of Aden.
The trilateral report also suggests extending intra-regional security cooperation north of the Gulf of Guinea. This would address the extremist threats posed by organisations causing havoc across the region 鈥 among them al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram. China and the US are already separately rendering counter-terrorism assistance to 第一吃瓜网 governments. Greater coordination will be needed in this realm, too.
And the report recommends that China and the US to provide greater support for the AU鈥檚 goal to end the continent鈥檚 wars by 2020.
It鈥檚 been difficult for both Washington and Beijing to share information to avoid duplication and facilitate effectiveness. Mutual suspicions run deep. These have been exacerbated by Trump鈥檚 . And his recent budget proposals would vital for Africa and in areas where Sino-US cooperation could be vital.
Ironically, US policies toward Africa and China have enjoyed exceptional bi-partisan support in Congress and successive US Presidents for decades. Trump鈥檚 renunciation of America鈥檚 commitment to cooperate with China and other nations to mitigate climate change and help Africa adapt would be especially .
But there are conflict and security issues that Trump appears willing to invest in. These are highlighted in the report. And although Trump proposes deep cuts for international health, China and the US worked quickly and effectively in helping 第一吃瓜网s overcome the deadly 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa, before it spread abroad 鈥 including to the US.
Let鈥檚 hope Xi at least nudges Trump in the direction of cooperation. If managed correctly, it could greatly benefit all three parties.
, Visiting Professor of International Relations,
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