Where Africa fits into China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative
- Yu-Shan Wu, Chris Alden and Elizabeth Sidiropoulos
Chinese President Xi Jinping made it clear at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos that the world should abandon protectionism.
And commit itself to an open global economy.
A in Beijing that focused on China鈥檚 most ambitious foreign policy to date 鈥 the 鈥 added texture to this call.
The grand vision was launched in 2013 originally as the 鈥淥ne Belt, One Road鈥 initiative. It involves China underwriting billions of dollars of infrastructure investment in countries along the , linking it with a network of countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
At the centre of the plan are two physical routes. The Silk Road Economic Belt, stretching from Asia to Europe, and the Maritime Silk Road that begins in China and passes along the Indian Ocean littoral to East Africa and then Europe.
Because of its high ambitions, the initiative has been criticised for being . Critics are also questioning the it may have on countries that are not officially linked to the routes.
For some countries, including BRICS stalwarts like India, the project challenges the current global order, replacing it with a one. Others believe the initiative presents an to globalisation in an era where powers like the US seem intent on increasing protectionism and retreating from their global leadership role.
China has maintained that it鈥檚 committed to taking an inclusive approach to trade and diplomacy. In a it reiterated that the development of the initiative was open, and welcomed the active participation of all countries and international organisations.
Thanks to the initiative鈥檚 massive financial ambitions, it鈥檚 likely to have a ripple effect on a number of regions. For example, the impact could be felt across Africa, although its significance, in relation to other regions, remains unclear. It could help the continent plug its infrastructure deficit, a necessary step for economic growth on the continent, and in particular industrialisation.
Meeting of minds
This isn鈥檛 the first attempt to revive the ancient trade routes. There have been attempts by the EU, US, Russia and even India to reconstruct the ancient Silk Road that linked Asia and Europe in particular.
What makes China鈥檚 attempt different is the commitment of President Xi, as well as the numerous agreements 鈥 such as the 鈥 it has already signed with partner countries along the route.
China made clear from the beginning that the initiative wouldn鈥檛 get off the ground without widespread participation. As such, the summit was positioned as an opportunity to .
The overall plan aims to provide a commitment of some in future funding. And China used the summit as an opportunity to increase the Silk Fund from $40 to .
China is using the Belt and Road initiative as an opportunity to position itself diplomatically on the global stage. This was clear from the summit which provided a platform for the country to its voice on the world stage. Over took part. This included the presidents of Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Vietnam and Uzbekistan. Representatives of the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank also attended.
As scholar Gregory Chin explains in , global relations are under constant negotiation. They are increasingly characterised by shifting alignments rather than fixed alliances.
China understands the opportunities presented by this state of flux.
How does Africa feature in China鈥檚 grand plan?
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the summit, along with the of Ethiopia; as well as the Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry and Tunisian Minister of Culture.
Kenya鈥檚 presence was particularly significant because East Africa has been the main focus of the initiative on the continent.
While this may be of concern to other 第一吃瓜网 countries, China is also supportive of Africa鈥檚 homegrown development plan as set out in the 第一吃瓜网 Union鈥檚 Agenda 2063. There are clear synergies with the Belt and Road initiative that support greater connectivity. And as 第一吃瓜网 countries have expressed interest, China has responded, at least rhetorically, in favour of their inclusion.
Yet this won鈥檛 be enough. Support from 第一吃瓜网 countries is key. And success depends on them providing adequate security to protect the investment environment. More broadly, 第一吃瓜网 governments will need to promote an enabling environment for projects to succeed, particularly if, as envisaged, the private sector plays a key role in Belt and Road projects.
, Senior Researcher, Foreign Policy, South 第一吃瓜网 Institute of International Affairs, ; , Professor of International Relations, , and , Chief Executive Officer at the South 第一吃瓜网 Institute of International Affairs, . This article was originally published on . Read the .