Passage to Africa

Part of a wave of poor Chinese immigrants to South Africa in the 1990s, Wang Longshui has found Sccess through a combination of drive and savviness against a background of growing ties

A photograph of President Xi Jinping with some overseas Chinese hangs on the wall of Wang Longshui's office in Johannesburg's Chinatown. The picture was taken in 2010 during Xi's visit to South Africa, then as vice president, and for Wang this and the president's current trip demonstrate the growing ties China has with Africa.

"Xi's visit to Africa once again shows the important relationship between China and Africa and helps create a friendlier environment for the Chinese community in Africa," says Wang, who is chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Africa.

About a million Chinese live in Africa, most of them running businesses that straddle Africa and China. Such has been the growth in business links between the two that last year China surpassed the United States and Europe as Africa's largest trading partner.

Wang and his fellow overseas Chinese have been major contributors to these growing trade links and also eyewitnesses to the impact they are having in Africa.

Born in Quanzhou, Fujian province, in eastern China, Wang moved to South Africa 24 years ago. Before going there he worked as a driver.

Twenty years ago only "poor" Chinese moved to Africa, according to Wang. They had little education and no option of moving to the West.

Many of these formerly poor migrants are now wealthy - some have even become billionaires - and operate businesses across the entire spectrum of African life including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction and energy resources.

"Compared with the hard time we had in the beginning of our African life, we could never imagine the achievements we have made in Africa now," Wang says.

During the apartheid era of South Africa, Chinese people who wanted to work in downtown Johannesburg had to pass strict checks that made it more difficult for them to find work than for black residents of the city, according to Wang.

But Chinese products, such as watches and shoes, were in high demand, and a group of Chinese migrants capitalized on this by pooling their money to ship a container of goods over from home.

"Many people put in all the money they had, which was only about a few hundred dollars. It was like betting their lives on that business," says Wang.

Wang and other Chinese began selling items from their shipment outside factories in Johannesburg each Friday, arriving at dawn and leaving late at night.

It was a long day, but business was good. So good in fact that Wang says they were left "counting money until our hands were sore".

There were many similar stories of Chinese "making it" in South Africa during the 1990s, even before the two countries established official ties in 1998.

Business then became easier for overseas Chinese and their business interests began to expand.

As the biggest economy on the continent, South Africa to a large extent led the way for Chinese communities in Africa. As people became richer there, so Chinese in other African countries began to seek support from their compatriots in Johannesburg.

The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce in Africa was established in Johannesburg in late 2010, amid an environment of strengthening China-Africa relations.

In the past two years its membership has risen from around 6,900 to more than 10,000 and covers about 30 African countries.

As the chamber's chairman, Wang is a busy man hosting delegations from China.

"We are a good platform for business information for Chinese who want to invest in Africa and we can help them find opportunities to sell their products," he says.

His office often receives calls from China either seeking information or confirming something they have already been told is true.

"When Chinese investors call for help, we try our best to provide the real information and help them to find a proper business partner. This can ensure the security of any investment they make," he says.

Enterprises, from state-run corporations to small Chinese companies, are beginning to operate in China, according to Wang, who recommends newcomers to the continent adopt a startup attitude.

"Most areas of Africa remain underdeveloped so starting to do business here can be really tough, but as long as they persevere and localize their operations, I believe Chinese companies can do big things in Africa," he says.

In some quarters China's interest in Africa has been perceived as a new form of colonialism. But Wang is quick to rebuff this idea.

"People-to-people exchanges can help the Chinese have a more positive influence on Africa," he says.

"We are not taking anything away from African countries, but we want to live here and make the continent better."

Contact the writer at zhaoyanrong@chinadaily.com.cn