Economic unity can set the ball rolling

Much has been written about the Chinese Dream and what it means for the rest of the world and Africa. But from an African perspective while it stands for harmonious and peaceful development, it also offers valuable lessons on how the continent can chart its own destiny.

That, however, said is easier than done. The reality is Africa comprises of more than 50 countries with varied development agendas. When we talk about a common African dream it is aspects like economic development, better education, poverty reduction and less reliance on external aid that first come to the mind. But the diversified nature of Africa makes it difficult to find synergies.

This is where the Chinese Dream comes in handy. Like Africa, China is also a huge nation that has passed through varied stages of development and hence offers valuable stepping stones for the future.

With nearly 16 percent of the world population, Africa is also too huge to be ignored globally. Apart from natural resources, many African nations have notched up impressive annual growth rates of 5 percent.

The growing bilateral trade between China and Africa is perhaps the best indicator of how the Chinese Dream benefits the rest of the world. China has not only been increasing its trade with Africa, but also expanding its association to more sectors that benefit the African society directly.

For Africa to realize its dream of economic empowerment, it needs to go through a unification process championed by sub-regional entities.

Organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States, which includes 15 countries and more than 300 million people is a good example of this kind of integration. The real advantage is that it is an example of an African organization that seeks to guide African people out of poverty and to growth.

The author is a journalist with Le Soleil, a Senegal-based newspaper.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 04/18/2014 page11)