50 years of growth, but please water often

China's relationship with the Republic of the Congo is a model for others

This year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the Republic of Congo. Over that time the relationship has matured like a well-cared-for plant, and in the past few years there has been a new spurt of growth. That growth has been promoted by increasing exchanges between the two countries in the political, economic and cultural spheres.

The Congo-China relationship yet again gives lie to the claim that China's relationship with the continent amounts to little more than neo-colonialism.

Leaders of the Republic of Congo have often said that relations between their country and China are special, and that China has never exercised any undue influence in the country.

While looking out for its own interest, Congo has been an unswerving friend of China and has given its unwavering support when that has been called for. The two countries think alike on many major international issues, and they often work closely together.

In many ways China and Africa complement one another, and there is no cause for competition or friction. Part of the reason is that the Republic of Congo relies greatly on imports.

Congo, with a population of about 4 million, many of them live in Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire, has been identified by the United Nations as one of the least developed countries.

Its coastal oil and its inland timber underpin the economy. About 80 percent of investment in oil is from France, Italy and the United States.

Western countries' petroleum exploration and deforestation involve large-scale mechanization, which is not conducive to creating jobs for locals.

Before 2007, passing through Brazzaville airport was akin to time travel, with no electronic systems in sight, and those buying tickets had to wait as these were laboriously written out by hand.

These days, thanks to the new terminal at Maya-Maya International Airport, built by Weihai International Construction Engineering of China, no passenger can be in any doubt that they are passing through a 21st century building with all of the modern conveniences that go with it.

Congolese are particularly friendly to Chinese, which, like that airport terminal, reflects China's years of effort in building the country's infrastructure and investing in public services.

Contrast that to a century of French colonialism that simply drained a country of its natural resources and left it much poorer. Chinese investment in infrastructure in Congo has created jobs and greatly improved living standards.

China, with an eye on Congo's development, always seems to be at the ready to be a partner to businesses, especially those engaged in agriculture, making cement, manufacturing and producing engineering machinery and equipment. That increases trade and investment, further stimulating the country's economic growth and giving further impetus to industrial upgrading.

Projects that Chinese companies are involved in include building or upgrading airports, houses and power station transmission lines.

Chinese companies building airports in Congo have set an example for other countries, and Gabon has invited China to do similar work.

The Chinese embassy in the Republic of Congo says China's 16 major construction and engineering contractors account for half the public contracting in the country.

In addition to the economic and trade relations and cultural exchanges that have drawn the two countries closer together, the establishment of cultural centers and Confucius Institutes has given Congolese a much greater understanding of Chinese culture.

The Chinese government has also pledged to send more medical teams to the country and establish effective malaria prevention projects, hospitals and agricultural technology demonstration centers.

To help the Republic of Congo further enhance its status in the African Union and in the world at large, several Chinese enterprises are involved in building the main stadium in Brazzaville for the All-Africa Games next year.

Over the past few decades Africa has lacked foreign direct investment, and today African countries are doing their best to attract it. Chinese companies are heeding the call, and are heavily involved in the continent's industrialization.

But as they do that they need to have not only their own interests, but the interests of Africans uppermost in mind. Elements of that include maintaining solid, amicable relationships with those who work for them and adhering to local laws and customs.

The author is a researcher at the Institute of West Asian and African Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 07/04/2014 page9)