People power

NGO, grassroots groups now need to complement government efforts to strengthen China-Africa links, experts say

Tirera Sourakhata is doing his bit to bring Africa and China closer together one person at a time. The Senegalese businessman has lived in Yiwu, in eastern China, for 12 years and works at a mediation center, helping foreign traders to navigate complex red tape and settle disputes with local counterparts.

"We help people with language services and trading policy issues. We also find solutions for people," he says, adding that most African businesspeople in the city buy construction materials and products for the home to ship back in their countries.

The 4th China-Africa People's Forum opens in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province, Aug 26. Lyu Bin / For China Daily

African representatives at the 4th China-Africa People's Forum in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, Aug 26. Provided to China Daily

Above: A Senegalese vendor sells musical instruments from his country at China Commodity City in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. Below: African representatives at the 4th China-Africa People's Forum in Yiwu, Aug 26. Photos provided to China Daily

Several foreign-owned companies set up the mediation center in partnership with the local government in 2013 after the city witnessed an influx of foreigners looking to establish import and export businesses.

It is just one example of the people-to-people interaction that many analysts now view as vital to the ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between China and Africa, as opposed to traditional government-led engagement.

Over recent decades, official exchanges have helped relations to flourish, particularly in the fields of finance and politics, which are reflected in the preferential loan projects launched across the African continent by state-owned Chinese companies.

Yet today, nongovernmental and grassroots organizations are playing a larger part in diversification of bilateral ties and developing of greater mutual trust.

Liu Haifang, a professor at Peking University's Center for African Studies, says there is some debate among Chinese officials and researchers over the definition and scope of people-to-people exchanges.

"Different from the Western-style relationship among governments, civil societies and companies, there is no clear line between China's government and nongovernmental engagement in Africa," she explains. "Chinese government initiatives can be found in many sectors, like political, economic, cultural, agricultural and education collaboration. But now, all these efforts can also be done at the nongovernmental level."

People-to-people exchanges can complement official efforts in all significant areas, including the economic sector, previously considered the preserve of the government, to better cement relations, she says.

The Chinese leadership has already made efforts to clarify and stress this point. At the fourth China-Africa People's Forum in late August, Vice-President Li Yuanchao said the central government was encouraging private companies and capital to look at African projects.

The forum, organized by the Network for International Exchanges, China NGO, and the African Union, was held in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. The event came at a time when China is attempting to export its excess capacity to Africa - as well as other regions - to realize its industrial reforms and upgrades while accelerating Africa's industrialization.

"Private companies, especially those in labor-intensive industries, will become a major force in China's industrial collaboration with overseas markets," Li says. "After 30 years of development under China's opening-up and reform, they have been equipped with strong investment capabilities, advanced technology and management experience. These elements are exactly what Africa needs for industrialization."

The movement of private capital and investment to Africa should be faster, done via partnerships and innovative, he adds. When big state-owned companies face difficulties in transforming their scope in Africa due to their large internal management systems and business models, smaller private enterprises can play a crucial role in the business relationship between China and Africa, as they may have more flexible capital and opportunities to spot new openings and markets.

African players largely feel the same way, as an industry transfer is a more flexible and innovative way to help the continent achieve a more-sustainable development path, Sourakhata says.

This can be realized not only through Chinese engagement in Africa, but also through the efforts of African businesspeople in China, experts say.

Sourakhata is one of 11 foreign advisers whom volunteer at the Yiwu mediation center, all of who run their own businesses.

"My dream is being realized," he told delegates at the forum in August. "My life in Yiwu is not only about making money, I feel at home here. I came here to learn from the Chinese how to help the people of my country. You have my word: I will continue to be a bridge between Africa and China."

Later, talking to China Daily, he says trade between Yiwu and Africa is increasing every year, and that despite not having a port, the city has exceptional ability in stimulating foreign trade.

The city has more than 13,000 foreign businesspeople from over 100 countries, of whom about 3,000 are African, including Sourakhata, who runs a trading company employing 30 Chinese workers.

"The city government has become very open to foreign businesses," he says. "This is a big change, as it wasn't the case three years ago. Our (the mediation center) relationship with the local people and government is strong. We even have a group on WeChat (the instant messaging app) that includes the Yiwu mayor."

As for the African side, he believes that simply buying and selling goods is not enough to forge a closer relationship: "We need to build our industries with the help of the Chinese, which will result in jobs. Also, the transfer of technology is vital for Africans to do things for ourselves in the future."

Events like the China-Africa People's Forum, which bring together not only government officials, but also grassroots participants, are being hailed as essential to fostering better relations through people-to-people exchanges.

"The collaboration of these two bodies ( the AU and NGO network) puts people at the center of everything," says Joseph Chilengi, presiding officer of the African Union's Economic, Social and Cultural Council. "The forum (in Yiwu) also emphasized the people-to-people process. Because of that, China has a good friend in Africa, and Africa has a good friend in China."

"One of the main aims of the AU in 2002 was to create a union that was centered on people and driven by people. The focus is a people-driven Africa supported by institutions."

Setting up an African Union Mission in China is a matter of urgency, according to Chilengi, especially as the relationship with the European Union is strained due to unresolved issues.

"We don't have a mission in China yet," he says. "We have ones in Washington and Brussels. The council, which is an advisory body to the AU, will strongly advise that this be established."

Civil societies can be another pillar of future bilateral ties, too, according to You Jianhua, secretary-general of the Network for International Exchanges. He says the China-Africa forum has become a vehicle to improve the relationship between the two sides and the collaboration among NGOs.

"From the discussions (at the forum) we can tell China is a very important partner to Africa," he says.

China has an estimated 620,000 NGOs, which can divided into three categories: social groups, nonbusiness entities such as universities and hospitals, and foundations.

"The advantages of these NGOs are that they look after China's interests," You says. "They are all willing to participate in international philanthropy. They also share the goals of the government in this regard."

Chilengi adds that the approach by African NGOs differs fundamentally from the Chinese model, in that they tend to do the bidding of non-African countries at the expense of the continent.

"African NGOs have been operating in their own way. If you look at the mission statements of all NGOs, it clearly states they are to supplement the work of their governments. But that is not happening," he says. "We need to transform NGOs in Africa. We will advise the AU that member states contribute seed money to establish a new set of NGOs, ones focused on mobilizing society."

The declaration of proposals on China-Africa People-to-People Exchanges and Cooperation created by this this year's forum concludes that China and African countries can benefit from rare opportunities in development.

"The African continent is full of vigor and hope, and its countries are working toward the goals as defined in the Agenda 2063 set forth by the African Union by realizing the African dream of a renaissance through uniting for strength and development," the declaration states. "The Chinese dream and the African dream are similar in philosophy and goals, the same in content, and their development strategies are almost identical."

Away from the buzzwords and mutual platitudes, Chilengi stresses that this year's China-Africa People's Forum was different from previous events because it decided to set up a permanent committee to drive some of the ideas and proposals.

These discussions, for the African side, will count most when it yields results in the areas of food, jobs and homes, accomplished from both governmental-led initiatives and private investment.

"Poverty in Africa continues to lead to insecurities and other difficulties. As friends we need to sit together and discuss this issue," Pitia Solomon Nyambur, president of the Youth Federation of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement in South Sudan's Central Equitorial State, told delegates in Yiwu. "You (the Chinese people) cannot continue to help people who are in crises. You will grow tired of this."

Contact the writers through lilianxing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/05/2015 page1)