China’s president pledges $60b for development in Africa

China’s President, Xi Jinping, told African presidents on Friday at a summit that his country would provide $60 billion over three years to fund development on the continent.
Jinping, who is co-chairing the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, where several African heads of state were attending, outlined a broad 10-point development plan driven by the Asian economic giant.
He said he wanted to build a relationship of equals at the Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“To ensure the successful implementation of these 10 cooperation plans, China decides to provide a total of $60 billion of funding support,” Jinping told the summit.
Despite its own slowing economy, Jinping said China would step up investment in factories manufacturing goods for export in Africa.
This is in addition to building roads, ports and railways in a continent long seen as a major commodities source for China.
China would cancel existing debts with zero interest loans for least developed countries that mature by end of 2015, he said.
China will strengthen its cooperation with Africa in the fight against violent extremism and would not interfere with the political choices of countries in the continent, Jinping said.
“China will implement 10 cooperation plans with Africa in the next three years,” he said, adding: “These plans (are) aimed at addressing three issues holding back Africa’s development, namely inadequate infrastructure, lack of professional and skilled personnel and funding shortage.”
Africans broadly see China as a healthy counterbalance to Western influence.
But the Western governments have charged China of turning a blind eye to conflicts and rights abuses on the continent as they pursue trade and aid policies in Africa.
Reuters/NAN.