(by Pasquale Preziosa) China is present in 48 African states, on the recognized 54, and is conducting a well-structured investment policy similar to those already in place in Tunisia and dealt with in another article.
This can not be a novelty for geopolitics.
Already from the 1949, date of the constitution of the People's Republic, China has turned political attention to Africa with the Maoist principles related to anti-colonialism and the support of liberation movements: Third World and non-alignment were the geopolitical concepts developed in that historical era .
A historical visit was made during the 60 years of Zhou Enlai who established the political platform of the future relations between the two continents based on: parity, reciprocity, non-interference in internal policies (Limes).
China's period of economic and military development abroad coincides with the disappearance of Mao Zedong and the consent of Chinese manufacturing to access state credit. At the beginning of the 2000s, the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation was shared, which was followed by a real White Paper, which strengthened mutual political relations between the countries, reaffirming the principles agreed by Zhou Enlai.
The two continents need each other: the Chinese need natural resources and Africa needs infrastructure. China, in some ways, seems to have the same needs of our country.
In 2014, China imported resources worth $ 200 billion from Africa and imported $ 90 billion from Africa. 86% of Chinese imports are oil and minerals. 90% of African imports are focused on three prominent sectors: transport, manufactured goods and textiles.
Those who do not have natural resources are indebted to China: the Mauritius Islands import 40 times compared to exports.
In 10 years, Ghana went from $ 70 million in debt to $ 4 billion. However, there is an economic complementarity between the two continents. In Central and West Africa, China is further increasing investment activities supported by Eximbank (Veneto Banca Group), this is a very French-speaking African region (Africaintelligence).
What has changed compared to before?
It seems that now China is increasing its involvement towards the construction of "heavy" infrastructures much more and the consequent subsequent management of the same, the first exclusive sector left to France.
Roads, airports, ports and railways are the major Chinese projects in this part of Africa.
The China Communications Construction Co. (CCCC), already mentioned for Tunisia, in Senegal will inaugurate 133km of highways for connecting the cities of Thies and that of Touba.
In Cameroon, a subsidiary of the CCCC is building 215 km of highway that will connect the cities of Douala to Yaou.
In Gabon, a subsidiary of the CCCC won a contract last July for the construction of 850 km of roads.
Lome International Airport will be expanded, from another Chinese branch, with a new terminal.
In Côte d'Ivoire, work is underway for the construction of ports and the extension of river roads.
All these initiatives are not negative for France which, however, is proposed for the phase of management of large infrastructures, but the situation is changing.
In Senegal, where France deploys a powerful construction company, led by the well-known Gerard Senac, Beijing wants to follow the construction of the next phase of management.
Over time, China has developed a strategy and a political, military and economic plan for Africa with great benefits for the Chinese economy, Europe and the now old European colonial powers, they do not seem to want to engage in this continent, with the exception of France, which is the only potential market for the next few years, to be developed and stabilized.
Europe, and in particular Italy, suffers a strong wave of migration from Africa with major social impacts, while China operates on that continent for its own benefits and France defends itself as it can.
Perhaps it is the case to revive our cooperation strategy for this great continent that presents many opportunities for our manufacturing, especially in transport, manufactured goods and, in part, fabrics; Italy is not rich in natural resources but must import them as China has been doing for some time.
Cooperating with Africa will only make the trade sector with Italy more efficient.