Negotiate with China as equal partners

Asian Tiger should be made to demonstrate transparency and accountability

It may be through the Chinese that Kenya strikes its first oil and gas ever.

China’s presence in Kenya’s oil exploration process is just a part of the country’s involvement in searching for African natural resources.

Oil, gas and other key minerals form the main target by the Chinese in Africa.

It is a major strategy, to commit African resources for the long term to power and feed the ongoing industrial and commercial revolution in the country.

The Chinese, in most cases, approach the issue through their specialised state companies and state banking institutions that provide capital and credit.

The highest level of government clears all diplomatic huddles for their deals in Africa.

It is evident that African nations have benefited from their engagement with the Chinese, especially at this time when Western economies have diverted their attention away from Africa since the onset of the global economic downturn, which China seems to have escaped.

Decades of humiliation

Africa has benefited especially from grants associated with infrastructure development.

African nations find it easy to transact with the Chinese after decades of near humiliation by Western donors and Breton Woods institutions.

The Chinese rarely insist that African nations keep minimal standards of governance and accountability, which may be detrimental to African interests in the long term.

The interest that Africa’s heads of states have shown in dealing with China, through their massive attendance of FOCAC (Forum on China —Africa Cooperation ) meetings in Beijing and in Egypt, attests to the value given to relationships and deals with the Chinese.

Since partnerships with China will remain important to African economies, it is critical that each nation develops strategies on how to engage with the Chinese so that mutual benefits and value addition are achieved.

Also to ensure that African nations are not disadvantaged in the long term.

A strategy that demonstrates transparency and accountability is most desirable.