China, the West in Africa: more room for cooperation than competition

Africa has already been benefitting from China's engagement with it. Bridges, roads and railways built by Chinese companies are promoting intra-African trade and helping Africa integrate into the global economy.

Knowledge transfer is key to sustainable development and poverty alleviation for Africa, a continent with high number of unemployed young labor force.

Weak industrial base in Africa explains to a large extent the dilemma of dwindling trade volume between the continent and the West over the years despite unilateral preference schemes.

Since 2000, the US trade relations with Africa have been dictated by the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) meant to boost bilateral trade and development of the continent.

However, the US trade in goods with Africa has demonstrated a perplexing downward trend since 2011. Statistics show double-way trade dwindled from $125 billion in 2011 to $99 billion in 2012 and $85 billion in 2013. This happens after the US cut oil imports from Africa following its boosting production of shale oil in 2010.

China-Africa trade is another story. Two-way trade volume exceeded $200 billion for the first time in 2013, and China has been Africa's largest trade partner for the past five years in a row.

By the end of 2012, China's direct investment in Africa accumulated to nearly 20 billion dollars, with 75 percent going to such sectors as finance, processing and manufacturing, trade-related services, agriculture and transportation. China's investment in Africa's manufacturing industry ranges from sugar refineries, glass, fur, medical capsule and automobile factories, textile and steel pipe manufacturing projects, etc.

There is already an example of China-West cooperation in humanitarian aids in Africa. During the fight against Ebola epidemic in West Africa when three large Chinese chartered airplanes arrived in Liberia on October 26 and 29 last year, the American air troops at the airport offered support by sending a number of forklifts to help download the supplies.

China's investments in Africa are also facing pressing security risks threatening the physical safety of ongoing projects and people. China has started to increase its fight against piracy and provide more support to UN missions in Africa.

Anyway, portraying China as a threat does not necessarily help improve the West's position in Africa. If the West values strong economic relations with a stable, prosperous Africa, it should explore the potential of cooperation with China in a more serious way.