MY China
A
r
t
i
cl
e
BY
Yuwei
Zh a n g
P
eople who support China’s plans say that China
is helping Africa. They also support building
projects that are important to the local economy
in those countries. These plans are very great, useful,
and helpful. As a developing country, China has tried
its best to give aid to other countries, especially to
Africa in the past years. Foreign assistance programs
have been implemented for more than 60 years
in China. Egypt was the first African recipient of
development finance in 1956. During 2000-2011,
China implemented 1673 non-investment projects and
$75 billion in commitments of official finance to 50
recipient African countries, according to a report by
the Center for Global Development and the College of
William & Mary. These projects involved more than
ENGLISH
L
E
V
E
L
6
TEA C H ER S :
Christopher
Ladd
REbecca
shiring
20 areas of society in Africa, including health
assistance, debt relief aid, government and
NGO (Non-governmental organization) aid,
and education assistance. These projects have
helped thousands of Africans make their lives
better and better.
A
t the same time, China invested in
some economic programs in Africa,
including transportation, energy, and
so on. In this process, China brought advanced
technology, management methods, and human
resources to Africa. Compared with the aid,
investment is another concept. The aid is
humanitarian, while the investment follows
the international trade rules. In fact, most
of countries in the world have investments
in other countries. If the international trade
can make the countries friendly or make the
humans’ lives better, what’s the matter with the
investment?
M
ary Nagu, former Minister of
Industry and Trade of Tanzania,
said that Chinese aid promoted
the independence and development of Africa.
I believe that Chinese aid will contribute to
world peace and progress in the future.
29