The Sunday Mail
Mabasa Sasa recently in China —
Lack of policy co-ordination, political instability in the name of “democracy” and poor legal frameworks are stifling Africa’s development and hampering the continent’s partnership with China, a senior official in Beijing has said.
The Director-General of the Department of African Affairs at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Lin Songtian, said this in an address to delegates representing civil society at a recent workshop in Beijing.
Ambassador Lin said while China would never tell Africa what ideological political model to follow, bitter experience had shown that “people don’t eat democracy”.
He said three decades of the Washington Consensus had not delivered development, but, on the other hand, the Chinese model had lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in a shorter space of time.
The Washington Consensus refers to a set of economic policy prescriptions promoted primarily by the United States government and the IMF and World Bank.
The prescriptions relate to market-led economic growth/market fundamentalism (neo-liberalism), free trade and reduced state participation in the macro-economy.
On the other hand, the Beijing Consensus — according to former Chinese government official Mr Zhang Weiwei — is related to down-to-earth pragmatic concern with serving the people; constant experimentation/innovation; gradual reform as opposed to neo-liberal shock therapy; a strong developmental state; selective adoption of appropriate foreign ideas; and tackling easy reforms first and the more difficult ones later.
It is within this context that Ambassador Lin told African civil society delegates recently to properly advise and partner governments by contributing ideas and support that furthered tangible development objectives.
Ambassador Lin is also the secretary-general of China’s Follow-Up Committee for the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (Focac). The workshop was organised and hosted by the deputy secretary-general of the China Network for NGO Exchanges, Mr Shi Gouhui.
“Twenty-thirty years of the Washington Consensus have not brought food and jobs. . .The Beijing Consensus is very simple: we are partners; we never force ideas, we want durable peace,” Ambassador Lin said.
“I was ambassador to Malawi and Liberia some time ago. (When I was there) some people were saying China was not committed to democracy and human rights.
“The British had been in Malawi for 100 years before China, but the people had no parliament (building). I said we can’t discuss democracy under a tree, and in a year we built a parliament.
“Human rights are the right to work, the right to eat, the right to health. We are creating jobs which feed people, which educate them and which provide healthcare for them. Western countries want democracy that means go to the streets and demonstrate — but that’s your choice!”
He gave the example of Zimbabwe, which he said before land reforms was held by the West as an example of democracy.
“Before President Mugabe gave land to the majority he was a pioneer of democracy. He was even recognised by the (British) queen.
‘‘Then suddenly there were sanctions. Six months after sanctions, the supermarkets were empty.
“Is that democracy? People are suffering a lot in the name of democracy and human rights. Let me be clear: we hate dictatorships and we love democracy — democracy the Chinese way.
“Pursue a system that benefits the people. Look at the Arab Spring, now people are starting to understand Western democracy better. . .If it is good for the people and gives long-term stability, then it’s good. The outcome is all that matters and that is what socialism is all about.”
Ambassador Lin said as far as the West was concerned, a bad government was better than a stable, lasting regime; and Africa must deal with its frequent administrative changes if it was to develop.
“Malawi has 30 political parties, so the country is pulling in 30 different directions. The DRC has more than 400 political parties. Why so many parties all in the name of democracy?
“They (the West) want division; they can then interfere, even militarily. They weaken leadership all in the name of democracy. . .
“Democracy is good, but Western democracy has robbed Africa; it hasn’t found solutions to jobs and food. People don’t eat democracy. For us there is only one enemy, and that is poverty.”
Ambassador Lin said these divisions in the name of democracy meant policy inconsistency, which worked against sustainable development and eroded the strength of bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
“Frequent power shifts mean that national policy isn’t consistent. China advises its investors to target African countries where there are strong, stable ruling parties. Investors need capable and stable leadership.”
He said where the stability precondition was met, there was also need to ensure laws and regulations that promoted mutually-beneficial investment and trade.
“Africa needs to improve the investment environment. Many African countries were more familiar with aid and not investment. Business is business, where there is no return there will be no investment. . .
“An investor is like a flying bird. It looks for somewhere safe to land, somewhere with food and where it will be comfortable. Laws and regulations provide that safety.
“China is under the Communist Party of China but European and American investors are flocking here for long-term investment. They know they will make a profit. Profit comes from incentive policies and services that ensure investors are comfortable. There is need to update African laws to meet modern demands.”
He gave the example of establishment of special economic zones as a good catalyst for investment that led to development; emphasising the attractiveness of good laws, concessionary policies and services.
