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Cape Town - A factual basis is needed for proper dialogue with the Chinese government and chinese companies about their involvement in Africa, according to Deon Rossouw, CEO of the Ethics Institute of South Africa (EthicsSA).
China is now Africa’s largest trading partner and Chinese investment in Africa is now sitting at around $122bn per year.
EthicsSA has, therefore, launched a survey to gauge perceptions about Chinese companies doing business across fifteen African countries.
“China has become a major investor across Africa and it’s clear that there are widespread negative perceptions about its involvement,” said Rossouw.
"Given the importance of the relationship, particularly to Africa, we cannot rely on rumour and misinformation—hence the importance of this survey.”
Rossouw said it is important to realise that Africa accounts for only 10% of China’s total foreign investment, yet attracts a disproportionate amount of attention.
Many believe this suits China as it deflects attention away from the major investments it is making in Asia, Europe and the United States.
“One must also concede that China has made a positive and very visible impact on Africa’s infrastructure, funding many of the big projects across the continent,” he said.
Several factors are contributing to negative perceptions about Chinese investment in Africa, according to Rossouw.
The most important is probably the Chinese policy of non-involvement in any trading partner’s internal politics.
As a result, China has had high-profile interactions with governments such as Zimbabwe and Sudan.
In addition, many of China’s deals to access energy, mineral and other natural resources are secret. This leads to allegations of corruption.
There are also allegations that some Chinese infrastructure projects are of inferior quality and that insufficient attention is paid to ongoing maintenance.
"Some commentators feel that although perhaps more benevolent than previous colonial enterprises, the Chinese is essentially a neo-colonial power intent solely on extracting African resources," said Rossouw.
"This perception is fuelled by the labour and general corporate social responsibility practices of many Chinese companies, which mirror those prevalent on mainland China itself and which do not meet Western standards."
The Chinese government is currently engaged in drafting legislation to guide its foreign investments.
This is probably an indication that it is alive to how these negative perceptions could affect its ongoing foreign investments.
Many Chinese believe that the negativity surrounding their African activities is fanned by the Western media because China is threatening Western interests.
“Our survey will help us to move beyond impressions by determining what Africans themselves think about China’s impact on their economies and communities and what Chinese workplace and environmental practices are really like,” said Rossouw.
“EthicsSA intends to use the survey results, along with a supporting literature survey, to initiate a process of dialogue with the Chinese government and Chinese companies active in Africa.”
- Fin24
China is now Africa’s largest trading partner and Chinese investment in Africa is now sitting at around $122bn per year.
EthicsSA has, therefore, launched a survey to gauge perceptions about Chinese companies doing business across fifteen African countries.
“China has become a major investor across Africa and it’s clear that there are widespread negative perceptions about its involvement,” said Rossouw.
"Given the importance of the relationship, particularly to Africa, we cannot rely on rumour and misinformation—hence the importance of this survey.”
Rossouw said it is important to realise that Africa accounts for only 10% of China’s total foreign investment, yet attracts a disproportionate amount of attention.
Many believe this suits China as it deflects attention away from the major investments it is making in Asia, Europe and the United States.
“One must also concede that China has made a positive and very visible impact on Africa’s infrastructure, funding many of the big projects across the continent,” he said.
Several factors are contributing to negative perceptions about Chinese investment in Africa, according to Rossouw.
The most important is probably the Chinese policy of non-involvement in any trading partner’s internal politics.
As a result, China has had high-profile interactions with governments such as Zimbabwe and Sudan.
In addition, many of China’s deals to access energy, mineral and other natural resources are secret. This leads to allegations of corruption.
There are also allegations that some Chinese infrastructure projects are of inferior quality and that insufficient attention is paid to ongoing maintenance.
"Some commentators feel that although perhaps more benevolent than previous colonial enterprises, the Chinese is essentially a neo-colonial power intent solely on extracting African resources," said Rossouw.
"This perception is fuelled by the labour and general corporate social responsibility practices of many Chinese companies, which mirror those prevalent on mainland China itself and which do not meet Western standards."
The Chinese government is currently engaged in drafting legislation to guide its foreign investments.
This is probably an indication that it is alive to how these negative perceptions could affect its ongoing foreign investments.
Many Chinese believe that the negativity surrounding their African activities is fanned by the Western media because China is threatening Western interests.
“Our survey will help us to move beyond impressions by determining what Africans themselves think about China’s impact on their economies and communities and what Chinese workplace and environmental practices are really like,” said Rossouw.
“EthicsSA intends to use the survey results, along with a supporting literature survey, to initiate a process of dialogue with the Chinese government and Chinese companies active in Africa.”
- Fin24
