China claims moral high ground over aid to Africa
24/01/2014
The official spokesman for the Chinese ministry of foreign affairs, Hong Lei, made the remarks at a news conference in mid-January.
He was asked to respond to criticisms of China’s approach that Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, made during a recent visit to Africa. Mr Abe said China’s aid to Africa was motivated by a desire to secure access to African natural resources.
Mr Hong said this was untrue and insisted China’s approach for many years had been aimed at socio-economic development and the wellbeing of African people. “Our investment in production projects for automotive assembly, for electical appliances and for leathergoods, for example, have led to a growth in employment and an increase in African countries’ capacity for self-development.”
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