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China-Africa relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Why China’s boost for focus on African farm produce will not blur outlook for infrastructure push

  • China has launched a slew of measures to boost Africa’s agricultural and industrial modernisation as it seeks to reverse a long-time trade imbalance
  • New initiatives do not mean a shift away from infrastructure building but rather the launch of a parallel track, observers say

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Kenyan avocados on display at a food and agricultural products expo in Shanghai. Dozens of other African countries have recently signed deals to export farm produce including chillies, cashews, sesame seeds and spices to China. Photo: Xinhua
Jevans Nyabiage
China is helping African countries to grow more food products and set up industries to process farm produce as part of efforts to reverse a long-time trade imbalance in its favour.

It is also increasing African food imports after more than two decades of mostly buying raw materials from the continent while exporting electronics and textiles, resulting in a trade surplus that saw China accused of promoting the unhealthy imbalance. Last year, Chinese exports to Africa made up nearly 60 per cent of the US$282 billion in two-way trade.

But new initiatives to support African agriculture, industrialisation and skills development did not mean a shift away from infrastructure building, long a mainstay of China’s engagement in Africa, observers said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping recently unveiled plans to build more manufacturing plants in Africa, ramp up food production there and equip thousands of Africans with vocational skills to support the continent’s agricultural modernisation.

“China will harness its resources … to support Africa in growing its manufacturing sector and realising industrialisation and economic diversification,” Xi said in late August on the sidelines of the Brics summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He also pledged closer cooperation on quarantine and inspection to help boost Chinese imports of African farm produce.

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