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Published 1st January 2010

Vol 3 (AAC) No 3

A year to mend broken promises

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures
Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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After a dramatic fall in its trade and investment in Africa, Beijing pledges a return to exponential growth

The year 2009 was one of broken promises. China declared repeatedly that its relations with Africa would not be affected by the global financial crisis (AAC Vol 2 No 3). In an effort to build up momentum for a rebound in 2010 and as part of a long-standing tradition, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has already embarked on a tour of African countries in his first diplomatic engagement of the year. Beijing has been quick to enact the disbursement of aid packages linked to a new US$10 billion in concessional finance, along with increased science and technology cooperation. This was agreed at the 2009 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Egypt (AAC Vol 3 No 1).

Deconstructing Chindia

Image courtesy of Panos Pictures

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Delhi’s diplomats show how its brand of democracy and business differs from Beijing’s

India’s push for more trade and access to African mineral resources in 2010 will be made with one eye focused on Beijing. Indian diplomats and businessmen are trying...

How to manage expectations

The newish government has focused more on domestic policy but has promised to honour the previous government’s pledges to Africa

When Premier Yukio Hatoyama and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) came to power in September 2009 promising to focus on domestic issues and budget cutting, African countries feared that...

Sitting on the fence

Taipei cannot turn to its African allies to improve lagging exports, but pins its hopes instead on reaching an understanding with Beijing

Africa is almost off Taiwan’s diplomatic radar. In contrast to the attention lavished by Chinese leaders on countries across the continent, Taiwan’s relations with its four African allies remain low key,...

The year ahead

Cambodia: peacekeeping and trade, Indonesia: the spirit of Bandung, Malaysia: agribusiness and oil, North Korea: vanity projects and arms sales, Pakistan: smuggling and fraud, Singapore: business junket, South Korea: good intentions, Thailand: expanding ties, Vietnam: oily interests

As one of the less developed Asian countries, Cambodia’s diplomats do not travel as much or have budgets as large as their Indian and South Korean counterparts. Nonetheless, the Phnom...

Pointers

Yin Zhuo

Rear Admiral, People’s Liberation Army Navy, China

Fears of an aggressive Chinese military build-up surfaced again after a People’s Liberation Army Navy Admiral advocated the establishment of an overseas base to fight Somali pirates in...

Mohammad Hamid Ansari

Vice-President, India

Indian Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari began 2010 with a seven-day trip to Zambia, Malawi and Botswana. Ties abound between India and the three countries: Vedanta is the largest...

Shin Kak-soo

Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, South Korea

Under President Lee Myung-bak, South Korea is devoting more attention to Africa. In 2009, Lee pledged to double aid to Africa to US$200 million. Shortly after, Seoul hosted...

Li Qiangmin

China’s Ambassador to Zambia

As he responds to the fiery criticism of opposition Patriotic Front leader Michael ‘King Cobra’ Sata, Li Qiangmin is more outspoken than most Chinese diplomats, staunchly defending his...

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