PRESIDENT Hu Jintao's eight- nation, 12-day trip to Africa, now coming to an end, is a signal of an unprecedented show of commitment to an Africa policy by a great power. Hu went some way to allaying rising concerns about Beijing's role in Africa in his major policy address earlier this week at the University of Pretoria. What will count now is implementation.

Of great concern is that China's search for raw materials and energy could mean it will seek to pay to get its way with African governments, several of whom are already under fire on the good governance and human rights fronts. Chinese banks already stand accused by the World Bank of violating codes of good conduct in their lending to Africa. This is due to their disregard for environmental best practice in projects they finance and for taking advantage of the borrowing space created by debt relief to make large loans at commercial rates. In Zambia, workers have been shot at a Chinese-owned mine. And signs have been that China is prepared to condone events in Darfur because of its need for oil from Sudan.

Chinese aid, trade and investment have much to contribute to Africa, but they could also do much damage while Beijing insists on a policy of nonintervention. In his speech in Pretoria, Hu made a firm pledge to pursue a broader and more thoughtful approach towards Africa. "In the course of the fast growth of China-Africa co-operation, it is natural that new issues and new challenges may arise," he said. But he argued that these could be resolved through consultation and deeper co-operation.

On his stop in Sudan, the signs are he told Khartoum that the Darfur crisis should now be resolved and he would back an African Union-United Nations force. On his stop in Namibia, he told Chinese business to be more socially conscious. These are all signs of a new awareness, but the test of good faith will ultimately be only how Hu takes this approach forward in practice.

Posted to the web on: 09 February 2007

Business Day