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| He suggested that the US and China have different strengths that can be complementary to meet infrastructure, health, education, and security needs in Africa. A file photo of President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden. (Photo by= Getty Images) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] Seventeen African countries are taking part in a two-day Democracy summit hosted by US President Joe Biden, billed as an event to discuss ways to defend against the rise of authoritarianism. Observers say it highlights the contrasting priorities of the US and China on the continent, BBC said.
The summit comes just over a week after the triennial Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) was held in Senegal's capital, Dakar, which has grown in significance as China became the continent's largest trade partner. China's President Xi Jinping announced investments of at least $40bn (£30bn) in projects spanning agriculture, digital economy, climate change, industrialization, as well as one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines in the donation and joint manufacturing. "It appears counterintuitive, but the more democratic a country, the closer they get to China," said W Gyude Moore, a senior policy fellow at the Center for Global Development.
According to the African Development Bank, the continent needs $130-170bn a year to meet its infrastructure needs, but there's currently a massive shortfall, in the range of $68-108bn.Trade expert Francis Mangeni says it would be best for Africa if the various initiatives focussed on synergy, not competition. He suggested that the US and China have different strengths that can be complementary to meet infrastructure, health, education, and security needs in Africa.
