This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/6180310.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
China's ambitions in Africa | China's ambitions in Africa |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Mark Ashurst BBC News, Tanzania | |
Beijing has signed more than 40 free trade deals in Africa | Beijing has signed more than 40 free trade deals in Africa |
China has stepped up its business presence in Africa, but is being criticised for not pushing for improvements in human rights and governance in some countries. | China has stepped up its business presence in Africa, but is being criticised for not pushing for improvements in human rights and governance in some countries. |
There has never been a better time to buy flip flops in Dar es Salaam. | There has never been a better time to buy flip flops in Dar es Salaam. |
At the Kariokoo street market they come in all shapes and sizes: wedge heels, sequins, buckles. | At the Kariokoo street market they come in all shapes and sizes: wedge heels, sequins, buckles. |
Flip flops for work, and for fashion. | Flip flops for work, and for fashion. |
But at Tanzania's only flip-flop factory, these are dog days. | But at Tanzania's only flip-flop factory, these are dog days. |
A few years ago 3,000 people worked at OK Plast and their wares were exported to 22 countries across the region. | A few years ago 3,000 people worked at OK Plast and their wares were exported to 22 countries across the region. |
Today the factory employs just 1,000 and Fadl Ghaddar, the Lebanese general manager, told me it was struggling to break even. | Today the factory employs just 1,000 and Fadl Ghaddar, the Lebanese general manager, told me it was struggling to break even. |
All but a few varieties of Africa's flip flops now come from China and local companies cannot compete. | All but a few varieties of Africa's flip flops now come from China and local companies cannot compete. |
Mr Ghaddar claims end of line stock from Chinese factories is "dumped" here, sold for less than the cost of materials, dodging customs and import duties. | Mr Ghaddar claims end of line stock from Chinese factories is "dumped" here, sold for less than the cost of materials, dodging customs and import duties. |
African socialism | African socialism |
Some Tanzanians object that Chinese imports are shipped to the Chinese embassy in diplomatic containers from Beijing - but no-one can prove it. | Some Tanzanians object that Chinese imports are shipped to the Chinese embassy in diplomatic containers from Beijing - but no-one can prove it. |
Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere visited Beijing 13 times | Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere visited Beijing 13 times |
Outside, Chinese digger trucks are at work in the street - a Chinese company has won a government tender to renovate the sewage system. | Outside, Chinese digger trucks are at work in the street - a Chinese company has won a government tender to renovate the sewage system. |
And foundations have been laid for the new Julius Nyerere National Stadium, named after Tanzania's founding president. | And foundations have been laid for the new Julius Nyerere National Stadium, named after Tanzania's founding president. |
The raw materials, machines, the pipe work and the scaffolding, come from Beijing. | The raw materials, machines, the pipe work and the scaffolding, come from Beijing. |
Julius Nyerere visited Beijing 13 times - a record for an African leader. | Julius Nyerere visited Beijing 13 times - a record for an African leader. |
What he saw in China inspired "ujamaa", the policy of self-reliance and collective farming announced in the Arusha Declaration - Nyerere's audacious statement of African socialism in February 1967. | What he saw in China inspired "ujamaa", the policy of self-reliance and collective farming announced in the Arusha Declaration - Nyerere's audacious statement of African socialism in February 1967. |
Chairman Mao returned the compliment, sending Chinese engineers to build Tazara - the Tanzania Zambia Railway - to carry exports of Zambian Copper. | Chairman Mao returned the compliment, sending Chinese engineers to build Tazara - the Tanzania Zambia Railway - to carry exports of Zambian Copper. |
Many of those Chinese engineers are buried in a neatly tended graveyard, set behind a low white-washed wall on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. | Many of those Chinese engineers are buried in a neatly tended graveyard, set behind a low white-washed wall on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam. |
A marble plinth, inscribed with Chinese characters, reads: Cemetery for Memorable Deceased Chinese Experts Assisting Tanzania. | A marble plinth, inscribed with Chinese characters, reads: Cemetery for Memorable Deceased Chinese Experts Assisting Tanzania. |
An official who visited recently from Beijing claimed Tazara is still a household name in China and more Chinese experts are on their way. | An official who visited recently from Beijing claimed Tazara is still a household name in China and more Chinese experts are on their way. |
Donor's favourite | Donor's favourite |
Hu Jintao, China's president, has announced a doubling of state aid to Africa: £2.6bn in trade credit and loans, new schools and hospitals, professional training for 15,000 Africans in Beijing. | Hu Jintao, China's president, has announced a doubling of state aid to Africa: £2.6bn in trade credit and loans, new schools and hospitals, professional training for 15,000 Africans in Beijing. |
Hu Jintao announced a doubling of state aid to Africa | Hu Jintao announced a doubling of state aid to Africa |
Some Western observers are sceptical. | Some Western observers are sceptical. |
Already, Africa supplies a third of the oil fuelling China's economic boom. | Already, Africa supplies a third of the oil fuelling China's economic boom. |
Paul Wolfowitz, the American neo-conservative who is now president of the World Bank, says Beijing ignores human rights, corruption and environmental standards. | Paul Wolfowitz, the American neo-conservative who is now president of the World Bank, says Beijing ignores human rights, corruption and environmental standards. |
But there is no oil in Tanzania and few of the commodities China craves. | But there is no oil in Tanzania and few of the commodities China craves. |
East Africa's poorest country is also the donors' favourite. | East Africa's poorest country is also the donors' favourite. |
In the past six years, Western aid agencies have spent almost £3bn here - more than Hu Jintao promised over three years for the entire African continent. | In the past six years, Western aid agencies have spent almost £3bn here - more than Hu Jintao promised over three years for the entire African continent. |
If that is cheque book diplomacy, China's cheque book does not look big enough. | If that is cheque book diplomacy, China's cheque book does not look big enough. |
Chinese exports, on the other hand, seem almost limitless and now that China, like Africa, is capitalist, their relationship is more self-interested than sentimental. | Chinese exports, on the other hand, seem almost limitless and now that China, like Africa, is capitalist, their relationship is more self-interested than sentimental. |
Not far from the spot where Mr Nyerere made his famous declaration of African socialism, I visited a factory making generic anti-retroviral medicines for people with Aids. | Not far from the spot where Mr Nyerere made his famous declaration of African socialism, I visited a factory making generic anti-retroviral medicines for people with Aids. |
Cheap chemicals from a private company in China enable Tanzania Pharmaceutical Industries to manufacture these life-saving drugs at a cost of US$11.5 (£6) per patient per month. | Cheap chemicals from a private company in China enable Tanzania Pharmaceutical Industries to manufacture these life-saving drugs at a cost of US$11.5 (£6) per patient per month. |
Even a few years ago, that would have been wishful thinking. | Even a few years ago, that would have been wishful thinking. |
Chinese imports | Chinese imports |
Back in Dar es Salaam, I meet Yang Lei owner of the Dong Fang Development Company Chinese Shop on Samora Avenue, a busy downtown shopping street. | Back in Dar es Salaam, I meet Yang Lei owner of the Dong Fang Development Company Chinese Shop on Samora Avenue, a busy downtown shopping street. |
Mr Yang is the 31st member of his family to settle in East Africa. | Mr Yang is the 31st member of his family to settle in East Africa. |
His uncle opened the first of their seven shops in Nairobi, a decade ago. | His uncle opened the first of their seven shops in Nairobi, a decade ago. |
But after three years here, Mr Yang - who wears a sweatshirt with a picture of an American footballer and the logo "Top Class" - has learned neither English nor Swahili. | But after three years here, Mr Yang - who wears a sweatshirt with a picture of an American footballer and the logo "Top Class" - has learned neither English nor Swahili. |
His showroom is draped with silks, curtains and upholstery fabrics and is crammed with furniture such as dining suites, reclining chairs and an emperor-sized bed with adjustable headrest. | His showroom is draped with silks, curtains and upholstery fabrics and is crammed with furniture such as dining suites, reclining chairs and an emperor-sized bed with adjustable headrest. |
Mr Yang, his wife and his teenage son sit at the back of the shop munching snacks - Chinese snacks - from a jumbo-sized packet on his desk. | Mr Yang, his wife and his teenage son sit at the back of the shop munching snacks - Chinese snacks - from a jumbo-sized packet on his desk. |
Yes, Mr Yang admits, through his translator, he has heard about local businesses swamped by Chinese imports. | Yes, Mr Yang admits, through his translator, he has heard about local businesses swamped by Chinese imports. |
Then he shrugs and says: "Africans love my shop." | Then he shrugs and says: "Africans love my shop." |
From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 25 November, 2006 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. | From Our Own Correspondent was broadcast on Saturday 25 November, 2006 at 1130 GMT on BBC Radio 4. Please check the programme schedules for World Service transmission times. |
Previous version
1
Next version