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Riz Khan
China in Africa
China has become the most aggressive investor nation in Africa, but at what cost?
Last Modified: 01 Jul 2008 13:43 GMT

Protesters in South Africa criticise Chinese arms shipments to Zimbabwe [AFP]
It seems like a perfect match - a growing country looking for markets and influence meets a continent with plenty of resources but few investors.

Between 1998 and 2006 Africa's exports to China have increased by 2,126 per cent. Fueled by the highest sustained growth rates in modern history, China's economy is increasingly dependent on Africa's resources.

In just a few years the People's Republic of China has become the most aggressive investor-nation in Africa. But what is the cost?

Deals with countries often accused of poor human rights records are made on a daily basis, corruption continues to grow in some of the most corrupt African nations and the environmental impact has been immense.

Is China exploiting African nations or is it offering real economic growth and opportunity to sub-Saharan Africa where other Western nations have not?

On the next Riz Khan show we take an in-depth look at China's push for natural resources on the African continent with Richard Behar, an investigative journalist and author of China In Africa and we are joined by John Afele, an author and former director of the International Programme for Africa at the University of Guelph.

Watch part one of this episode of Riz Khan

Watch part two of this episode of Riz Khan


This episode of Riz Khan aired on Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Source:
Al Jazeera
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