China is becoming more important and relevant in Africa, says prodi

Though he is an Italian, Romano Prodi is happiest when he talks about his two pet muses, Africa and China. The veteran politician and seasoned diplomat says that the growing closeness and fondness of the two sides for each other is an example in cooperation that is worthy of emulation and praise.

Prodi, the former Italian prime minister, admits that China's experiences and growing presence in Africa will be more than helpful for him as he settles down in his new role as the special envoy of the United Nations to the Sahel region of West Africa, one of the poorest areas in the continent.

Though he has been equivocal in his support for China in the past, his current statements are seen by international experts as a reaffirmation of the global support that China and its new leadership has for its role in African development.

The former president of the European Commission says that China has enhanced its presence and importance in Africa through the export of goods, human capital, technology and financing. "China's responsibility, role in African development has been tremendous over the years," he says.

"I do hope, and I am sure that the new Chinese leaders will understand that such a big role also calls for a bigger share in the future work, power and wealth development of Africa."

Historically, many African nations have suffered due to the colonialist approach adopted by the developed countries, Prodi says. Many also blindly followed the development experiences of Western countries, without realizing whether it really suited Africa or not. For these reasons, Africa has largely remained underdeveloped.

China's approach in Africa has been different. China, which has brought millions of its own people out of poverty through innovative measures, has been more than a role model in development for many African countries.

Prodi says that while China is becoming more important and relevant in Africa, despite niggles, the continent is also an important destination for China for energy and raw material needs.

"Africa is the only continent at this moment which has a continental policy, and most of my work in Sahel would be focused on forging closer links between China, the United Nations, Europe and the United States in Africa."

While China has been advocating the "win-win" principle in Africa, Prodi says, the growing global presence in the continent is worrying. "It is important for the global players to focus on cooperation to prevent the continent from becoming a battlefield. It needs concerted efforts from one and all. It is important to realize that development and progress are essential to receive the benefits."

As UN special envoy, he says he also has a strategic mission to get China and Europe to work together in Africa.

"This is why I'm trying to create cooperation in the growth-limited area (in Sahel)," Prodi says, adding that it will be a fantastic example of ending not only colonialism but also post-colonialism.

For economic, social and other reasons, Prodi says it is vital to keep Africa as a partner and not as a dependent territory.

He reiterates that there is no parallel to the cooperation between China and Africa, especially in terms of goods, technology, capital and manpower. "It is new for history," says Prodi, an economist and political scientist by training.

His fascination with China began several years ago, and was reinforced when he took over as the Sino-Europe Dialogue Chair at the China Europe International Business School in 2010. Prodi is also professor-at-large at the US-based Watson Institute and former professor of industrial organization and industrial policy at the University of Bologna's Faculty of Political Science in Italy.

Prodi, who completed his doctoral studies at the London School of Economic and Political Science, says that over the years he has forged strong, fruitful ties with the current Chinese leadership. He especially recalls meetings he had with current Premier Li Keqiang in 2009 and 2011.

"I was very happy to know him. He has an open and direct personality, is well-versed in economic affairs, and comes with immense political experience."

Premier Li is seized of the importance and need for stronger, closer relations between the European Union and China, despite the financial problems the former is facing now, he says.

Prodi says that in his opinion, Europe needs to be the top priority in the long run for Chinese policymakers, as it has a strong overhang on exports, imports and cross-border investment.

"Many of the big Chinese companies are planning global moves. It will be easier for these companies to be associated with Europe, than the US, as Europe is more open."

He says that long-term trade agreements are needed, even as efforts should be made to reduce tariffs. "Innovations and bigger changes are not so easy. It would be better to look for a longer range of views in which bilateral progress can be made step by step."

At the moment, China is witnessing a huge challenge in urbanization, and that is something that the government is well aware of. "It is a goal with a constraint, and the constraint in my opinion is that it is impossible to create too many big metropolitan areas," he says, adding that it will be much more important to develop middle-sized urban areas than the big mega-cities.

"But this is a project that needs lots of skills and lots of political unity."

Prodi says China also faces a challenge in the widening development gap across regions. "The differences in income between Beijing, Shanghai and Guizhou, Gansu, are quite substantial."

Urbanization, Prodi says, should be accompanied by the process of income equalization along with improvements in social and economic policies.

It is too early to comment on the new leadership in China, he says.

"The quality of the cake must be judged after having eaten it. So I'm very curious and anxious to understand how they get about it."

But he is optimistic that China will pursue the high road to development. "That the new leadership is a team which collectively believes in the common goal is an important asset for the future."

fujing@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 04/12/2013 page24)