China's interest in Africa no 'threat' - US (Reuters/Xinhua) Updated: 2006-01-16 06:25
China's moves to secure crude oil supplies in Africa for its growing economy do not threaten
U.S. energy needs, a senior U.S. State Department official said Friday, the Reuters
reported.
The United States and China are both looking to Africa to help diversify
their oil supplies.
China's foreign minister, Li Zhaoxing, is visiting six African nations to
increase China's diplomatic and economic presence in the region.
China's top offshore oil producer agreed recently to pay $2.3 billion for a
stake in a Nigerian oil and gas field, its largest-ever overseas acquisition.
"I don't think China seeking oil in Africa is a threat to the United States'
interests," said Jendayi Frazer, U.S. assistant secretary of state for African
affairs.
Cooperation helps realize sustainable
development in Africa
Resources cooperation between China and
Africa will help Africa realize sustainable development, Chinese experts on
African studies were quoted by the Xinhua News Agency as saying.
In China's first-ever African Policy Paper released Thursday, China
highlighted its readiness to facilitate information sharing and cooperation with
Africa in resources development.
"To translate Africa's advantages in resources to competitive strength, and
to realize sustainable development in Africa is our aim in the resources
cooperation," said Wang Yingying, a researcher on African studies with the China
Institute of International Studies.
Despite their remarkable economic growth in recent years, African countries
are still vulnerable in their economy as the majority of their exports are
unprocessed raw materials, Wang said.
China has helped African countries build processing factories and provided
technical and management training courses in a bid toincrease the added value of
their exported commodities, thus increasing the competitiveness of their
products.
The Chinese government encourages and supports competent Chinese enterprises
to cooperate with African nations in developing and exploiting rationally their
resources.
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