About Sino-African relations
In fact, when we look at China's foreign policies in the early stage, during mao's period, it was mainly about relations between China and Asia, Africa and Latin America. Why? Because when New China was founded, the US imposed an isolation policy towards China and China had no friendly relation with Americ a at all. China's relations with Europe was also limited. Except Sweden and a few other countries, the relations with Europe was not warm either especially considering the imperialist power who invaded China in the beginning of the 20th century.
Thus, China's foreign policy was one-sided towards the third world, that is Asia, Africa and Latin America which are all developing countries.
It was also a time that all those African countries were inspired by Mao Zedong thoughts to fight against the colonialist rule and took the guarrila war strategy.
China never denied its support of Zimbabwe, Angola, Zambia, Tanzania and many other African countries. As Dr. Medler said that China treated African leaders as equal.
So it is really not surprising that China has a good relationship with African countries. Since Premier Zhou Enlai's period that Chinese foreign minister will visit Africa every year as soon as the New Year begins.
They put Africa as priority both politically and economically and in many ways. Never forget old friends.
There are real friendship and emotions when talking about Sino-African relations because many Africans know that China supports them, and many Chinese experienced that they themselves tighten the belt but send the food to Africa.
Thus this kind of ties are built through time.
I can also understand that some NGO's in Africa resented China's presence. I think that is because they were supported by western governments and their mindset was the same as the western donors stressing democracy and good governance which is an ideal to strive for.
As a person who stayed in Africa for two years, I know the process how the Chinese began to do business there. Due to western dominance of products in the African shop, there is a lack of affordable good products for the local people. Before I went to Africa, my mayor said he heard even the brush was imported in Africa.
When I arrived in Zimbabwe, I found it was true. All the products were produced in the west. And the price was just high.
A Chinese friend told me that in 1991 when he just arrived there, he took a few watches from China with him. He bought the watch in China for 80 yuan which was 12 dollars. Then he sold it there for 200 Zim dollars which was 100 dollars. So he earned about 8 times more. This made him to think of doing business there because there was demand.
Lao Guo used to work in the embassy. Later he went back to do business himself. They simply bought things from Chinese factory and shipped them to Zimbabwe and then sold it to retailers.
Lao Cong also built her own house with her brothers and relatives. She sold the textile products in the streets and went to the countryside.
I think what they did indeed brought convenience to the local people.
