"Compete with China for Africa!" The European Union plans to invest 150 billion euros in infrastructure in Africa, threatening to increase its influence in the world.
"Don't leave this area to China!" Germany's "Der Spiegel" weekly said on the 11th that European Commission President von der Leyen announced during political talks held in Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday that the EU will use more than 150 billion euros for Investment in Africa through its new Global Gateway initiative.
The Invest in Africa initiative is the first regional programme under the Global Gateway initiative, launched last December, with the aim of increasing the EU's international reach. It is supported by European countries, but implemented in a cooperative manner. During next week's EU-Africa summit in Brussels, the EU will unveil more details on its African investment plans.
Speaking in Dakar, Senegal' capital, Von der Leyen said the EU is the continent's largest and most credible partner. Senegalese President McGee Saler said he looked forward to the EU-AU summit to forge a "newer, modern and more trade-oriented partnership". "Europe and Africa are interested in cooperating," he said, citing geographic proximity and shared security interests.
In the coming years, the EU will provide a total of €300 billion in financing to emerging and developing countries around the world through the Global Gateway initiative for infrastructure development. Proposed investment plans include the construction of climate-neutral liquid hydrogen energy facilities in Africa and submarine data cables linking the European Union to South America. In addition, the funds will be used to build roads, railways, Internet networks and in the areas of health, education and scientific research.
The European media generally believe that this has also created competition with China, which has been working on the "New Silk Road" project in many countries for many years. The EU even wants to "replace China's 'New Silk Road'" with this plan. Before arriving in Senegal, von der Leyen hinted that foreign investment in Africa often comes with "hidden costs," in the name of China.
However, Aoki believes that the effectiveness of the EU's investment with political purposes is questionable. It is difficult for Africans to return to their former colonizers.
In turn, China's cooperation with Africa is mainly economic and does not interfere in internal affairs. At present, China has set up more than 3,500 enterprises of various types in Africa, and the stock of non-direct investment is US$43.4 billion. China is also the most important trading partner of many African countries. "Made in China" is very popular.
Second, the cooperation between China and Africa is also a "social project" for the benefit of Africans. Chinese projects are popular in Africa, where infrastructure such as schools, railways, roads, bridges and gymnasiums is built, but also where to work is located. According to the data, as of last year, China has added and upgraded more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, 150,000 kilometers of communication networks, more than 400 medical facilities, more than 1,200 educational institutions, and created more than 4.5 million jobs for Africa.
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