China says Africa trade for mutual good

BEIJING – China defended its booming trade with Africa yesterday after rights groups accused it of helping sustain conflicts through arms sales and commodity deals that boost the coffers of oppressive regimes.

In a report issued earlier this month, Amnesty International said China was becoming one of the world’s top exporters of guns and other weapons, and its customers included African governments that routinely used such arms against their own citizens. “China is not interested in personal gain from its trade with Africa, but has all along acted in the principles of equality, mutual benefit and joint development in promoting trade relations,” a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu, said.”We are also making great efforts to train African people,” Jiang said.In 2005, total trade between Africa and China surged to US$39 billion, fuelled by increased imports of African oil and commodities.China has said it has donated billions to Africa in aid and sent thousands of medical and technical personnel to help with aid projects.China, which is vigorously pursuing sources of energy and raw materials for its booming economy, is one of many countries accused of dealing with governments that violate human rights.The US and former colonial powers such as Britain and France have also attracted criticism from rights groups for favouring their own companies and commercial interests in Africa.- Nampa-Reuters”China is not interested in personal gain from its trade with Africa, but has all along acted in the principles of equality, mutual benefit and joint development in promoting trade relations,” a spokeswoman for China’s Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu, said.”We are also making great efforts to train African people,” Jiang said.In 2005, total trade between Africa and China surged to US$39 billion, fuelled by increased imports of African oil and commodities.China has said it has donated billions to Africa in aid and sent thousands of medical and technical personnel to help with aid projects.China, which is vigorously pursuing sources of energy and raw materials for its booming economy, is one of many countries accused of dealing with governments that violate human rights.The US and former colonial powers such as Britain and France have also attracted criticism from rights groups for favouring their own companies and commercial interests in Africa.- Nampa-Reuters