Africa's pivotal role in reviving Silk Road

The One Belt and One Road Initiative is an ambitious plan to revive the old maritime Silk Road.[Photo: yangtse.com]

Deputy Director of the Department of African Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bing Dai according to reports said the continent of Africa has an important role to play in China's One Belt and One Road Initiative.

The One Belt and One Road Initiative is an ambitious plan to revive the old maritime Silk Road. The Silk Road wields plenty of financial muscle and promises to boost member-countries’ growth and economies.

Bing Dai said Africa is an important role player in the revival of this old maritime route. The summit is open to all African countries from Kenya all the way down to South Africa and Madagascar. China is scheduled to host a very first Summit of the Belt and Road Initiative in May.

The Summit of the Belt and Road Initiative is Chinese President, Xi Jinping's landmark programme to invest billions of rands in infrastructure projects as well as railway, ports and power grids across Asia, Europe and Africa.

According to Reuters report, China has dedicated about 40 billion US dollars to a Silk Road Fund, and the idea was the driving force behindthe establishment of the 50 billion US dollars Asian Infrastructure Bank, that has been endorsed by China.

Dai has dismissed criticism from western countries regarding China's interest in Africa and that the countries interest has neo-colonialism. Bing said all the countries that China has relations with have the power of choice. He said Africa has the right to decide which countries they want to do business with.

With South Africa's rand recently been rated junk status with the pending demand for a no-confidence motion in President Jacob Zuma, Dai said China sincerely wish South Africa a political stability. According to Dai, China is confident that South Africa's ruling party would be able to steer the country in the right direction through these trying times.

China wants to continue to strengthen its relations with Africa as the continent forms part of the Asian giant's long term strategy. As China continues to build on the points put forward by President Xi Jingping during visits to the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa and Tanzania four years ago, their plans to cooperate with Africa are on track.

Bing Dai said China and Africa will treat each other as equals, Bing promised that the country will not interfere in any domestic affairs in Africa. He said they will not impose their will on any country that they will be in understanding with.

The key operations including industrialisation, the mordenasation of agriculture, infrastructure andfinancial services (including investment) were also reaffirmed by the Forum on China and Africa.