In its relationship with China, Africa must guard against merely becoming a supplier of raw materials in exchange for manufactured goods, South African President Thabo Mbeki said on Wednesday.
Speaking in Cape Town at the 14th national congress of the South African Students Congress, he said there is danger of entrenching such an unequal relationship.
”The potential danger in the relationship between Africa and China is that it is possible to build … an unequal relationship, the kind that has developed between African countries as colonies — including this one — and the colonial powers.
”In terms of this the African continent exported more material and imported goods, condemning it to underdevelopment, being only a supplier of raw materials.
”I’m saying this is a potential danger in terms of the relationship that could be constructed between China and the African continent.”
China understands this and said it will address the issue.
”China cannot just come here and dig for raw materials and sell us manufactured goods.”
Mbeki said China had a great need for raw materials, which is one of the reasons it is interested in building up a relationship with Africa.
”Raw materials include energy sources China needs, such as oil and gas,” he said. — Sapa