Africa Policy Insitute

China, how about you just teach our leaders how to make $51bn?

The wise saying "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a

lifetime" is universally attributed to ancient Chinese wisdom. You would therefore expect those who go to China

with interest in development to seek knowledge and skills rather than money. And there can be no doubt that all

the conference papers, concept documents and important speeches at last week’s China – Africa summit were

prepared by experts, using the latest data and state of the art technologies. Therefore, the figure of $51 billion

being offered by China to Africa must be informed by serious concept designs, scrutiny and analysis, and China’s

offers in funding and tariff-free imports from Africa must be intended to improve the continent’s economic

situation. One then is left wondering what it is that Beijing is infusing in this modern day Marshall Plan that other

development partners have been missing all along, if it is to make a difference. The East African.