Kenya to benefit from Sh6tr China grants to Africa

Kenya will be among other African countries to benefit from Sh6.4 trillion ($50 billion) worth of grants in the next three years on health, agriculture and military assistance, Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced.

While announcing his 10-point agenda for the African countries, President Jinping promised some Sh18.1 billion worth of grants in military assistance, provide training for 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa, and invited 500 young African military officers to visit China.

The Chinese leader said the two sides will conduct joint military exercises, training and patrol, carry out an “action for a mine-free Africa” and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.

Yesterday at a colourful event during the official launch of the Forum on China-Africa (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing City, Jinping dangled goodies to woe African Heads of State on his modernization agenda.

“China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization. In the next three years, China will work with Africa on partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization,” said President Jinping.

Mordernisation

In a thinly veiled attack on the West, President Jinping was categorical that Modernisation is an inalienable right of all countries, but the Western approach to it has inflicted immense suffering on developing countries.

“Africa is also awakening and the continent is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals outlined in the AU’s Agenda 2063. China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in our drive for a community with a shared future for mankind,” he said.

On the issues of Health, President Jinping promised that China will share clinical and disease prevention and control skills and technologies with African countries, and support key projects, to support African countries’ fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, schistosomiasis and other infectious diseases.

In addition to that, China will help in the prevention of cancers and cardiovascular diseases, help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Africa, child malnutrition, and support African countries in meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradication of preventable diseases and health promotion on the continent.

“We will send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, and launch 20 programmes of health facilities and malaria treatment. We will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa’s pharmaceutical production, and continue to do what we can to help Africa with epidemic response,” said Jinping.

Infrastructure connectivity

In making sure that Africa has the best roads, President Jinping disclosed that China is prepared to carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development.

“We are ready to assist in the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and deepen logistics and financial cooperation for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa,” said Jinping.

In addition, China will provide Africa with Sh18.1billion in emergency food assistance, build 6,670 hectares of standardized agriculture demonstration areas in Africa, send 500 agricultural experts, and establish a China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology innovation alliance.

“We will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. We will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies, enable Africa to retain added value, and create at least one million jobs for Africa.”

Apart from that, China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa—Vocational Education Cooperation Plan by establishing together an engineering technology academy, and build 10 Luban Workshops.

“We will provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa, mainly for women and youths. We will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio, TV and audio and visual programmes.”

Jinping also announced that China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, put in place meteorological early warning systems, and cooperate in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity conservation.

“We will create a China-Africa forum on the peaceful use of nuclear technology, establish 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. All this is designed to help with green development in Africa.”

On the economic front, China will foster industry cooperation growth clusters with Africa, push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation and launch an “African SMEs empowerment program.”

According to Jinping, China will give all Least Developed Countries (LDCs) having diplomatic relations with China, including 33 countries in Africa, zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines.