China announces 11 foreign aid projects to court developing countries
Amy Hartford
China has announced 11 new foreign aid projects to support developing countries in various sectors, such as energy, health, education and agriculture.
The projects include building a windmill in Uzbekistan, a hospital in Ecuador, a vocational training center in Laos, a solar power plant in Zimbabwe, a rice research institute in Cambodia, a water supply system in Nepal, a school in Kenya, a malaria prevention center in Ghana, a fishery project in Senegal, a road project in Ethiopia and a disaster relief project in Vanuatu.
China said the projects are part of its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which aims to build infrastructure and trade links across Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond. China also said the projects are based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and reflect the needs and wishes of the recipient countries.
The announcement was made at the 10th China-Africa Forum on Development Cooperation, which was held online on July 10. The forum was attended by representatives from China and 53 African countries, as well as the African Union Commission.
The forum also reviewed the progress of the 20 flagship projects that were agreed upon at the previous forum in 2018. These projects include an industrial park in Rwanda, a railway line in Nigeria, a hydropower station in Angola, a satellite station in Algeria and a free trade zone in Djibouti.
China is one of the largest donors of foreign aid in the world, although it does not disclose the exact amount or terms of its assistance. According to a report by AidData, a research lab at William & Mary University, China committed $462 billion in official finance to 165 countries from 2000 to 2018.
However, China's foreign aid has also faced criticism from some Western countries and international organizations, who accuse China of pursuing its own strategic interests, creating debt traps for vulnerable countries, undermining human rights and environmental standards, and lacking transparency and accountability.
China has rejected these allegations and defended its foreign aid as a contribution to global development and peace. China has also called for more cooperation and dialogue among different donors and stakeholders to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of foreign aid.
Additional reading:
