$60bn deal: China’s interest is to develop Nigeria —Chinese ambassador

Many people want to know why China is so interested in such massive aid programmes in Africa.

China’s interest is economic cooperation. By this cooperation, if the people improve their living standard on the African continent, their demand will increase. This demand will provide opportunity not only for China but also for the world. We did this to the world before. We provided a huge opportunity. We provided the world with the huge Chinese market. This is what we want to replicate in this continent. So, with this economic cooperation between China and Africa, we see the future demand of this continent increasing tremendously. We engage in this process by helping Africa to develop even faster and become greater. When this is achieved, they also reward us with greater opportunity and provide demand for our own products. That is what we call win-win.

Looking at this $60 billion, what are the biggest challenges Chinese government is having in achieving its set targets in Nigeria?

I think the cooperation and bilateral relation is a good one. On the political front it is good. On the economic front, in terms of trade, the cooperation we get from Nigeria is also good. But the challenge is obvious. We set a pretty high target. For example, the Chinese government sets aside $60 billion to be invested in Africa either through loans or investments into projects in three years time. At the official level it is a huge challenge. Everyone is talking about win-win cooperation. But what about the lose-win, win-lose or lose-lose? No one can guarantee results. That’s where the challenge lies. You can have a target, a purpose, but how to fulfill it is the task. It involves wisdom, determination and the spirit of courage from every one of us. A Chinese philosophy says, “If you think you can win and let the other party lose, you will lose eventually.”

Of course if you lose and let the opponent win, that is also not the solution. If you run to win, you must let your partner also win. This is the only way you can help maintain long-term friendship and long-term relationship. We believe in long-term cooperation. This is Chinese philosophy.

How do you respond to the allegation that China’s interest in Africa will lead to re-colonisation of Africans?

First, we know that the history of human beings have been characterised by development and progress. Our ancestors may be stupid; I mean ancestors to all of us as human beings not only China. We did have colonial period in history. It was ugly, bloody and notorious. I think every human being should learn from that history. Colonialism will never lead us to the bright future that we desire. It may have benefited other continents but it caused a lot of damage to this continent. It caused huge sacrifice on the other side too. The Chinese are not stupid. The best benefit for China, certainly, is not to colonize Africa.

And after its hundreds of years of bloody history, this continent will never allow anybody to colonize it again. On both sides, we do not have that kind of opportunity to do that, even if both are stupid.

Now, where is the best result for China? I still return to the earlier topic. The best result for China is let the African continent become truly developed.  And this development will actually bring the whole world biggest opportunity, just like China offered to the world. We do not believe that the reforms that took place in China was as a result of colonialism. We offered to the world, the best opportunity. Most developed countries benefited hugely from Chinese investment. We want to have the story repeated in the African continent. Let people enjoy from the development. This has already been proved a success story. We have no reason to go back to the old history of colonisation and colonialism. That was stupid.

One thing you should never forget is that we, the Chinese people, actually broke some people’s monopolised market. You do remember when those who bought oil monopolised the market and decided what the price of oil would be. They paid six pence per barrel. But when the Chinese came into this market, we certainly broke up this monopolized system.  We made the producing countries enjoy one hundred US dollar per barrel. The difference is that those who enjoyed six pence in history became angry. They were angry because the Chinese have put a stop to what they enjoyed before.

Look at it on the other side. When you sold the oil for six pence per barrel, how much did you pay for imported suit? You pay five hundred dollars because the only supply is from Europe. How many barrels of oil did you have to export before you bought a suit in the past? Today, when you buy a Chinese-made suit, how much do you pay? Less than three dollars, the cheapest. Why do you complain about colonisation from China? It is because some people have been made very angry in the market place. I think we are doing something good for the people who sell oil.

The plunging oil price is affecting many economies, but China seems to be managing the situation well. What lesson can Nigeria learn from China in overcoming the challenges of inflation, fallen revenue, insecurity and more?

We have suffered the same problems Nigeria is suffering today. So we approach the problems based on our experience. When I was still a junior staff in the foreign ministry, inflation in China rose to about 80 per cent. You know what that means. People worked harder. Workers were organised to work for 24 hours a day. When you have the crisis, it also means you have opportunities there in. It is a time you are pushed to make positive changes. More so, when you have challenges and there are friends willing to help, you just know that such challenges can be overcome.