South Africa’s trade minister embraced China’s surging investment in Africa yesterday, saying that Beijing was not pursuing a neocolonial policy and its growing interest in the continent would bring huge benefits.
The trade minister is part of a delegation led by South African President Jacob Zuma that includes almost 400 business executives and 11 cabinet members, the biggest ever group to accompany a South African leader abroad.
Rob Davies said China’s rapidly expanding African presence “can only be a good thing” because it meant increased competition between developed and developing countries in their pursuit of resources and influence in Africa.