Roundup: Experts say China's foreign policy provides opportunities for Africa

KAMPALA, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- As China pursues in its foreign policy the notion of "building a community with a shared future for mankind," analysts said this provides a catalyst for African development.

"It is not a monopoly of the haves, but is a shared vision for the have nots," Fredrick Gume, Uganda's minister of trade, industry and cooperatives told Xinhua on Tuesday.

Zheng Zhuqiang, Chinese ambassador to Uganda, said that the new foreign policy seeks deeper cooperation between China and other countries.

"We will widen the spheres of cooperation and this means more opportunities for African countries," he said.

He said the Seventh Forum for China-Africa Cooperation will be held next year and is expected to discuss foreign policies in relation to African development.

"We hope African countries can grow together with us to realize different dreams. China has Chinese dreams, Africa has African dreams. No one in this world can realize dreams individually," he said.

Basil Ajer, an official at Uganda Investment Authority, a Ugandan state-run organization in charge of attracting investment, said Africa should utilize China's redefinition of internationalism to boost its development.

African countries need to learn from China by having consistent policies backed by research, Ajer said. Through research and planning, China moved away from a controlled economy to a free economy which has accelated its development.

Ajer noted that similarly Africa should have plans that span a period of over 50 years. He said these plans backed by research must be followed and implemented.

Gume said now that China is willing to help other countries grow with it, there should be a mechanism for setting up industries in Africa.

He said what Africa now needs is to add value to its products. This can be achieved by building factories on the continent.

"We want investors to come here and add value to what is produced," the minister said, noting that Africa should not continue exporting raw materials.

He said setting up factories in Africa means more jobs created and foreign exchange earned from exports of finished products. Enditem