Men giveren får også noget igen – adgang til kontinentets store naturrigdomme
The African Union (AU) has inaugurated its newly built headquarters in the Ethiopian capital.
The entire 200 million US dollar project was funded by China as a gift to the AU, writes BBC online Saturday.
The tower overlooks a vast conference centre in Addis Ababa where African heads of state are expected to meet for years to come.
The new 100 meter high AU building dominates the citys skyline and is its tallest building.
Most of the materials used were imported from China and even the furnishings were paid for by Beijing. Construction began in January 2009 and involved 1.200 Chinese and Ethiopian workers.
Trade between China and Africa has increased more than six-fold during the past decade to 120 billion US dollar in 2011. China is interested in Africa’s natural resources and in return is investing huge sums in African infrastructure.
Roads are being built by Chinese firms at a staggering rate, and while the West impose conditions before aid is given, China’s relationship with African countries is strictly a business one.
Human rights groups have criticised China for undermining efforts by western countries to link aid to improvements in governance. However African leaders have welcomed the Chinese approach and have embraced investment from Beijing.
Chinese cars are being made in Ethiopian factories and China is also building a light railway (letbane) across Addis Ababa, BBC notes.
