Global Research: A New Asian-African Alliance? China supports Sudan's Economic Growth - by Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

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A New Asian-African Alliance? China supports Sudan's Economic Growth - by Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

"You have heard about the Asian tigers. Now, there is an African lion ... and it is beginning to roar!" Politically, Sudan's emergence as an "African lion," with the helping hand of China as well as India and Malaysia, may give rise to the notion of a new configuration of economic alliances between Asia and Africa. As several Sudanese have noted, their experience with China has established Sudan as the gateway for that Asian giant to Africa, and several other nations have begun similar economic cooperation deals. Why African nations may be turning to China, and other Asian economies, for help, should be obvious: if the U.S. and Europeans continue to hesitate to work with Sudan, or worse still, to impose sanctions on it, on hoked-up grounds of human rights concerns, then, as former Finance Minister Hamdi put it, the nation will "go east." It should, in his view, deal with the U.S. and Europe, with a policy of "splendid neglect," and let these potential trade partners be on the losing end, as Sudan continues to double its GDP. If India and China need Sudan's food and minerals, let them be in on the growth process.

Regarding the U.S., which has dealt with Sudan through sanctions and little else, Hamdi stressed that sanctions were hurting the U.S. itself, and lamented the backward thinking of officials at the State Department, and "even worse," the Treasury Department, with whom he had had dealings. Most damaging to relations have been the conditionalities posed for relations, conditionalities which include "globalization, privatization, liberalization, women's rights," the works. But, at the same time, this does not mean that the "go east" faction is intent on boycotting the West entirely; were the Europeans to seek cooperation on an equal basis, and use their embassies as "investment bureaus," decent relations could ensue, to the benefit of all parties. As the Merowe Dam project shows, Sudan needs high tech products which Europe can deliver. If the Europeans accept political constraints imposed by London and Washington, then, as it was suggested in the conference, private companies, like the Italian APS, should step forward. Government cooperation is not to be ignored, if the will is there. Bruno Calzia, special advisor to the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, said that Italy was eager to help develop the country's food producing potential. He pointed to the historic visit of Gen. Omar al-Bashir to Rome last autumn, as indicative of what can be achieved.