Chinese in Africa - are welcome guests!

Chinese in Africa - Are Welcome Guests!

The seed planting process of more than 50 years in African soil has germinated, grown and is ready for harvesting. This relationship of all round cooperation has finally paid off and China has started to reap its fruits. For many decades, the friendly people of this continent have extended their warmest welcome to the Chinese residents in this land.

In the 50 years or more since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the relationship between China and the African countries has consolidated and developed to withstand the test of time and international vicissitudes. Between them, they developed a sharing of equality, mutual benefit, sincere friendship and all-round cooperation.
During this 50 year period, China established healthy diplomatic ties with a large number of African countries. They sympathized and respected each other on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence and China’s Eight Principles of Foreign Aid. The China-Africa relationship grew dynamically on a solid foundation.
The people and the government of China deeply sympathized and vigorously supported the African countries in their struggle toward independence from imperialism and colonialism. China rendered them moral and material support. In this way, China made an important contribution to the national liberation and economic development of Africa. The African countries were provided with a wealth of aid to help develop their economies and to consolidate their independence. For example, the Tanzam Railway is a well known project around the world. This happened in spite of the fact that China itself was undergoing very difficult times due to enormous imperialist embargo pressures.
Over the last five years, hundreds of thousands of Chinese have discovered the African continent where they are doing business in a part of the world that had been terra incognita for their compatriots. The Xinhua press agency recently estimated that there were at least 750,000 Chinese working or living for extended periods on this continent, a reflection of burgeoning economic ties between China and Africa that reached $55 billion in trade in 2006, compared with less than $10 million a generation earlier and is expected to hit $100 billion by 2010.

On June 22, 2006, President Hu Jintao received the delegates to the 4th Conference of Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations in Beijing. More than 450 representatives of Chinese expatriates from across the world attended this event. At the conference, President Hu Jintao acknowledged and praised the outstanding achievements of overseas Chinese over the years through their hard work and perseverance. He emphasized that the Overseas Chinese have played a significant role in China’s opening-up and reform, and they have also helped enhance friendship and understanding between China and other nations around the world. He strongly encouraged Chinese overseas to contribute more to world peace and development in their host countries.

We cannot ignore the contributions of the Chinese living overseas at this time in history. These new changes and their impact on the countries in which the Chinese live have an important and strategic role in the history and politics of other countries.

On the other hand, as Chinese overseas, we have to define our role carefully in host countries. Our rapid investment expansion can be perceived as economic aggression of a privileged minority; our interest in protecting our business is often in conflict against the local population.

Recently a specter of bias against Chinese immigrants has been loafing around some European and Southern Pacific countries where there has been frequent occurrences of incidents in which they were discriminated against, insulted and even excluded……………

Italian police clash with Chinese merchants in Milan's Chinatown!

Rebellions against Chinese “colonialism” in Papua-New Guinea!

In Western Europe, several hundred Spaniards in Elche took to the streets to protest against the Chinese merchants, attacked the Chinese-run stores and burned Chinese-made shoes worth $1 million USD.

Even in the small island nations such as Solomon Islands, in April 2006, there were riots and lootings against Chinese merchants and their shops (Xinhua 2006); and in Tonga, in November 2006 there have been riots and looting against Chinese merchants who own a large chunk of the local economy. Many Chinese-owned stores were fire-bombed or looted in disturbances. The trouble forced hundreds of migrants to abandon their dreams of a new life in the Pacific and return home to China virtually empty-handed.

Until recently some Chinese firms doing business in Africa are starting to see a backlash from their aggressive investment on the continent. As commodity markets have boomed in recent years largely due to soaring demand, Chinese money has poured into Africa.

Although African leaders still hail China’s burgeoning involvement as a solution to their woes and being a welcome alternative to the West, the grass-rooted ordinary Africans appreciate this unprecedented influx of Chinese investments and products.

The rush into the world’s poorest continent, once greeted with open arms, has triggered resentment towards the flooding “invaders”. Their perceived wealth in a poor country has ignited feelings of resentment and bitter jealousy. In recent years there has been an influx of tens of thousands of Chinese settlers into Africa. It is a cultural shift that many locals have found hard to accept.
Instead of taking up a defensive position, it is wise for the Chinese overseas to make an honest evaluation of the role and responsibilities of our host countries.

Do we have a legal status or a valid visa to reside in the host country?
Indeed I am raising a very sensitive question here, but it is a very serious matter in the eyes of our hosting countries! Right now, we have to admit that there are a significant number of illegal settlers from Mainland China living on this continent, and they are causing a lot of social problems to the host countries! How long do you think the host country and the local resident can tolerate their guests who have no respect for their law????

Are we trying to learn the local language and appreciate the culture?
Learning the local language is the key to reaching the heart of the local community. This is what will help us to understand more about the culture of our host country! However a lot of Chinese overseas are still maintaining their old way of living and do not integrate with the local population. This can cause a lot of miscommunication and misunderstanding when encountering the local residents on a daily basis.
Although China is an ancient country with a rich cultural heritage, we still need to appreciate and respect cultures that are different from ours. In fact, Africa has a very colorful culture that is unique in value and religious virtue!

Is our business legally registered at the commercial registration offices in the host country?
Most of the Chinese who travel abroad are entrepreneurs and very aggressive in operating their businesses. Now, tens of thousands of Chinese have established themselves in Africa. However a lot of them have operated businesses illegally; the businesses are not officially registered in the host country. Therefore it can provoke bitter jealously and anger among the local business people because their business is greatly affected by the Chinese “invaders”! They consider that the Chinese are taking away their precious raw materials and exploiting the local workers by paying them lower wages.
Does the Chinese community recognize their social responsibility in the host country?
Many western multinational companies are becoming more involved in local community causes, notably by means of additional vocational training, assisting environmental charities, recruitment of special needs people, partnerships with local communities, sponsoring of local sports and cultural events or donations to charitable activities. This promotes the development of positive relations in the local community.
Chinese are well known as being hard working and aggressive in money matters! However, as Chinese overseas, we are still considered as guests living in a host country. We should always be aware of the needs of the local community and have a positive impact on the environment and local residents. Accepting our responsibility means recognizing that the Chinese community play an important role in society. Having the commitment to act as a responsible global citizen and be willing to answer questions and respond to any criticism should be our goal!

Being a welcomed guest in Egypt!
According to the official updated figures from the Chinese Embassy in Cairo, there are approximately 3,000 Chinese residing in Egypt. Most of them are representatives from government projects or as private entrepreneurs working and living in Egypt. The un-official figure is approximately 10,000 Chinese settlers in Egypt!

Creating Wealth and Jobs
With new innovations, Chinese entrepreneurs launched their unique industries and businesses overseas. Since unemployment is a very serious problem in Egypt, Chinese entrepreneurs help stimulate the growth of the economy and offer more job opportunities for Egyptians. An example is the export of marble which is a great success for Chinese entrepreneurs that creates wealth and jobs for Egyptians.

Building Bridges
Overseas Chinese abide by the laws in Egypt, respecting social and ethnic customs. They live with the local people in a sociable way in an effort to enhance the friendship between the Chinese and the Egyptian peoples. During our Chinese Lunar New Year, the Chinese Cultural Center and the Chinese community organized different activities for sharing our festive traditions and values with the Egyptians.

Social Responsibilities
In the past, the overseas Chinese community concentrated on their businesses. However, they have become aware of their social responsibilities in the host country. They recognize the needs and have initiated actions to raise funds to help the special needs children in Egypt and have had a strong response to natural disasters which caused great damage to some developing countries. They also took great initiative to raise funds for tsunami and earthquake victims.


Roles and Contributions of Overseas Chinese for the Homeland
The Chinese entrepreneurs and business community in Egypt has a facilitators role to play in China’s integration of world economy as well as a potential bridge between Egypt and China. Moreover, this community plays a pro-active role in fostering China’s integration into the global economy. By promoting Chinas exports they are capturing and channeling foreign investment direct to China.
As a representative of the overseas Chinese community in Egypt, I am encouraged by the growth and development of Sino-Egypt friendship. Chinese culture is one that seeks peace and harmony in every aspect of our lives. But now we are living in a world full of turmoil and chaos. It is time for us to promote genuine friendship among different cultures and races to reshape the world in harmony and unity through mutual respect and appreciation of each individual and their cultural differences and uniqueness. The Chinese community in Egypt is committed to serve as the bridge connecting China and Egypt in the area of trading and cultures. It is our goal that this friendship between two ancient civilizations will be an example of peace and harmony to the disturbing world and through this friendship will bring forth a bright future for both countries.


Contributor:
Mary Lai 黎 馨 馨

Executive Director of Sun Seng International Ltd, Egypt
香 港 新 生 國 際 有 限 公 司 總 裁

President of Cairo Chinese Speaking Women’s Association
埃 及 開 羅 華 語 婦 女 團 主 席

Member of Egypt China Foundation
埃 及 中 國 基 金 協 會 成 員

Member of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese
中 國 僑 聯 青 年 委 員 會 委 員