Puppet Masters
"I am expecting more movements of goods, infrastructure development from the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation slated for April in Beijing, as well as stronger interconnection between Africa and the rest of the world," he told Xinhua News on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum.
Hadi explained that projects involving cooperation with China (such as the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway and the Doraleh Multi-Purpose Port and international free trade zone) are helping Djibouti promote trade in Africa as well as distribution across the East African region.
The official added that more than $40 billion in exports and imports has been recorded through Djibouti ports, which couldn't be achieved without developing proper infrastructure, such as sea ports and railway connections.
According to Hadi, proper infrastructure will help trade across the African continent flourish because Djibouti serves as a gateway to big markets outside Africa.
He also said the accusations against China made by Western countries about letting some African countries fall into a debt trap due to cooperation on the BRI are "complete nonsense," as benefits generated from infrastructure construction will far exceed the investment.
Beijing's development and investment BRI megaproject which was announced six years ago by President Xi Jinping covers 152 countries in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. It is expected to significantly boost global trade, cutting trading costs by half for the countries involved.
Comment: It appears that its only the US, and any of its equally obstinate lackeys, that are losing out:
- The EU bows to 'systemic rival' China
- Why the Silk Road from Europe to China bypassed the 'dead-end' Ukraine
- The US-Germany rift is set to blow
- Russia's Crimea to become part of China's new Silk Road, despite Western sanctions
- Russia's Arctic passage will ease China's reliance on Malacca Strait chokepoint and help navigate US belligerence
- China's C919 jetliner to pose a major threat to Boeing's market dominance
Reader Comments
Not that CHina isn't playing this same money game, but it's more along the lines of our postWW2 "Marshall Plan" policy.... and like it or not, with this OBOR/BRI plan, there is actual physical benefits left behind, not just debt, which is just fiat, which is all fake anyway... and can be easily disposed of... same with our policies of indebting our colonies etc... but we back it up with military/intel operators to force our way... the sign to watch is when China does the same... but like all policies, if you don't put up the necessary defenses, you will be attacked by our jihadi operators like ISIS et al... so, a lot of it does/will look alike.... and whose to know how much of this is backdoor SG plans for their NWO? Setting up regional commands is well known, not just in the American led empire... and there's always an 'evil empire' here in Purgatory, so it isn't just us with our british imperial training doing it..
China doesn't have the same global imperial history, but that doesn't mean if can't adapt to the times... but so much of this OBOR is based in local/national development for global trade, which China needs to push to maintain its own development policies, that the groundwork for going 'good' or 'bad' is always going to be there.... and it always comes down to the perception of the one complaining. Is it jelousy, envy or fear?
When he also said the accusations against China made by Western countries about letting some African countries fall into a debt trap due to cooperation on the BRI are "complete nonsense," I could not agree with the chairman more, though I will call it bullshit. That is the result of the West’s fear. They will be left behind. If that Initiative can be taken away from China, does any sensible person believe that scare-tactics will continue?
When the Americans installed their base at the ‘choke-point’ of the sea between Djibouti and Yemen, they had no concerns other than to get full control of that point. Hence the reason for the proxy war in Yemen.
Shalom