The Africa-Asia Connection

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Africa and Asia are forming stronger ties which with lead to improved economic conditions for both continents. For decades Europe and America have held many of these nations to unfair trade agreements keeping them in poverty (ex. farm subsidies). However with the Jakarta Conference that took place last month things are going to improve vastly over the next ten to fifteen years. The conference was on the 50th Anniversary of the first meeting that took place in 1955 that was comprised of post-colonial African and Asian states. It was an effort to improve the economic conditions of these states that had been long exploited by the colonial powers. All in all the US and Europe are going to be cut out of the loop soon enough with Africa and Asia forming ties along with South America and the Middle East improving relations as well.

UNFAIR GLOBALISATION

South African President Thabo Mbeki slammed what he called the unfairness of globalisation.

"Every day the process of globalisation emphasises the gross imbalance in the global distribution of power, making it imperative that we use our collective strength urgently to achieve the restructuring and democratisation of the United Nations and other multilateral organisations," he said.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan made an impassioned plea for leaders to show boldness and be ready to compromise on his historic proposals to reform the world body.

"If a global deal is to be reached, everyone must see their major concerns addressed and everyone must be prepared to compromise. And everyone must keep in mind that we live in one world, and that our fate is shared," Annan said.

The African continent is full of natural resources but lacks infrastructure, Asian countries such as China can use those resources to fuel their ever growing economic expansion and build infrastructure within Africa as a part of the fair trade agreements that will be formed. China has already built roads and stadiums (Uganda) in several African countries and has upgraded electrical services across the continent and will continue to do so.

Hu, in his speech, made no mention of Japan, but pledged China would be a champion of the Third World.

"China will always be a member of the developing world," he said. "Let's stand shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand."

China’s rampant economic expansion – and resulting appetite for raw materials – is the major factor driving the country’s long march across the African continent. The second biggest consumer of oil after the USA, China is searching the world for new sources of energy, and Africa is fast becoming an important supplier. To date, China has oil partnerships in Sudan, Chad, Nigeria, Angola and Gabon, and is exploring a potential collaboration in Kenya.

Asian countries are even aiding with stemming the violence in African countries.

Asian countries also have been prominent in efforts to resolve Africa's armed conflicts. With developed countries reluctant to assign troops to UN peacekeeping missions, Asian armies have stepped in to help fill much of the gap. At the very beginning of 2004, there were 15,375 Asian troops, military observers and police posted to the UN's six active peacekeeping missions in Africa, accounting for 43 per cent of the total. In Sierra Leone, Asian peacekeepers comprise more than half.

As an advance party for UN mission in the Congo, the engineer company bore heavy tasks. Besides making road and building bridges, tasks might be adjusted at any time as the situation changes. They might be asked to build an airport or other infrastructure, and even dismantle ammunitions. In recent days, the engineering company has helped Uruguayan safeguarding company rebuild their barracks with high standard, and finished the infrastructure construction of Bukavu headquarters of UN mission in the Congo. Before they had any time to take a rest, they began the project for restoring the highway from Bukavu City to the Kavumu Airport. Since they had to ride on truck to and fro for about 40 kilometers every day, plus a tight schedule, heavy task and high standard, they had to eat some field rations on the building site　for lunch.

This is a Q&A analysis of what goals are planned to be met as a result of the conference.

World leaders and heads of state will convene in Jakarta tomorrow for the 2-day Asia-Africa Summit.

Initiated in 1955 in Bandung, Indonesia, the summit aims to foster closer trade and economic relations between developing or post-Colonial nations in the Asian and African continents.

On the occasion of the summit's Golden Jubilee which will end with a ceremonial event in its birth place, Bandung, what can we expect from the new Asia-Africa summit in Jakarta?

A question Melanie Yip put to Dr Ninasapti Triaswati Director of Economics at the Social Science and Research Consultancy in Jakarta.

NT: This will help strengthen the positions of both Asian and African nations, in a global political and economic context because 50 years ago, we had this summit. The new summit will bring back some nostalgia but it is more important to direct the situation of Asian and African countries, and allow them to have a better position in the global world.

What are some of the important issues you think will feature prominently in the summit?

NT: We understand that Asian and African nations face similar problems like how to fight poverty, how to enter market positions in this new world because the world is unlike 50 years ago. At that time, many of the countries just established their independence. Currently, some of the Asian countries are in better positions like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, many of which are in ASEAN. We also see China and India having strong positions in this world, so what I think is very important is to bring these countries together and direct them in similar positions, like strengthening their economies and markets, not just being competitors with each other, but more of joint cooperation to enhance others' economies.

Leaders from China and Japan are also expected to attend this summit, do you think that the current tensions between the two countries will also take center stage at this summit?

NT: We hope that through this summit, we can help overcome political problems, and try to direct this to a win-win situation than to make each other competitors, especially so for tensions like that. What we hope to see is a better world, not just concerned with political situations, but to also bring this world to new directions.

50 years have passed since the first summit in Bandung. The dynamics have changed for many countries, both in Asia and Africa. And the changes among Asian nations appear to move faster than African nations, why is that so?

NT:In order to have a better economy, it is not just based on monetary investments or to manage human resource capacities in certain industries. It is also a social capital which is very important, and a neglected area. That's the difference between Asian and African countries because in Asian countries, we try to manage our social capital in such a way in which we have proper government intervention. Of course, Asian nations also face problems like corruption, but our situation does not form too negative an impact on our economic growth or development.

How much work do you think needs to be done to foster closer relations between Asia and Africa?

NT: We need to do more homework to build better relations between Asia and Africa countries, especially a gap between the welfare of the two groups. So what is important now is to try to look for differences and similarities. But it is difficult to count how long or how much, and there's too much to be done.

There is the concern of timeliness and appropriateness of the Asia-Africa Summit given the recent disasters like tsunami and earthquakes in Aceh and parts of Sumatra. Is this the right time to host the event in Indonesia?

NT: This is the right time. This is the golden year. Unfortunately, we have that tsunami. And this affected not only Indonesia, but also Sri Lanka, and Thailand. So we hope that this will bring us together, and build a better relation for example. We can come together to think of solutions for problems like these. You understand, in Indonesia, we are experiencing problems of small and infrequent earthquakes.

What are some of the security measures that have been put in place, in the preparation process for the Asia-Africa Summit?

NT: We have prepared military enforcement. The government has mobilized police officers. And we also tried our security systems before everyone arrives. Last week, the Indonesian government conducted a terrorism exercise, and we have a simulation exercise on that. We carry out training to prepare for any emergencies.

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