Business
EthicsSA launches fact vs feelings survey on perceptions of Africa China growing trade
In addition, many of China’s deals to access energy, mineral and other natural resources are secret, opening them up to suspicions of corruption.
There are also allegations – again from the west, that some Chinese infrastructure projects are of inferior quality, and that insufficient attention is paid to ongoing maintenance.
Indeed, some commentators feel that although perhaps more benevolent than previous colonial enterprises, China is essentially a neo-colonial power intent solely on extracting African resources. This perception is fueled by the labor and general corporate social responsibility practices of many Chinese companies, which mirror those prevalent on mainland China itself and which do not meet Western standards.
China currently engaged in drafting legislation to guide its foreign investments – probably an indication that it is alive to how these negative perceptions could affect its ongoing foreign investments.
Many Chinese believe that the negativity surrounding their African activities is fanned by the Western media because China is “threatening” Western interests.
“The survey we are launching today will help us to move beyond impressions by determining what Africans themselves think about China’s impact on their economies and communities, and what Chinese workplace and environmental practices are really like,” says Professor Rossouw.
“EthicsSA intends to use the survey results, along with a supporting literature survey, to initiate a process of dialogue with China and Chinese companies active in Africa.”
