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China-DRC: a convergence of interests?
Kabamba, Bob
2015In Wouters, Jan; Defraigne, Jean-Christophe; Burnay, Matthieu (Eds.) China, the European Union and the Developing Worl: A triangular Relationship
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Keywords :
China; DRC; Hegemony
Abstract :
[en] China now positions itself as an important player in African international relations. An extensive literature is devoted to this new prominence. It largely confirms that China took over the role of the traditional partners of the continent. In 2007, the signing of what many observers called the "contract of the century" between Chinese companies and the Congolese State supports this thesis. This contract is based on the commitment to build infrastructures in exchange of mining concessions for a total of around 9 billion US dollars, guaranteed by the Chinese Exim Bank. According to the discourse of both Congolese and Chinese leaders, this contract is seen as the materialization of the new win-win relationships that China intends to develop in Africa. This contract was much debated. For some, Chinese presence is an alternative or even an opportunity to break with the politics of conditionality used by traditional powers in DRC. Chinese policy of influence and expansion through trade meet the Congolese aspirations to diversify partnerships. For others, it is rather the beginning of a new cycle of exploitation. China would have only taken over the Western world role in the global system of exploitation. Western countries have seen the Chinese emergence in DRC with concerns, but without having the means to counter it. Nevertheless, this vision of the emergence of a hegemonic China in DRC needs to be qualified. Reality is much more complex than it seems at first glance. Thus, the aim of the proposed contribution is to analyze the impact of these relationships by taking a critical look at the history of the relations between the two countries. The focus is then on the assessment of the "contract of the century". Is it really a win-win relationship? Namely, granting China access to natural resources and emancipating the DRC from the politics of conditionality of the traditional international partners and financial institutions? Assessing actual Chinese investments in DRC, can we really speak of a Chinese hegemony?
Research center :
Cellule d'appui politologique Afrique - Caraïbes
Disciplines :
Political science, public administration & international relations
Author, co-author :
Kabamba, Bob ;  Université de Liège > Département de science politique > Politique belge
Language :
English
Title :
China-DRC: a convergence of interests?
Alternative titles :
[en] Chine-RDC: Une convergence d'intérêts?
Publication date :
March 2015
Main work title :
China, the European Union and the Developing Worl: A triangular Relationship
Main work alternative title :
[en] La Chine, l'Europe et le monde en développement : une relation triangulaire
Author, co-author :
Wouters, Jan
Defraigne, Jean-Christophe
Burnay, Matthieu
Publisher :
Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, United Kingdom
Collection name :
Leuven Global Governance
Pages :
414-426
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Available on ORBi :
since 21 June 2016

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