Abe's Africa visit purely political, says Chinese foreign minister

Wang Yi shakes hands with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, (Photo/Xinhua)

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Africa has strong political motives and represents Japan's aims to compete with China, says Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi according to Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao.

Wang said during his meeting with Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopia's minister of health, that China's aid to and cooperation with Ethiopia are completely selfless, adding that China has not competed with or crowded out other countries. China asserts that the international community should cooperate with Africa and help the continent together and does not approve of "certain countries" who try to compete with others for their own interests and offer aid to Africa out of purely political motives, said the minister, in a veiled attack on Abe, going on to say that these narrow-minded countries cannot win the hearts of people in Africa.

Wang began his six-day visit to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal on Jan. 6. It has become a custom over the past 24 years for Chinese foreign ministers to visit Africa during their first trip abroad of the year.

The Chinese minister's coincides with Abe's visit to Ethiopia, Mozambique, the Ivory Coast and the Gulf state of Oman over seven days, which started Jan. 8. Abe's trip is aimed at strengthening ties with African countries. He is expected to give a speech about Japan's Africa policy in Ethiopia, talk with Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said and sign investment pacts with both countries.

Japan increased its aid to Africa this year and Abe's actions since last year show that the country has been trying to reduce China's influence in Africa, said Zhang Hongming, a researcher of West Asian and African studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The Chinese scholar doubts Abe's visit can diminish China's influence in Africa since China began providing aid to Africa in the mid 1990s.

As Japan wants to become a permanent member of the United National Security Council, it is seeking support from Africa, who has a large number of votes. Japan also hopes to diversify its energy sources through cooperation with Africa, which could affect China's resources and market in the continent, said Zhang.