RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Chinese Africa influence none of our concerns, says France

In 2002 I had the pleasure of going to Bruma Flea Market in Johannesburg.The market
was thriving and vendors were exuberant and energetic and doing quite well.
I was told that the market was established during the Mandela regime in the late 1990s.
I even bought some South African fabric and two soapstone sculptures.

I have just been told that Bruma market no longer exists and that the market was bought
up by the Chinese. A mall is now being constructed in its place. All the vendors were thrown out and apparently lost
their property without compensation. I am so disappointed to hear this.

Does anyone have more information on this matter?





Dr. Gloria Emeagwali
www.africahistory.net<http://www.africahistory.net/>
www.esnips.com/web/GloriaEmeagwali<http://www.esnips.com/web/GloriaEmeagwali>
www.vimeo.com/user5946750/videos<http://www.vimeo.com/user5946750/videos>

________________________________
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Abdul Bangura [theai@earthlink.net]
Sent: Monday, June 18, 2012 8:06 AM
To: USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com
Cc: leonenet
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Chinese Africa influence none of our concerns, says France



AfricanConstitution.Org


18 June 2012
France shrugs off spread of Chinese influence across African continent

NAIROBI, 18 June 2012 (Daily Nation) -- France is not worried about Kenya's growing relations with China, the French ambassador has said.

Ambassador Etienne du Poncins told theNation on Friday that France will not be "preoccupied" with the rise of Chinese influence because it is for the good of Kenya.

""We are absolutely not in the spirit to criticize or to be worried about that. Even on the contrary, we would like to welcome new partners because they are here to provide assistance.

"It would be the most important thing Kenya gets. It is better for Kenyans," he said in an interview.

The envoy argued that whereas the levels of interaction between the European Union (EU), which France is a member, and Far East Countries like China are different, Kenya would be at an advantage to gain more from both sides.

"I think it is very good that there are some new partners who are now committed to provide support, to provide assistance and to create good condition in Kenya," said the Ambassador.

The envoy spoke to the Nation ahead of a visit by the French Director-General for Africa Affairs Elisabeth Barbier.

According to the French embassy, her itinerary would include to "to identify areas where we could go as a partnership" between the Kenya and France.

Ms Barbier is , herself a former French ambassador to Kenya. She is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Raila Odinga on how they can review a declaration Kenya signed with France last year in April.

France and other Western diplomats from EU member countries recently complained that President Kibaki was giving them an arms-length treatment and further that they had had their appointments turned down.

In an apparent reference to Kenya' shift towards the East, the diplomats led by Mr Poncins complained that President Kibaki was unreachable.

But Mr Kibaki responded by saying he had given all diplomats equal time depending on the changing trends of the world.

"The president's diplomatic policy has been guided by Kenya's present view of changing geo-political dynamics. This entails an understanding of the West and East confluence on world affairs in an ever changing environment," said a dispatch from State House.

On Friday, the French envoy said there had been "a lot of misunderstanding about the matter" but added that the failure of the meeting to occur would "not change anything" because they had managed to meet other top government officials.

"The reality is that between the EU and developing countries, there is this request to have, from time to time, on a regular basis a political dialogue about development and so on.

"That is why the EU delegation on behalf of EU member states including France has written to the president requesting to hold such a sitting to engage in that dialogue."

China has recently emerged to be Kenya's key economic allies, with the former contributing significantly to Kenya's foreign aid.

The French Ambassador insisted his country will neither be changing its policies nor compete with China because they have different policies.



AfricanConstitution.Org © 2012



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