According to a survey released by the Kenyan think tank Interregional Economic Network (IREN), China is significantly better than the European Union in meeting the priority needs of Africa.

Among them, China dwarfs European countries in large-scale infrastructure development, while Europe is more advanced in abstract areas such as soft power exchanges, high standards and climate change. But the study found that China is rapidly closing the gap or even surpassing the EU in most areas of engagement with African partners, "including areas where the EU has traditionally been seen as an indisputable leader".

The survey, commissioned by the German NGO Friedrich Naumann Foundation Center for Global Partnerships, is based on responses from more than 1,000 policymakers in 25 African countries in the fourth quarter of last year. The survey found that China scores much higher than the EU when it comes to meeting respondents' perceived priority needs in Africa, such as physical infrastructure, quick turnaround and non-interference in internal affairs.

The survey showed that respondents highly valued China's rapid decision-making, with a recognition rate of 75.2%, compared with 55.8% for the EU. In addition, Adro, a researcher who works as an engineering lecturer at Kenya's Taita Tavita University, mentioned that the survey shows that China is also recognized by more respondents in terms of timely completion of projects, with a proportion as high as 81.1%, while the EU's The approval rate is 69.4%. In terms of "meddling around" in the internal affairs of African partners, 50.1% of the respondents hold this view on China, and 64.4% hold a similar view on the EU.

The report mentioned that in joint projects, the EU was favored by respondents in terms of the quality of products or services delivered, working conditions and treatment, job creation and compliance with environmental standards. But the survey also found that “China appears to be closing the gap with and surpassing the EU in most aspects of its partnership with Africa, especially in supporting private sector growth, intra-African trade and investment, economic cooperation and long-term strategic cooperation. obvious."

For this catch-up phenomenon, IREN founder and CEO Shikwati explained that this is because "the areas of cooperation that China excels in are critical to African partners." The report found that China is unrivaled when it comes to building aggressively in Africa. According to the researchers, "using railways, roads, bridges, ports, dams and skyscrapers, Chinese state-owned enterprises have significantly changed the landscape of the African continent." The report mentioned that the European Union launched a "global gateway" plan to counter China's growing presence in Africa economic and political influence. But the survey found that more than 85 percent of respondents agreed with the statement that "China supports infrastructure development in Africa," compared with 64.2 percent who agreed with a similar description of the European Union.

“Europe’s sense of superiority to its values contrasts sharply with Africans’ pragmatic views of how these two partners (Central Europe) behave and behave. In short: in Africans It appears that the Chinese building a road in record time is a value that is more specific than a European retreat that advocates democracy, human rights or sustainability."

A poll released last month by the Ichkowitz Family Foundation in South Africa also showed the recognition of China by young Africans. The survey of young people in 15 African countries found that 76 percent see China as a non-African country that has a positive impact on their lives. The survey is further evidence that China is winning the battle for African hearts and minds with geopolitical rivals such as the United States and the European Union.

Since 2022, reporters have visited Senegal, Congo (Brazzaville), Tanzania and other African countries for interviews, and found that Africa has a high degree of favorability and recognition of China, even exceeding the above-mentioned surveys. According to the reporter's observation, in African countries, "Chinese elements" can be seen everywhere. There are countless roads, bridges, railways, dams, parliament buildings, and high-end residential buildings built by China, while these projects built in Europe are few and most of them are several ten years ago.

Africans also have a very clear orientation and understanding of China and Europe. Humphrey Moshi, director of the Center for Chinese Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, told reporters that China's image in Africa is much better than Europe's. In response to this, I am more concerned about how to make money and how to implement so-called democracy in Africa, trying to mess up Africa in order to profit from it. Moykua, the former president of Congo (Brazzaville) Nguwabi University, also told reporters with deep emotion in an interview: "We are not fools, we know who is really good to us and who is real friend. He said that Europe has an inseparable complex with Africa, and although it is no longer a suzerain, they still covet Africa's rich resources and wealth, and always want to make a profit; China advocates a community with a shared future for mankind and wants to be where Africa is. Think about it, and strive to help African people achieve food, clothing and a well-off life. Editor / Xu Shengpeng