NAIROBI, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Ties between China and Africa remain close despite the coronavirus pandemic and would become even closer once the crisis is contained, a Kenyan scholar has said.
Gerrishon Ikiara, a senior economics lecturer at the University of Nairobi, told Xinhua in a recent interview that the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted trade and economic activities between the two sides, as China is an important source of key raw materials and consumer goods for many African countries.
"With the globally imposed restrictions on passenger and cargo transportation, both exports and imports between China and Africa have been heavily disrupted," said Ikiara.
Data from China's General Administration of Customs showed that between January and April, trade value between China and Africa in terms of U.S. dollars declined by 16.8 percent year-on-year, with China's exports to Africa down by 9.3 percent and its imports from Africa plunging 24.4 percent.
Ikiara said Kenya's trade with China has grown rapidly in recent years with imports from the Asian nation currently accounting for 23 percent of Kenya's total goods shipped in, up from 13 percent in 2013.
The expert added that Chinese companies have become main contractors on major projects in Africa ranging from railway systems to geothermal and mining activities, with China supplying the required equipment, skilled personnel and relevant technologies.
"It is expected that when the pandemic is effectively controlled worldwide, the trajectory of rapid trade in a wide range of products and services including tourism and consultation will be resumed," said Ikiara. "Chinese individuals like Jack Ma have been active in donating equipment and materials to assist African countries to manage the pandemic."
The virus, he said, has had a great impact on African countries, many of which have weak health systems.
Ikiara noted that existing close ties between China and Africa would strengthen after the pandemic through platforms like the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
"The friendship has already been experienced in the ongoing assistance to African countries by China in form of medicines, key equipment like ventilators, and personnel. Even in the earlier Ebola outbreak which hit Africa, especially West Africa, Chinese assistance in personnel, medical equipment and medicines was outstanding and Africa has continued to show great appreciation," he said.
"The warm and friendly relationship between Africa and China in the last few decades will most likely be stronger in the post-COVID-19 era. Many people in Africa regard the continued and strengthened relationship between Africa and China as critical and will need to be nurtured in the years and decades to come," he said.
Ikiara said the numbers of COVID-19 infections and deaths are still low in Africa compared to those in Asia and Europe, but figures may rise in the coming months depending on Africa's response.
"This could pose a major challenge to the continent in view of the continental stock of essential medical facilities (and) related health infrastructure in general," he said.
Africa's confirmed COVID-19 cases stood at 72,336 as of Thursday morning, with the continent recording 2,475 deaths and 25,268 recoveries, according to the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Enditem
