Some of you who read this blog have expressed interest in learning more about Quest University Canada. In this age of incredible technology, I am happy to share with you the video we produced this past summer. With any luck, if you click the play button below, you'll see and hear a little bit about our project.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Friday, November 10, 2006
The Emerging Power of China
Recently I was in Kunming, China attending a meeting of an association of university presidents of which I am a member. Returning to the hotel in the evening, I turned on the TV to catch the news. It was a memorable moment as I watched representatives of 48 African nations walk across the stage to be greeted by China’s President in the Great Hall of the People. The occasion was the Africa-China Summit. Together these leaders signed $1.9 billion U.S. worth of business development and trade agreements. China also announced they would offer $5 billion in loans and credit and double their aid to Africa by 2009.
With an historic meeting and the stroke of a pen, the dynamics of the relationship between Africa and the West has been dramatically changed as China and the developing countries of Africa begin forging strong relationships.
China is boldly and dynamically building friendly relations with African counties with a keen eye to the future and the potential for the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources, particularly oil. It is a coup of significant proportions potentially causing a major shift in international positioning. For the moment at least, the West has been outflanked. It would be ironic if this led to the West beginning to break down its agricultural subsidies in order to enable success at the WTO Doha Round of Negotiations. These negotiations stalled essentially because the West would not end its agricultural subsidies which have kept prices high, and as such, inaccessible to most African nations.
I should note that Kunming, once the isolated provincial capital of Yunnan province, is today a bustling urban centre of more than 5 million people. The broad clean streets bear witness to the community’s slogan, “city of eternal spring” - even at this time in November there is an abundance of flowers, green trees and pleasantly warm weather. The building boom seems relentless with new construction wherever you look. Modern, well-stocked department stores with all of the latest designer goods, fashions and trends vie with traditional markets and hawkers for the attention of locals and an increasingly large number of international visitors. The major billboard in the centre of the city features the latest handsome young singing sensation, a guy with attitude called “Jay”. A student guide informed me that the slogan beneath his picture translates as “Don’t take the usual path”. I couldn’t help but feel that the new youth of China are an incredible force for the future. I have no doubt that they will indeed break new ground.
With an historic meeting and the stroke of a pen, the dynamics of the relationship between Africa and the West has been dramatically changed as China and the developing countries of Africa begin forging strong relationships.
China is boldly and dynamically building friendly relations with African counties with a keen eye to the future and the potential for the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources, particularly oil. It is a coup of significant proportions potentially causing a major shift in international positioning. For the moment at least, the West has been outflanked. It would be ironic if this led to the West beginning to break down its agricultural subsidies in order to enable success at the WTO Doha Round of Negotiations. These negotiations stalled essentially because the West would not end its agricultural subsidies which have kept prices high, and as such, inaccessible to most African nations.
I should note that Kunming, once the isolated provincial capital of Yunnan province, is today a bustling urban centre of more than 5 million people. The broad clean streets bear witness to the community’s slogan, “city of eternal spring” - even at this time in November there is an abundance of flowers, green trees and pleasantly warm weather. The building boom seems relentless with new construction wherever you look. Modern, well-stocked department stores with all of the latest designer goods, fashions and trends vie with traditional markets and hawkers for the attention of locals and an increasingly large number of international visitors. The major billboard in the centre of the city features the latest handsome young singing sensation, a guy with attitude called “Jay”. A student guide informed me that the slogan beneath his picture translates as “Don’t take the usual path”. I couldn’t help but feel that the new youth of China are an incredible force for the future. I have no doubt that they will indeed break new ground.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
