U.S. State Department Continues to Express Hostility to Growing China-Africa Relations

Xi Jinping, the new leader of the Chinese Communist Party and government, visits with Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou-Nguesso in Brazzaville. China says it is an all weather friend to Africa., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Kerry to Attend 50th Anniversary African Union Summit in Ethiopia

Published by Tadias April 19th, 2013

Secretary of State John Kerry will attend the 50th anniversary African Union summit, which is scheduled to take place in Addis Ababa from May 19th to 27th, 2013
IOL News

April 18 2013

Washington – US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday revealed he will attend an African Union summit in Ethiopia next month, and said Washington had be more engaged with Africa.

The May 19-27 summit in Addis Ababa will mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor to the AU.

Kerry told US lawmakers he was concerned by China’s growing influence in Africa, and viewed a recent tour of three African nations by Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as a “negative development.”

“China is now out-investing the United States significantly in Africa,” Kerry told his former colleagues on the Senate foreign relations committee.

Although China was principally focused on resources which did not pose direct competition to the United States, Kerry said he was worried about possible negative consequences.

“Between Iran, China, other countries… they’re having an impact on the business practices and on the choices… some of the governments there are facing. And it’s not been a positive one in some regards.