During Hillary Clinton's recent seven-nation visit to Africa, the fiery U.S. Secretary of State did not fail to delight Western media by throwing an expected barb in China's direction. 

Speaking in Senegal she said Washington wanted a "partnership that adds value, rather than extracts it," adding that the days of outsiders taking Africa's wealth for themselves should be over. Clearly Clinton's hammer was being wielded to drive a wedge between China and Africa and curb China's growing influence on the continent by promoting it as exploitation.

Evidence does not support the claim that Africans themselves feel exploited. In a Pew Research Center survey in 2007, across Africa favorable views of China outnumbered critical judgments by two-to-one in 10 Sub-Saharan countries. In both Mali and Ivory Coast more than 92 percent had a favorable view of China, and positive opinions also overwhelmed critical judgments in Senegal and Kenya, where 81 percent viewed China favorably. Chinese growth in China was also seen in a positive light in Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Uganda.

Much can be said for the fact that the billions in aid packages to Africa from the West are difficult to monitor once they disappear into the dark holes of unaccountability. In a perverse form of irony, this aid has probably helped to play a somewhat significant role in propping up African dictators in the past, as much of it seldom trickles down to the needy.  Africa has long trumpeted that it wants trade and investment and not aid handouts to improve the lives of its people. China's policy of engagement, investment and blossoming trade volumes provides just that. In 2009, China became Africa's single largest trading partner, surpassing the United States. Investment brings infrastructure which in turn paves the way toward development and job creation.

In the wake of July's Fifth Ministerial Conference of FOCAC in Beijing, where China announced a $20 billion loan to African countries, Clinton's trip exposed the United States' lack of an effective strategy to counter China's growing commercial and political power in Africa.

Understanding that China needs to keep its economy spinning along at current high growth rates, Africa now insists on the trade relationship being mutual and realistic. Speaking at July's FOCAC, South African President Jacob Zuma revealed the straight talk that marks the future of China-Africa trade relations. He said firmly that current trade patterns of raw materials for debt relief and investment is unsustainable, and needs to become one in which Africa exports finished and unfinished products into the Chinese market.

This shows Africa begins to shed its naïve outlook of believing China's interests are purely altruistic. In an age where Internet and mobile technology enables Africans to be much more aware of any injustice or exploitation, informed decisions can be made by both people and their leaders. Of course investors violating human rights, environmental abuses and corruption needs objective investigation, but if one looks at the facts, today many of the abuses suffered by Africans come from their own leaders and cannot be laid at the door of others.

Clinton's comments showed the United States is trying to make up for lost time in Africa and protect its own interests. Africa has evolved enough to decide what is in its best interests and who it chooses to do business with. That can only be a good thing.

The Editor