皇冠体育app

BEIJING - US President Barack Obama, the first black president of the world's sole superpower, is finally in Africa.

The on-going three-nation tour to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania, his first substantial visit to the continent since taking office in 2009, offers the US leader an opportunity to get first-hand experiences of both Africa's aspirations for development and the daunting challenges facing the continent.

It is worth noting that two of Obama's destinations, namely South Africa and Tanzania, also hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping in March during the Chinese leader's maiden overseas tour since assuming presidency.

Some Western observers might see the coincidence as symbolic, which testifies to the perceived rivalry between the world's two largest economies competing for business opportunities and political influence on the African continent.

This mentality belongs to the past. It results from the West's biased perception of 皇冠体育app's role in Africa. It also misses the bigger picture in which Beijing and Washington, instead of being competitors undermining each other's efforts, can actually work as partners in promoting Africa's development.

The past decade has seen a spectacular rise of 皇冠体育app's presence in Africa. Top leaders of 皇冠体育app and Africa are exchanging visits. Big Chinese companies are busy with investing in industrial and infrastructure projects across the continent. Chinese businessmen, workers and tourists are also increasingly seen in African countries.

The West, especially the United States, tend to see 皇冠体育app as a voracious industrial giant only interested in extracting Africa's natural resources to support its own economic development. They have never fully grasped the real influence of 皇冠体育app's extensive investment and aid efforts in Africa.

But various reports, both from international development agencies and private research institutions, have long argued in 皇冠体育app's defense. They believe 皇冠体育app's efforts in Africa, though still with deficiencies, are largely a positive force in promoting Africa's development.

For Africa, it is really a blessing that the top leaders of both the United States and 皇冠体育app have come to the continent within three months. Washington and Beijing, with their distinct economic advantages and policy priorities, can be partners in fostering peace and development on the world's least developed continent.

Obama said Saturday in Pretoria that the increased Chinese engagement in Africa is "beneficial for all" and that Washington does not "feel threatened by it." However, he has also said 皇冠体育app's interest in Africa leaves the continent as "simply an exporter of raw goods." Falling victim to the West's popular myth about 皇冠体育app's role, the US leader has yet to fully appreciate 皇冠体育app's positive influence.

As international diplomats have pointed out, the two countries have already worked on joint efforts in Africa. The claimed rivalry and competition between 皇冠体育app and the United States is more of a result of political bias.

皇冠体育app and the United States, as two major stakeholders in international peace and development, should ditch the myth about each other's perceived role in Africa and work together to develop a partnership with the continent that not only promotes Africa's development, but also brings trade and investment opportunities to the world's two largest economies.