Should Africa fear a Sino-European trade offensive on its markets? Financial Afrik asked the question at the Elysée. Exclusive.

Because of the health crisis, Emmanuel Macron "could not keep his commitment to go to China once a year to embody and defend the interests of the France and the European Union", revealed at the beginning of the week Walid Fouque during a briefing of the Elysé e on the comprehensive investment agreement with Beijing. During this briefing, the Adviser for Asia and Oceania clarified that the President "will keep this commitment as soon as possible" within the framework of a "European axis that he wishes to continue to favor" in the relationship between the European Union and China, he added. Because his "ambition" and "determination" to defend European interests apply "to each of his interactions with the Chinese authorities," he added.

No Sino-European collusion in Africa

Asked about the development of a common commercial policy in Africa as part of these negotiations, Walid Fouque was categorical. "Competition as well as the willingness to cooperate by trying to pull the Chinese up to make sure they meet international standards" prevent for the moment any Sino-European collusion in African markets, he replied. The first objective of the France in Africa" "is to ensure that the presence of Chinese (companies) is in the interests of African countries, in the direction of our own interests and in the framework of the commitments made on global issues." as the Elysian councillor himself acknowledged, "this does not constitute a commercial strategy per se!"

Suspension of debt service

If Paris is increasingly confronted with the presence of Chinese companies on the continent, the goal, from now on, is to "associate them and try to have the highest possible ambition with the Chinese authorities on board." For Walid Fouque, this includes convincing them to adopt standards to preserve the climate and biodiversity. "There will be the Kunming (climate) conference this year, but it's also the issue of debt," he said. For him, the suspension of African debt service is "a very concrete and very tangible example of our ability to pull the Chinese towards international standards," he insists. In this sense, the France's initiative was welcomed "since the Chinese have agreed to follow the Paris criteria." But like Beijing's climate announcements, it now remains to be verified that the Chinese will implement all their commitments, he warns.