China’s assistance to African countries in the field of telecommunication: interaction and the role of FOCAC

Abstract

The research object is the role of China’s assistance in the implementation of Information and Communication Technologies projects in the context of international assistance of China to Africa, and the role of the Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC) in this process. The research subject is the set of measures used by China to provide such assistance including that within FOCAC. The author studies such aspects of the topic as the importance of Chinese transnational corporations operating in the field of communication technologies, the role of FOCAC as a platform helping realize effective cooperation between China and Africa in the field of telecommunication, and the reaction of Western countries to such actions of Beijing. To solve the research tasks the author uses the following methods: structural-logical, the system approach, historical and economical and statistical analysis. The author arrives at the following conclusions: 1) the Information and Communication Technologies field is one of the most promising market sectors for China in Africa, as its corporations have a range of advantages compared with their Western competitors; 2) in consideration of close connection between Chinese companies and the government, it is obvious that through this interaction, Beijing successfully extends the pool of its political partners; 3) FOCAC plays a special role as it is the only mechanism allowing China to realize its African vector of external policy bilaterally and multilaterally. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the fact that the author analyzes the topic which hasn’t been studied sufficiently enough in Russian and foreign historiography; the author analyzes new sources and attempts to define the role of FOCAC particularly in cooperation in the field of telecommunication.