ANGOLA AND CHINA RELATION

Angola and China Relation

Angola and China Relation

Chapter 3: Methodology

Research Method

For this study we have utilized the qualitative research approach. Qualitative research is much more subjective than quantitative research and uses very different methods of collecting information, mainly individual, in-depth interviews and focus groups. However, since this research study is a secondary qualitative research the data that has been collected for qualitative analysis has been through an extensive review of literature that has been published in the field in the past few years.

Secondary research is often less costly than surveys and is extremely effective in acquiring information about peoples' communications needs and their responses to and views about specific communications. It is often the method of choice in instances where quantitative measurement is not required.

Literature Selection Criteria

The selection criteria for the literature were twofold: relevance and the year of publication.

Search Technique

Libraries including online databases were accessed to get the most relevant and updated literature. Some of the online databases that were used are: EBSCO, Emerald, Blackwell, etc

Chapter 4: Findings

With 2008 marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations between the two countries, this paper takes a fresh look at the issue of Angola and China's partnership (Wang 2008 67-81). The study benefits from fieldwork carried out in Angola in September 2007 and January 2008 and includes numerous interviews with Angolan officials. Chinese embassy personnel in Luanda declined to comment on the report.

Political and Diplomatic Relations

China's involvement in Angola dates back to the early years of the anticolonial struggle through its support for the three major liberation movements in the country: the Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola (MPLA), União Nacional para a Indêpendencia Total de Angola (UNITA), and the Frente Nacional para Libertação de Angola (FNLA). At that time the Cultural Revolution was raging in China, and relations were defined by Cold War politics (Chen 2003 78-92). In the early 1960s, the MPLA counted on Chinese economic assistance,6 but following the then-Organization of Africa Unity's recognition of FNLA and UNITA as legitimate liberation movements, that support ceased and China took a special interest in the two rival movements.

Table 1: Bilateral economical Visits of State Officials between China and Angola



Table 2: Ambassadors to China and Angola

Financial and Economic Cooperation

Increased political activity between Angola and China has enabled bilateral economic ties to progress quickly. This relationship has often been misunderstood. This section aims to clarify and map out the investment and commercial profile of China in Angola (Walker 2004 147). Although there were difficulties with data collection, the authors have tried to verify this information on the ground. 

Financial Cooperation

The bulk of Chinese financial assistance in Angola is reserved for key public investment projects in infrastructure, telecommunications, and agro-businesses under the Angolan government's National Reconstruction Program.

Table 3: Projects Financed by China Construction Bank & EximBank in 2002

Financial relations between China and Angola grew in late 2003, when a “framework agreement” for new economic and commercial cooperation was formally signed by the Angolan Ministry of Finance and the Chinese Ministry of Trade. On March 21, 2004, the first $2-billion financing package for public investment projects was ...