China's Global Role / Press Releases

Presentation by Peter Bosshard, Policy Director, International Rivers
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
5:30-6:00pm reception; 6:00pm program

The Commonwealth Club
595 Market Street, 2nd Floor San Francisco, CA

As the African Development Bank convenes in Shanghai for its annual meeting, African and international civil society groups call for greater public accountability in China’s relations with Africa China’s expanding role in Africa may represent a great opportunity for development, but only if China is careful not to repeat the errors that Western powers made in the past.

Civil Society Responds to Chinese Funding for Mozambique Mega–Dam Mphanda Nkuwa Will Worsen Poverty, Harm Efforts to Restore Zambezi Delta

:: Portuguese ::

The government of Mozambique announced last Friday, 21 April, that the Export–Import Bank of China has agreed to back the construction of the proposed Mphanda Nkuwa Dam, worth over US $2 billion. The financial agreement comes at great risk to Mozambique’s economy, environment, and people, for the benefit of foreign big business. Justiça Ambiental (JA!), a Mozambique–based organization, is urging its government to suspend all activity on the project until all project studies are completed and published. JA! and other organizations have been monitoring the preparation for Mphanda Nkuwa since 2000.

Six large international banks are currently arranging a $1 billion bond for China Exim Bank, the world’s third largest export credit agency. China Exim Bank is financing several environmentally and socially destructive projects in countries with abysmal human rights records. International Rivers Network and Friends of the Earth/US warn that given China Exim Bank’s track record, the pending bond issue will undermine the environmental standards of private banks and result in environmental money laundering.