President Obama toasts visiting heads of state
and delegates to the U.S.
Africa Leaders Summit. Obama's remarks in right column of this page.
Africa Cannot Be Left to Washington and Beijing (Diario de Noticias, Portugal)
"Obama,
the son of a White woman from Kansas and a Kenyan man, has special reasons to
promote this strategic approach, but the truth is that America knows that as
the leading power, it cannot remain aloof to the development of Africa. … Because
of its history, Portugal must also be in this race. Particularly
because lusophony (the use of Portuguese) is a
force in Africa, encompassing some of its most dynamic economies. As a
matter of fact, among those invited by Obama, are the vice president of Angola,
the presidents of Mozambique, Cape Verde and Guine-Bissau,
and even the prime minister of São Tomé."
Nearly
50 heads of state and government from Africa today met with Barack Obama. It
will be the highlight of a three-day summit in
Washington in which the United States is trying to build bridges to greater
economic communication with the so-called black continent. Obama, the son of a White
woman from Kansas and a Kenyan man, has special reasons to promote this
strategic approach, but the truth is that America knows that as the leading
power, it cannot remain aloof to the development of Africa, the economy of
which is expected to expand 6.1 percent this year.
It’s
no coincidence that this summit takes place just five months after one that brought
together the European Union countries and members of the African Union in
Brussels. Europe is also interested in strengthening ties with the continent, and
finally getting past the misunderstandings of colonial times. Beyond the
traditional opportunities in the fields of mining and hydrocarbons, and also in
agriculture, Africa is surging as a market, with 300 million consumers already
classified as middle class.
Which
is why the Chinese, Japanese, and Indians, are also betting on arranging
partnerships from the Maghreb to Southern Africa?
Posted
By Worldmeets.US
Because
of its history, Portugal must also be in this race. Particularly
because lusophony
(the use of Portuguese) is a force in Africa, encompassing some of its most
dynamic economies. As a matter of fact, among those invited by Obama,
are the vice president of Angola, the presidents of Mozambique, Cape Verde and Guine-Bissau, and even the prime minister of São Tomé.
