The Coronavirus Strengthens Ties between China and Equatorial Guinea
The Council of Ministers of Equatorial Guinea concurrently concurred this week to help China’s battle against the coronavirus. Equatorial Guinea’s government announced a $2 million aid donation to China over the widespread coronavirus epidemic. H.E. President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo chaired a meeting with the Council of Ministers. Finally, after a council meeting this week, they came to this conclusion.
They gave the Chinese government their utmost compassion and support in their struggle against the global epidemic. Equatorial Guinea’s decision to financially support China’s battle against the virus, therefore, expresses both countries’ deep and long-standing partnerships. In particular, their cooperation has only steadily grown in recent decades.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) current reports indeed show the coronavirus has affected 24,363 and killed 490 citizens in China. There are 191 incidents in 24 countries beyond China and one death in the Philippines. Among those are 31 people without any history of traveling to China.
Most of them have had regular contact with confirmed cases or with someone from Wuhan. To date, 80% of incidents in China are from the province of Hubei. The comparatively few instances outside China give a clear window of opportunity for the World Health Organization to prevent this epidemic from turning into a more extensive global disaster.
China and Equatorial Guinea’s Strong Partnership
China has a substantial investment in petroleum-rich Equatorial Guinea, as in nearly all African states. The minister of mines and hydrocarbons, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, said China has always helped the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with high strength and loyalty. He added that Equatorial Guinea is certainly demonstrating unity with China in the war against a global epidemic, which has already claimed too many lives.
He emphasizes their continuing Year of Investment Initiative will be a testament to the in-depth collaboration and ties with China. Thus, Equatorial Guinea is pleased to be helping its partner in situations of crisis. For decades, China and Equatorial Guinea benefited greatly from successful economic and technological partnerships.
Consequently, Beijing is Malabo’s close partner in the telecoms, public services, infrastructures, and technology sectors. China supports Equatorial Guinea’s development through the building of essential telecommunications and transportation infrastructure, as well as promoting national social infrastructure.
Equatorial Guinea has long been a supporter of the FOCAC (Forum for China-Africa Cooperation). The previous year, during a meeting between President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative, Yang Jiechi, both states equally agreed to solidify bilateral ties further.
Equatorial Guinea’s Economic Status
Meanwhile, in Equatorial Guinea, 60% of its citizens live in absolute poverty. Moreover, Only minutes away from the presidential palace, there’s plenty of proof most folks don’t feel the nation’s massive oil wealth. Freedom House, a US-based think-tank, described Equatorial Guinea as an “oil kleptocracy.”
Forty years ago, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema took power, and in a bloody coup, 1979, he ousted his uncle. His family has since governed one of the wealthiest African countries with supreme authority.
In a nation of one million inhabitants, Equatorial Guinea’s GDP per capita is among the highest in Africa. Undoubtedly it elevates above Brazil and China’s GDP, but less finds its way to its citizens. As one of only two legitimate opposition parties, Andrés Esono Ondo, General Secretary of Convergence on social democracy, says the country has hugely several hotels. Conversely, they have no schools, and the hospitals are not good. Most Importantly, he adds the nation lacks water and has nothing.
He says Sipopo comprises 52 similar presidential villas. The government constructed them for a week-long African Union summit in 2011. The breathtaking stretch of private beaches and luxurious hotels are air-dropped from another continent.
Mr. Andrés Esono alleges it is one of many public infrastructure ventures that are ineffective. International airports on sparsely populated islands are inclusive. There is a city with a new university in the center of the rainforest with no students. Mr. Obiang has spent less on education. According to the World Bank, the education and health care budget of Equatorial Guinea was around 2.3% of the GDP in 2015.
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