克林頓非洲之行被視爲抗衡中國的影響

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton starts her tour of Africa with a visit to Senegal. Analysts say the seven-nation trip is meant to counter China's growing influence in the resource-rich continent.

Throughout her 10-day trip, the State Department says Clinton will highlight U.S. plans to strengthen democratic institutions, expand development, spur economic growth, and advance peace and security in Africa.

But analysts told VOA that part of that strategy involves challenging the role of China, which last month announced massive new investment across the rapidly growing continent.

At a summit between African and Chinese leaders in Beijing in July, China pledged $20 billion in new loans to Africa over the next three years - double the amount it offered during the previous three year period.

Trade between China and African countries has surged as Beijing looks for resources to fuel its economic boom, reaching a record $166 billion last year.

Viano says Washington does not want to lose out on important business interests in Africa, which is home to some of the world's fastest growing economies.

The trip will take Clinton to Senegal, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, and Ghana.美國國務卿希拉里·克林頓抵達塞內加爾首都達喀爾，展開她的非洲之行。分析人士說，克林頓訪問非洲七國的目的是抗衡中國在這個資源豐富的大陸不斷增長的影響。

美國國務院說，克林頓在訪問非洲的十日期間將強調美國計劃加強非洲國家的民主體制、促進經濟發展以及推動非洲實現和平與安全。

但分析人士對美國之音說，美國的非洲戰略還包括抗衡中國在非洲的影響。中國上星期宣佈，在發展迅速的非洲各國進行大規模的新投資。

今年7月，非洲和中國領導人在北京舉行峯會，中國承諾在未來三年期間爲非洲提供200億美元新貸款，這一數額兩倍於中國在以往三年中爲非洲提供的貸款。

北京尋求利用非洲的資源來支持中國經濟高速發展，在這種情況下，去年中國與非洲的貿易額達到創記錄的1660億美元。

分析人士維亞諾說，華盛頓不想失去在非洲的重要商業利益，一些非洲國家位居世界發展最迅速的經濟體之列。

在訪問非洲七國期間，克林頓將呼籲這些國家實行改革以推動經濟發展以及強化民主體制。

美國國務院說，克林頓星期三將會晤塞內加爾新總統薩勒，並將強調指出塞內加爾是體現民主體制活力的楷模。

克林頓將先後訪問塞內加爾、南蘇丹、烏干達、肯尼亞、馬拉維、南非、尼日爾和加納。