Globalisation with Chinese Characteristics
Globalização com características chinesas
China’s extensive engagement in Africa
represents the next wave of globalisation. Previously,
China was the main beneficiary of FDI (Foreign
Direct Investment) inflows primarily from Western
companies. Now China is driving the world’s growth,
while North America and Europe struggle to recover
from the global financial crisis. As Chinese industries
move up the value chain and China’s traditional
export markets in the West falter, China is looking
to Africa and other developing markets to sustain its
high growth levels. In Africa, Chinese enterprises see
an untapped market of nearly one billion potential
customers. In other words, Chinese firms view Africa
similar to the way Western firms previously viewed
China. O amplo envolvimento da China em África representa a próxima onda de globalização. Anteriormente, a China era o principal beneficiário dos fluxos de IDE (Investimento Estrangeiro Direto), principalmente de empresas ocidentais. Agora a China está a impulsionar o crescimento mundial, enquanto a América do Norte e a Europa lutam para recuperar da crise financeira global. À medida que as indústrias chinesas sobem na cadeia de valor e os mercados de exportação tradicionais da China no Ocidente vacilam, a China olha para África e outros mercados em desenvolvimento para sustentar os seus elevados níveis de crescimento. Em África, as empresas chinesas vêem um mercado inexplorado de quase mil milhões de potenciais clientes. Por outras palavras, as empresas chinesas vêem África de forma semelhante à forma como as empresas ocidentais viam anteriormente a China.
Africa is now one of the fastest growing regions
in the world. In 2010, the continent’s GDP growth
was 4.3%. And the EIU (Economist Intelligence
Unit) forecasts the regional economy to average
growth of nearly 5% a year in 2013-15. Hence, it
is not only Chinese businesses that are looking
with renewed interest in Africa’s opportunities. In
Africa and elsewhere, established multinational
companies have traditionally had the advantages of
long-term experience, well-known brands and greater
innovation capabilities. However, Chinese firms are
rapidly catching-up both in brand recognition and
technological advancement.
África é hoje uma das regiões que mais cresce no mundo. Em 2010, o crescimento do PIB do continente foi de 4,3%. E a EIU (Economist Intelligence Unit) prevê que a economia regional tenha um crescimento médio de quase 5% ao ano em 2013-15. Assim, não são apenas as empresas chinesas que procuram com interesse renovado as oportunidades de África. Em África e noutros lugares, as empresas multinacionais estabelecidas têm tradicionalmente tido as vantagens da experiência de longo prazo, de marcas bem conhecidas e de maiores capacidades de inovação. No entanto, as empresas chinesas estão a recuperar rapidamente tanto no reconhecimento da marca como no avanço tecnológico.
As Chinese firms enter new sectors across
Africa, many global and African firms are concerned
about their ability to compete. Yet Chinese
enterprises’ growing activity in Africa is also creating
new opportunities. Multinationals can leverage new
opportunities by adopting a truly global approach in
their operations. And African firms can benefit from
partnering with Chinese firms.
À medida que as empresas chinesas entram em novos sectores em toda a África, muitas empresas globais e africanas estão preocupadas com a sua capacidade de competir. No entanto, a atividade crescente das empresas chinesas em África também está a criar novas oportunidades. As multinacionais podem aproveitar novas oportunidades adotando uma abordagem verdadeiramente global nas suas operações. E as empresas africanas podem beneficiar da parceria com empresas chinesas.
Chinese firms have strong comparative
advantages in costs as well as in their vast home
base. But these advantages do not need to be seen
as unique to Chinese firms. In fact, global businesses
with operations in China can leverage the ‘China
advantage’ by treating China like a home market. In
other words, multinational businesses with operations
in China can strategically use this connection to gain
advantages in African markets by ‘putting on their
China hat’. In this way, multinational firms can benefit
from China’s extensive trade networks, supply chains,
sourcing opportunities and investment-friendly
policies such as favourable financing in its operations
in Africa. In short, global firms with a presence in both
China and Africa can gain advantages in delivering
global economies of scale in their Chinese and
African operations by integrating production and
value delivery.
As empresas chinesas têm fortes vantagens comparativas em termos de custos, bem como na sua vasta base nacional. Mas estas vantagens não precisam de ser vistas como exclusivas das empresas chinesas. Na verdade, as empresas globais com operações na China podem aproveitar a “vantagem chinesa” tratando a China como um mercado interno. Por outras palavras, as empresas multinacionais com operações na China podem utilizar estrategicamente esta ligação para obter vantagens nos mercados africanos, “colocando o seu chapéu de China”. Desta forma, as empresas multinacionais podem beneficiar das extensas redes comerciais, cadeias de abastecimento, oportunidades de abastecimento e políticas favoráveis ao investimento da China, tais como financiamento favorável nas suas operações em África. Em suma, as empresas globais com presença tanto na China como em África podem obter vantagens na obtenção de economias de escala globais nas suas operações na China e em África, através da integração da produção e da entrega de valor.
The Asian managing director of a South Africanbased global FMCG firm1
, sees his expanding Chinese
business benefiting from the company’s African roots,
as his operations come from “similar environments—
emerging and developing markets with similar trends:
both have growing diversified based of up-trading,
aspirational and enthusiastic consumers.” Similar
‘home and away’ market environments also allow
the firms’ operations to leverage scale, procurement
synergies, and low-cost sourcing opportunities, and
local Chinese partners are used to source capital
equipment for use in Africa. Another Managing
Director of a multinational company with strong
presence in Africa stresses the importance of utilizing
China as the biggest supply source in the world.
O diretor-geral asiático de uma empresa global de FMCG1 com sede na África do Sul vê o seu negócio chinês em expansão a beneficiar das raízes africanas da empresa, uma vez que as suas operações provêm de “ambientes semelhantes – mercados emergentes e em desenvolvimento com tendências semelhantes: ambos têm crescimento diversificado com base em up-trading consumidores ambiciosos e entusiasmados.” Ambientes de mercado semelhantes, “no país de origem e no exterior”, também permitem que as operações das empresas aproveitem a escala, as sinergias de aquisição e as oportunidades de fornecimento de baixo custo, e os parceiros chineses locais são utilizados para adquirir equipamento de capital para utilização em África. Outro Diretor Geral de uma empresa multinacional com forte presença em África sublinha a importância de utilizar a China como a maior fonte de abastecimento do mundo.
China’s increased activity in Africa has also
created a strong demand for services that help
Chinese firms navigate in these new markets. This
has meant new opportunities for banks, law firms, as
well as service providers that can provide distribution
channels for Chinese companies abroad.
O aumento da atividade da China em África também criou uma forte procura de serviços que ajudem as empresas chinesas a navegar nestes novos mercados. Isto significou novas oportunidades para bancos, escritórios de advocacia, bem como prestadores de serviços que podem fornecer canais de distribuição para empresas chinesas no exterior.
New opportunities are also emerging as Chinese
firms increasingly seek to partner with African and
multinational businesses. Sino-African business
partnerships involve several mutual advantages. For
Chinese investors, Africa is still a relatively new market
and there are apparent cultural differences. Although
Chinese firms’ knowledge of Africa is improving fast,
many still lack experience and understanding of
the continent. Moreover, many Chinese companies
are not well-informed about the investment risks in
Africa that are not purely business-related. Therefore,
partnering with a local African business can spread
risks and provide valuable insights into the African
market.
Estão também a surgir novas oportunidades à medida que as empresas chinesas procuram cada vez mais estabelecer parcerias com empresas africanas e multinacionais. As parcerias comerciais sino-africanas envolvem várias vantagens mútuas. Para os investidores chineses, África ainda é um mercado relativamente novo e existem diferenças culturais aparentes. Embora o conhecimento das empresas chinesas sobre África esteja a melhorar rapidamente, muitas ainda carecem de experiência e compreensão do continente. Além disso, muitas empresas chinesas não estão bem informadas sobre os riscos de investimento em África que não estão puramente relacionados com os negócios. Portanto, a parceria com uma empresa africana local pode distribuir riscos e fornecer informações valiosas sobre o mercado africano.
For African businesses, the benefits of partnering
with a Chinese firm involve both increased liquidity
and more tangible gains. Initially, there is the
business gain of a boost in capital. In addition,
African corporations can leverage Chinese project
funding, technology transfers and expertise. Finally,
Sino-African partnerships can also help African firms
position themselves in global markets by gaining easy
access to low-cost Chinese supply chains as well as
the Chinese market.
Para as empresas africanas, os benefícios da parceria com uma empresa chinesa envolvem maior liquidez e ganhos mais tangíveis. Inicialmente, há o ganho empresarial de um aumento de capital. Além disso, as empresas africanas podem aproveitar o financiamento de projetos, as transferências de tecnologia e os conhecimentos especializados chineses. Finalmente, as parcerias sino-africanas também podem ajudar as empresas africanas a posicionarem-se nos mercados globais, obtendo acesso fácil às cadeias de abastecimento chinesas de baixo custo, bem como ao mercado chinês.
All roads lead to—and from—China
Todos os caminhos levam à – e da – China
China is driving the next phase of globalisation.
As Chinese companies explore new business
opportunities across Africa, they are creating new
conditions and challenges for doing business on the
continent. Chinese firms’ engagement in Africa has
resulted in vast infrastructural gains that facilitate market access into Africa. Moreover, China’s
establishment of SEZs (Special Economic Zones) in
several African countries has the potential to create
environments that enable African, Chinese, and other
foreign firms to develop export oriented manufacturing
hubs on the continent. This will help African countries
diversify their economies, as well as bring new
opportunities for global firms to invest in Africa.
A China está a impulsionar a próxima fase da globalização. À medida que as empresas chinesas exploram novas oportunidades de negócios em África, criam novas condições e desafios para fazer negócios no continente. O envolvimento das empresas chinesas em África resultou em vastos ganhos infra-estruturais que facilitam o acesso ao mercado em África. Além disso, o estabelecimento de ZEE (Zonas Econômicas Especiais) pela China em vários países africanos tem o potencial de criar ambientes que permitam que empresas africanas, chinesas e outras empresas estrangeiras desenvolvam centros de produção orientados para a exportação no continente. Isto ajudará os países africanos a diversificar as suas economias, bem como trará novas oportunidades para as empresas globais investirem em África.
Looking ahead, Chinese companies will continue
to invest in diverse sectors across Africa. And China’s
economic ties with Africa will only grow in importance.
Global firms are well-positioned to gain from this
development by effectively utilizing their global
networks. Likewise, African firms can benefit from
building partnerships with Chinese companies.
Olhando para o futuro, as empresas chinesas continuarão a investir em diversos sectores em toda a África. E os laços econômicos da China com África só crescerão em importância. As empresas globais estão bem posicionadas para beneficiar deste desenvolvimento, utilizando eficazmente as suas redes globais. Da mesma forma, as empresas africanas podem beneficiar da construção de parcerias com empresas chinesas.© Economist Corporate Network 2011
Adapted from GEARING UP - China’s impact on African business and the next wave of globalization. The Economist – Special Report.
www.corporatenetwork.com/specialreport, access on July 25th, 2011.
*Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) are products sold quickly, at relatively low cost, usually in a supermarket.
*Bens de consumo de rápido movimento (FMCG) são produtos vendidos rapidamente, a um custo relativamente baixo, geralmente em um supermercado.
01 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The main purpose of Text 1 is to
(A) define the current economic tendencies of major Asian countries.
(B) explain the devastating implications of a recent shift in international trade.
(C) discuss the future of Chinese companies already established in the African territory.
(D) argument that multinational companies should open new job opportunities in China.
(E) comment on the global economic trend as a shift away from the traditional market into other emerging ones.
• ANSWER (E)
O principal objetivo do texto 1 é
(A) definir as tendências econômicas atuais dos principais países asiáticos.
(B) explicar as implicações devastadoras de uma mudança recente no comércio internacional.
(C) discutir o futuro das empresas chinesas já estabelecidas no território africano.
(D) argumento de que empresas multinacionais devem abrir novas oportunidades de emprego na China.
(E) comentar sobre a tendência econômica global como uma mudança do mercado tradicional para outros emergentes.
02 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
In the fragment “In Africa, Chinese enterprises see an untapped market of nearly one billion potential customers” (lines 11-13), untapped market refers to a market that has been
(A) unsuccessful in exploring its own potentialities.
(B) untouched or unnoticed by the sellers in general.
(C) unfavorable to foreign investors aiming at high capital gains.
(D) spared from the adverse effects of the global financial crisis.
(E) protected from the greedy multinational companies by the local government.
• ANSWER (B)
No fragmento “Na África, as empresas chinesas veem um mercado inexplorado de quase um bilhão de clientes em potencial” (linhas 11-13), mercado inexplorado refere-se a um mercado que foi
(A) não conseguiu explorar suas próprias potencialidades.
(B) intocado ou despercebido pelos vendedores em geral.
(C) desfavorável para investidores estrangeiros visando altos ganhos de capital.
(D) poupado dos efeitos adversos da crise financeira global.
(E) protegido das empresas multinacionais gananciosas pelo governo local.
03 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The fragment “… Chinese firms are rapidly catching-up both in brand recognition and technological advancement.” (lines 26-28), means that the Chinese firms are
(A) making an effort to reach and be comparable to a competitor in two significant business issues.
(B) investing their scarce funds to facilitate commerce with multinational companies.
(C) fostering the technological progress of newborn African brands to surpass Western competitors.
(D) getting involved with other well-known and highly developed multinational companies to ruin African firms.
(E) getting updated with the latest trends in business administration and international foreign affairs regulations.
• ANSWER (A)
O fragmento “... as empresas chinesas estão alcançando rapidamente tanto o reconhecimento da marca quanto o avanço tecnológico.” (Linhas 26-28), significa que as empresas chinesas estão
(A) fazer um esforço para alcançar e ser comparável a um concorrente em duas questões comerciais importantes.
(B) investir seus escassos recursos para facilitar o comércio com empresas multinacionais.
(C) promover o progresso tecnológico das marcas africanas recém-nascidas para superar os concorrentes ocidentais.
(D) envolver-se com outras empresas multinacionais conhecidas e altamente desenvolvidas para arruinar as empresas africanas.
(E) ser atualizado com as últimas tendências nos regulamentos de administração de empresas e assuntos internacionais.
04 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The expression 'putting on their China hat' (lines 45-46) expresses the idea that
(A) African businesses are starting to produce goods that carry Chinese labels.
(B) Chinese companies are invading Africa to take
advantage of cheap labor fees.
(C) multinational companies are financing operations in Africa to eradicate Chinese competitors.
(D) global businesses are opening up operations in China to avoid the African import taxes.
(E) companies of different nationalities are using their Chinese branches to export to Africa.
• ANSWER (E)
The expression 'putting on their China hat' (lines 45-46) expresses the idea that
(A) African businesses are starting to produce goods that carry Chinese labels.
(B) Chinese companies are invading Africa to take
advantage of cheap labor fees.
(C) multinational companies are financing operations in Africa to eradicate Chinese competitors.
(D) global businesses are opening up operations in China to avoid the African import taxes.
(E) companies of different nationalities are using their Chinese branches to export to Africa.
05 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
“Sino-African business partnerships involve several
mutual advantages.” (lines 78-79).
In line with the issues presented in the text, the alternative that supports this statement is
(A) Chinese companies doing business in Africa face
risks that they do not usually perceive, but African
companies are taking advantage of Chinese lack of
information.
(B) There are apparent cultural differences in Chinese and African markets, but this is not an economic problem and does not reflect in business.
(C) The Chinese will face more opportunities to sell their technical innovations while the African firms will reach wider export targets.
(D) The Chinese lack sufficient knowledge on investment risks in Africa that are not purely business-related and African companies will not disclose this information.
(E) Africa is a relatively new investment market and will benefit from an increase in capital whereas Chinese companies are pessimistic about the success of their actions in an unknown territory.
• ANSWER (C)
- “Sino-African business partnerships involve several
mutual advantages.” (lines 78-79).
In line with the issues presented in the text, the alternative that supports this statement is
(A) Chinese companies doing business in Africa face
risks that they do not usually perceive, but African
companies are taking advantage of Chinese lack of
information.
(B) There are apparent cultural differences in Chinese and African markets, but this is not an economic problem and does not reflect in business.
(C) The Chinese will face more opportunities to sell their technical innovations while the African firms will reach wider export targets.
(D) The Chinese lack sufficient knowledge on investment risks in Africa that are not purely business-related and African companies will not disclose this information.
(E) Africa is a relatively new investment market and will benefit from an increase in capital whereas Chinese companies are pessimistic about the success of their actions in an unknown territory.
06 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The following excerpt was removed from the original
version of the text.
“One example of a global company that has ‘put on its China hat’ is the telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent. Since 2002, Alcatel-Lucent has operated in China through its subsidiary Alcatel Shanghai Bell (ASB), in which the Chinese government has a minority stake. This structure
has not only allowed Alcatel-Lucent to position itself in the Chinese market, but also to successfully expand to Africa.
The EXIM Bank has granted the company US$63.3m
in funding to aid its overseas expansion. In Africa, ASB has won deals in countries such as Ghana, Angola, and Nigeria.”
This excerpt would best fit after the segment
(A) “Previously, China was the main beneficiary of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) inflows primarily from Western companies.” (lines 2-5)
(B) “And African firms can benefit from partnering with Chinese firms.” (lines 35-36)
(C) “In short, global firms with a presence in both China and Africa can gain advantages in delivering global economies of scale in their Chinese and African operations by integrating production and value delivery.” (lines 50-54)
(D) “Another Managing Director of a multinational company with strong presence in Africa stresses the importance of utilizing China as the biggest supply source in the world.” (lines 66-69)
(E) “For African businesses, the benefits of partnering with a Chinese firm involve both increased liquidity and more tangible gains.” (lines 90-92)
• ANSWER (D)
- This excerpt would best fit after the segment
(A) “Previously, China was the main beneficiary of FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) inflows primarily from Western companies.” (lines 2-5)
(B) “And African firms can benefit from partnering with Chinese firms.” (lines 35-36)
(C) “In short, global firms with a presence in both China and Africa can gain advantages in delivering global economies of scale in their Chinese and African operations by integrating production and value delivery.” (lines 50-54)
(D) “Another Managing Director of a multinational company with strong presence in Africa stresses the importance of utilizing China as the biggest supply source in the world.” (lines 66-69)
(E) “For African businesses, the benefits of partnering with a Chinese firm involve both increased liquidity and more tangible gains.” (lines 90-92)
07 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
Considering its use in the text, the first word in the pair is followed by a synonym in
(A) falter (line 9) – increase
(B) leverage (line 33) – destroy
(C) stresses (line 68) – reduces
(D) seek (line 77) – attempt
(E) vast (line 106) – limited
• ANSWER (D)
Considering its use in the text, the first word in the pair is followed by a synonym in
(A) falter (line 9) – increase
(B) leverage (line 33) – destroy
(C) stresses (line 68) – reduces
(D) seek (line 77) – attempt
(E) vast (line 106) – limited
08 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
In “This will help African countries to diversify their economies…” (lines 112-113), the pronoun “this” refers to the
(A) implementation of zones of economic production by Chinese companies in many African nations.
(B) African governments’ decisions to create manufacturing hubs to export to Europe and the Americas.
(C) new opportunities for China’s economic growth in the rural areas of the African continent.
(D) Chinese companies’ firm denial to invest in infrastructural developments in Africa.
(E) foreign firms that decide to export manufactured goods into Africa.
• ANSWER (A)
In “This will help African countries to diversify their economies…” (lines 112-113),
the pronoun “this” refers to the
(A) implementation of zones of economic production by Chinese companies in many African nations.
(B) African governments’ decisions to create manufacturing hubs to export to Europe and the Americas.
(C) new opportunities for China’s economic growth in the rural areas of the African continent.
(D) Chinese companies’ firm denial to invest in infrastructural developments in Africa.
(E) foreign firms that decide to export manufactured goods into Africa.
09 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The communicative intention of the cited paragraph is CORRECTLY defined in
(A) Paragraph 2 (lines 16-28) – Compare the Chinese
interest in Africa with the apparent lack of world interest in this continent.
(B) Paragraph 3 (lines 29-36) – Contrast the Chinese and African ways of doing business.
(C) Paragraph 5 (lines 55-69) – Report on the enthusiastic view of some managing directors who intend to enter the African market in the near future.
(D) Paragraph 8 (lines 90-99) – point out the favorable aspects that may derive from the partnership of Chinese and African companies.
(E) Paragraph 9 (lines 101-114) – Discuss the unwelcome implications of Chinese firms’ engagement in Africa.
• ANSWER (D)
-The communicative intention of the cited paragraph is CORRECTLY defined in
(A) Paragraph 2 (lines 16-28) – Compare the Chinese
interest in Africa with the apparent lack of world interest in this continent.
(B) Paragraph 3 (lines 29-36) – Contrast the Chinese and African ways of doing business.
(C) Paragraph 5 (lines 55-69) – Report on the enthusiastic view of some managing directors who intend to enter the African market in the near future.
(D) Paragraph 8 (lines 90-99) – point out the favorable aspects that may derive from the partnership of Chinese and African companies.
(E) Paragraph 9 (lines 101-114) – Discuss the unwelcome implications of Chinese firms’ engagement in Africa.
10 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The expression in bold type and the item in parentheses convey equivalent ideas in
(A) “In other words, Chinese firms view Africa similar to the way Western firms previously viewed China.” lines 13-15 (Otherwise)
(B) “Hence, it is not only Chinese businesses that are
looking with renewed interest in Africa’s opportunities.” lines 20-22 (Thus)
(C) “Yet Chinese enterprises growing activity in Africa is also creating new opportunities.” lines 31-33 (In so far as)
(D) “Moreover, many Chinese companies are not
well-informed about the investment risks in Africa that are not purely business-related.” lines 84-86 (Although)
(E) “Likewise, African firms can benefit from building partnerships with Chinese companies.” lines 120-121 (Alternatively)
• ANSWER (B)
-The expression in bold type and the item in parentheses convey equivalent ideas in
(A) “In other words, Chinese firms view Africa similar to the way Western firms previously viewed China.” lines 13-15 (Otherwise)
(B) “Hence, it is not only Chinese businesses that are
looking with renewed interest in Africa’s opportunities.” lines 20-22 (Thus)
(C) “Yet Chinese enterprises growing activity in Africa is also creating new opportunities.” lines 31-33 (In so far as)
(D) “Moreover, many Chinese companies are not
well-informed about the investment risks in Africa that are not purely business-related.” lines 84-86 (Although)
(E) “Likewise, African firms can benefit from building partnerships with Chinese companies.” lines 120-121 (Alternatively)
11 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
According to Text 1, Africa can benefit from the recent Chinese interest in the continent because
(A) more capital and technology transfer will boost the African economy.
(B) multinational companies do not want to invest in the African continent at all.
(C) funding for joint ventures have not been available from other developing countries.
(D) high investments in banks and services by European countries in the past were unsuccessful.
(E) African companies will share their extensive trade networks and technological expertise with Chinese partners.
• ANSWER (A)
-According to Text 1, Africa can benefit from the recent Chinese interest in the continent because
(A) more capital and technology transfer will boost the African economy.
(B) multinational companies do not want to invest in the African continent at all.
(C) funding for joint ventures have not been available from other developing countries.
(D) high investments in banks and services by European countries in the past were unsuccessful.
(E) African companies will share their extensive trade networks and technological expertise with Chinese partners.
12 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
To justify the growing Chinese interest in Africa, it CANNOT be said that
(A) China’s traditional export markets are facing economic difficulties.
(B) multinational companies are leaving the African
continent for political reasons.
(C) Africa is still a growing economic market with a rising number of potential consumers.
(D) the next few years will witness a very positive economic growth in Africa which translates into good business opportunities.
(E) Chinese experience in technology and project investments will be an asset in developing the African economy.
• ANSWER (B)
-To justify the growing Chinese interest in Africa, it CANNOT be said that
(A) China’s traditional export markets are facing economic difficulties.
(B) multinational companies are leaving the African
continent for political reasons.
(C) Africa is still a growing economic market with a rising number of potential consumers.
(D) the next few years will witness a very positive economic growth in Africa which translates into good business opportunities.
(E) Chinese experience in technology and project investments will be an asset in developing the African economy.
❑ TEXTO 2:
The text below contains the fragment of an interview with Ambassador Shu Zhan, a career diplomat who is the Chinese envoy to Rwanda. In this exclusive interview the envoy talks to Fred Oluoch-Ojiwah of The New Times on the wider Sino-African cooperation and how Rwanda is likely to benefit from such a framework.
O texto abaixo contém o fragmento de uma entrevista com o Embaixador Shu Zhan, diplomata de carreira que é enviado chinês a Ruanda. Nesta entrevista exclusiva, o enviado fala com Fred Oluoch-Ojiwah do The New Times sobre a cooperação sino-africana mais ampla e como o Ruanda poderá beneficiar de tal quadro.
Oluoch-Ojiwah: In relation to the question of SinoAfrican cooperation, skeptics say that China is poised to be the next imperialist power of the world after the USA and such a prospect is what is driving the SinoAfrica cooperation agenda that will not most likely benefit Africa. Skeptics say that Africa has never benefitted from imperialism of any kind.
Oluoch-Ojiwah: Em relação à questão da cooperação Sino-Africana, os cépticos dizem que a China está preparada para ser a próxima potência imperialista do mundo depois dos EUA e tal perspectiva é o que está a impulsionar a agenda de cooperação Sino-Africana que provavelmente não beneficiará África . Os cépticos dizem que África nunca beneficiou de qualquer tipo de imperialismo.
Shu Zhan: I do not think so. Let us look at various items that drive the global economy such as oil. The bulk of oil from Africa goes to Europe. To be precise China gets only less than 15 percent of oil that comes from Africa with Europe taking more than 40 percent. About 33 percent goes to USA. Look at the AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) framework between USA and Africa. Over 90 percent of imports from Africa to USA concerns energy and minerals. China, on the other hand, gets only about less than 20% of African exports. However, the Chinese model to Africa has always been different. During the last 30 years, the west has been extending loans but not grants to China in return for our resources such as coal. China has been selling its resources in order to earn its loans that have been used prudently to build its economy to where it is right now. What I am trying to say is this. How do you use the money you get from such an arrangement based on what I have told you about our story with the west? What I am saying is that it all depends on the side of Africans not our side. We used that very model you are talking about to propel ourselves without any problems.”
Shu Zhan: Acho que não. Vejamos vários itens que impulsionam a economia global, como o petróleo. A maior parte do petróleo da África vai para a Europa. Para ser mais preciso, a China obtém apenas menos de 15 por cento do petróleo proveniente de África, com a Europa a receber mais de 40 por cento. Cerca de 33 por cento vão para os EUA. Veja-se o quadro AGOA (Lei de Crescimento e Oportunidades para África) entre os EUA e África. Mais de 90 por cento das importações de África para os EUA dizem respeito a energia e minerais. A China, por outro lado, recebe apenas menos de 20% das exportações africanas. Contudo, o modelo chinês para África sempre foi diferente. Durante os últimos 30 anos, o Ocidente tem concedido empréstimos, mas não doações, à China em troca dos nossos recursos, como o carvão. A China tem vendido os seus recursos para obter os seus empréstimos que foram usados com prudência para construir a sua economia até onde está agora. O que estou tentando dizer é isso. Como você usa o dinheiro obtido com esse acordo, com base no que contei sobre nossa história com o Ocidente? O que estou a dizer é que tudo depende do lado dos africanos e não do nosso lado. Usamos esse mesmo modelo de que você está falando para nos impulsionar sem problemas.”
Oluoch-Ojiwah: Some people say that technology transfer rather than direct grants is a better model of cooperation between Africa and the rest of the world. Is this the kind of model you have with Rwanda?
Oluoch-Ojiwah: Algumas pessoas dizem que a transferência de tecnologia, em vez de subvenções directas, é um melhor modelo de cooperação entre África e o resto do mundo. É este o tipo de modelo que você tem com Ruanda?
Shu Zhan: Yes. But the challenge we have here is that that the so-called international community does not accept Chinese technology so that that kind of technology can be transferred easily to others. There is some kind of double standards when it comes to issues of accepting technology. I will give you just one example. China produces very good traditional medicine to treat malaria. But The World Health Organization (WHO) refuses to accept it. Unless of course that a European country buys the rights to such medicines, WHO cannot grant its approval. When we try to donate such medicine to Rwanda some local health officials got skeptical and requested that we attain WHO approvals first before accepting our offer. So when I came to Rwanda I had to change the offer to something else such as mosquito nets.
Shu Zhan: Sim. Mas o desafio que temos aqui é que a chamada comunidade internacional não aceita a tecnologia chinesa para que esse tipo de tecnologia possa ser facilmente transferida para outros. Existe algum tipo de duplo padrão quando se trata de questões de aceitação de tecnologia. Vou lhe dar apenas um exemplo. A China produz medicamentos tradicionais muito bons para tratar a malária. Mas a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) recusa-se a aceitá-lo. A menos, claro, que um país europeu compre os direitos desses medicamentos, a OMS não pode conceder a sua aprovação. Quando tentamos doar esses medicamentos ao Ruanda, algumas autoridades locais de saúde ficaram céticas e solicitaram que obtivessemos primeiro as aprovações da OMS, antes de aceitarmos a nossa oferta. Então, quando vim para Ruanda, tive que mudar a oferta para outra coisa, como redes mosquiteiras.
28/06/2011
Adapted from: http://www.focac.org/eng/jlydh/sjzs/t834466.htm,
access on August 13th, 2011.
13 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
Text 2 reflects
(A) a very similar perspective on the Sino-African cooperation to the one exposed in Text 1.
(B) the argument conveyed in Text 1 that the Sino-african projects may be financially risky and unviable.
(C) quite a different view on the relevance of Chinese African economic partnership from that shown in Text 1.
(D) a negative outlook on the future of African economic negotiations with Chinese firms, as opposed to the one revealed in Text 1.
(E) an analogous position to that of Text 1 in stating that Chinese-African cooperation is unwelcome and has too many shortcomings.
• ANSWER (A)
- O texto 2 reflete
(A) uma perspectiva muito semelhante sobre a cooperação sino-africana à exposta no texto 1.
(B) o argumento apresentado no texto 1 de que os projetos sino-africanos podem ser financeiramente arriscados e inviáveis.
(C) uma visão bastante diferente sobre a relevância da parceria econômica africana chinesa da mostrada no Texto 1.
(D) uma perspectiva negativa sobre o futuro das negociações econômicas africanas com empresas chinesas, em oposição à revelada no Texto 1.
(E) uma posição análoga à do Texto 1 ao afirmar que a cooperação entre a China e a África não é bem-vinda e tem muitas deficiências.
14 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The expression “is poised to be” in “…skeptics say that China is poised to be the next imperialist power of the world after the USA…” (lines 2-4) means that China is
(A) denying to be
(B) prepared to act as
(C) refusing to behave as
(D) not yet ready to become
(E) resisting to accept the role of
• ANSWER (B)
The expression “is poised to be” in “…skeptics say that China is poised to be the next imperialist power of the world after the USA…” (lines 2-4) means that China is
(A) denying to be
(B) prepared to act as
(C) refusing to behave as
(D) not yet ready to become
(E) resisting to accept the role of
15 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The interviewer in Text 2 compares China to the USA to
(A) criticize the hidden motivations that have been
attracting China towards fast-growing markets.
(B) express his personal view on Chinese imperialism and condemn China’s foreign policies.
(C) confront the ambassador’s opinion with that of most political analysts and government authorities.
(D) enquire the ambassador about China’s real intentions in Africa and possible consequences for Africa.
(E) blame imperialist countries for Africa’s underdevelopment and poor prospects for the future.
• ANSWER (D)
The interviewer in Text 2 compares China to the USA to
(A) criticize the hidden motivations that have been
attracting China towards fast-growing markets.
(B) express his personal view on Chinese imperialism and condemn China’s foreign policies.
(C) confront the ambassador’s opinion with that of most political analysts and government authorities.
(D) enquire the ambassador about China’s real intentions in Africa and possible consequences for Africa.
(E) blame imperialist countries for Africa’s underdevelopment and poor prospects for the future.
16 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
Ambassador’s Shu Zhan response “I do not think so.”
(line 8) reflects that he
(A) will support all efforts to benefit Africa the most.
(B) does not believe China will rule the world at the
expense of other nations.
(C) is skeptical about Sino-African commercial agreements.
(D) thinks that the USA still has strong imperialistic
international affairs policy.
(E) agrees that the Sino-African cooperation agenda has had very little positive effects so far.
• ANSWER (B)
Ambassador’s Shu Zhan response “I do not think so.”
(line 8) reflects that he
(A) will support all efforts to benefit Africa the most.
(B) does not believe China will rule the world at the
expense of other nations.
(C) is skeptical about Sino-African commercial agreements.
(D) thinks that the USA still has strong imperialistic
international affairs policy.
(E) agrees that the Sino-African cooperation agenda has had very little positive effects so far.
17 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
In terms of numerical reference,
(A) less than 15 percent (line 11) – refers to the share of oil that China consumes.
(B) more than 40 percent (line 12) – refers to the sum of oil coming from Africa and Europe.
(C) about 33 percent (line 13) – refers to the consumption of Chinese-produced oil in the USA.
(D) over 90 percent (line 15) – refers to the total amount of goods that the USA imports from Africa.
(E) about less than 20% (lines 17-18) – refers to the export share from Africa to China.
• ANSWER (E)
In terms of numerical reference,
(A) less than 15 percent (line 11) – refers to the share of oil that China consumes.
(B) more than 40 percent (line 12) – refers to the sum of oil coming from Africa and Europe.
(C) about 33 percent (line 13) – refers to the consumption of Chinese-produced oil in the USA.
(D) over 90 percent (line 15) – refers to the total amount of goods that the USA imports from Africa.
(E) about less than 20% (lines 17-18) – refers to the export share from Africa to China.
18 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
Ambassador Shu Zhan affirms that “…the Chinese model to Africa has always been different.” (lines 18-19) because China has
(A) never intended to raise its share of African exports.
(B) not been interested in importing energy and minerals from Africa.
(C) never benefitted from commerce with Africa on the same level as Europe and the USA have.
(D) always faced a lot more barriers in its commercial
deals with the USA than with Africa.
(E) been forced to accept an unfavorable commercial deal with Africa because of the AGOA framework.
• ANSWER (C)
Ambassador Shu Zhan affirms that “…the Chinese model to Africa has always been different.” (lines 18-19) because China has
(A) never intended to raise its share of African exports.
(B) not been interested in importing energy and minerals from Africa.
(C) never benefitted from commerce with Africa on the same level as Europe and the USA have.
(D) always faced a lot more barriers in its commercial
deals with the USA than with Africa.
(E) been forced to accept an unfavorable commercial deal with Africa because of the AGOA framework.
19 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
According to the Chinese ambassador, traditional Chinese medicine is
(A) not accepted because of its questionable methods and unrecognized efficacy.
(B) the only viable alternative to wipe out malaria from the African continent forever.
(C) the only kind of technology that is not rival to that of American pharmaceutical companies.
(D) a notable case of technology transfer that has been successful in the Sino-African cooperation agreements.
(E) an example of Chinese technology that has not yet gained acceptance in Africa due to barriers imposed by western markets.
• ANSWER (E)
According to the Chinese ambassador, traditional Chinese medicine is
(A) not accepted because of its questionable methods and unrecognized efficacy.
(B) the only viable alternative to wipe out malaria from the African continent forever.
(C) the only kind of technology that is not rival to that of American pharmaceutical companies.
(D) a notable case of technology transfer that has been successful in the Sino-African cooperation agreements.
(E) an example of Chinese technology that has not yet gained acceptance in Africa due to barriers imposed by western markets.
20 – (PUC-RIO-2012-VESTIBULAR- RELAÇÕES INTERNACIONAIS)
The sentence “Unless, of course, that a European country buys the rights to such medicines, WHO cannot grant its approval.” (lines 43-45) is appropriately paraphrased in
(A) So as to become officially accepted as a reliable medical technology in Europe, the Chinese drugs must be first approved by the WHO.
(B) Provided that the WHO and the European countries prove its efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine will not be acknowledged worldwide.
(C) The WHO will only authorize the use of traditional
Chinese medicine if, at least, one nation in Europe
purchases the right to use these drugs.
(D) Only after one of the western nations buys the full production of Chinese drugs will the WHO approve their administration to African patients.
(E) In order to grant the rights for the international use of Chinese traditional medicine, the WHO demands that all European nations test them beforehand.
• ANSWER (C)
The sentence “Unless, of course, that a European country buys the rights to such medicines, WHO cannot grant its approval.” (lines 43-45) is appropriately paraphrased in
(A) So as to become officially accepted as a reliable medical technology in Europe, the Chinese drugs must be first approved by the WHO.
(B) Provided that the WHO and the European countries prove its efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine will not be acknowledged worldwide.
(C) The WHO will only authorize the use of traditional
Chinese medicine if, at least, one nation in Europe
purchases the right to use these drugs.
(D) Only after one of the western nations buys the full production of Chinese drugs will the WHO approve their administration to African patients.
(E) In order to grant the rights for the international use of Chinese traditional medicine, the WHO demands that all European nations test them beforehand.
