ABSTRACT
In the European Union's (EU) promotion of 'good governance', one commentary has averred that 'The EU tends to export to third countries the EU model of political and economic development based upon economic liberalization and the rules of the free market, democratic norms and practices, and human rights protection'. It is true that at the moment there appears to be some divergence between the EU and Chinese policy aims regarding governance and that this at times suggests a convergence between Beijing and certain types of African leaders. The Chinese have actually been quite explicit in their support for NEPAD. At the second Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Beijing agreed to: 'strengthen cooperation with Africa on priority sectors identified under the NEPAD'. Just as China has, since 1978, pursued the capitalist path to development, so too now Beijing is de facto encouraging Africa to likewise accept and advance the precepts of liberalized capitalism.
