Japan aid chief Sadako Ogata appealed to developed countries to back up China?s aid assistance to Africa. “China is increasingly becoming a major player, and I think the major players have various rules and agreements of how to do things and gradually bring China into that process,” Ogata told a news conference, stressing that “what would be important would be to get into a little bit more consultation or information-sharing by all the donor countries to at least know what we’re doing with each other.” Ogata refused to criticize China?s initiative to double aid in Africa and offer $5 billion in loans and credits despite accusations of malicious motives to increase access to African oil and other resources. “China is also right now going through a modernization, a reorganization process,” she said. “In China there are genuine problems but genuine efforts as well. So I don’t believe in singling out anybody.” (Source: Japan?s Ogata seeks coordination as China boosts aid/Agence France-Presse)
