China Continues Expanding "Infrastructure for Resources" Policy with Agreements in Malaysia

As the United States spends money it doesn't have (much of it borrowed from China ironically) to manipulate housing prices upward, get its debt laden consumers to spend with financial handouts, bail out its financial oligarchs, and funnel money into states so its public sector employees have no need to make any necessary adjustments to reality, China continues to spend its surplus on "nation building" in return for access to other country's resources.  [May 13, 2009: Commodities - It's China's World: We Just Live in It]   I literally could post a story each week as agreements or strategic purchases are made by China; much of the emphasis has been in Africa....

A $9 billion minerals-for-infrastructure deal is presented by Congolese President Joseph Kabila as a cornerstone of his plan to rebuild the Democratic Republic of Congo after years of war. China will build roads, schools and hospitals in exchange for mining rights.

In Guinea's capital, Conakry, the Chinese government is building a 50,000-seat sports stadium as a gift.

...it is striking how China is locking up natural resources throughout the world with "partnerships"; specifically this hour long (ABC) program was about how China is building out infrastructure (spend now) in Africa in return for access to those country's natural resources. Folks, this is our competition the next 50+ years... we, on the other hand, don't think out past one election cycle. If you have time here is a lengthy piece called The Age of the Dragon which is similar to what I saw on ABC

China is conquering Africa as it becomes the preferred trading partner of the continent's dictators. Beijing is buying up Africa's abundant natural resources and providing it with needed cash and cheaply produced consumer goods in return

• China will help Malaysia build up its transport infrastructure as it seeks to tap more of the Southeast Asian nation’s natural resources. The two countries will work on railway, bridge, water and energy projects as China imports more Malaysian palm oil and timber, according to memorandums of understanding signed on the final day of President Hu Jintao’s state visit to Malaysia.


• China is the world’s largest edible oil importer. The resource-hungry nation bought 357,570 metric tons last month from Malaysia, the world’s No. 2 palm exporter of the crop. Beijing has been scouring the world for natural resources to feed an economy that has grown at least 6 percent annually since 1997. In return, it has pledged financing and help with construction of infrastructure.


• The Malaysian government is opening up to more business from China as data showed that from January to September this year, China is the second-largest market for Malaysia’s exports valued at 46.8 billion ringgit. Malaysian exports to China jumped 16 percent last month from a year earlier, figures released in Beijing today showed. 


• Malaysia will work with Chinese companies to build a dam in Penang state, Najib said. The Mengkuang Dam will be the biggest in the area. 


• A Chinese company will be awarded a contract by the Malaysian government to help develop a double-track railway that will run from Johor Bahru, bordering Singapore, to Gemas in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Najib added. Global Rail Sdn. is leading the construction of the 28 billion ringgit ($8.2 billion) project.


• Malaysia will also work with Chinese companies to build a pulp and paper mill and aluminum smelter in Sarawak state.


• Export-Import Bank of China, a state export credit agency, signed a credit agreement with Jambatan Kedua Sdn. for a second bridge linking Penang Island to the Malaysian peninsula.


• Meanwhile, Beijing Enterprise Water Group Ltd. will work with the Malaysian government to improve the country’s sewerage services, according to one MoU signed today.