CHINESE companies with investments in Africa should be held accountable to the same global standards which apply to Western companies.
United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson told African journalists via a teleconference on Tuesday evening that Chinese companies have an obligation to respect global standards in labour, technology transfer and human capital development.
"It is important to African governments that they hold Chinese companies to higher standards than they hold American and European companies," Mr Carson said.
Carson said the US considers China as a partner in Africa that will work to improve the people's lives by respecting international labour rights which demand that local people be given preference in employment.
"American and Canadian companies will hire most of the local people and train them and not bring along their own people," Carson had just returned to Washington after a tour of Asia which took him to China, Japan and South Korea.
China has of late become one of the country's largest trade and investment partner mostly targeting construction, energy, manufacturing and trading sectors.
But an overwhelming influx of Chinese nationals doing petty trading and massive abuse of workers rights in construction industry has drawn complaints and criticism from ordinary people.
Earlier this year, Deputy Minister for Trade, Industry and Marketing, Lazaro Nyalandu visited Kariakoo area of Dar es Salaam and heard complaints from petty traders that Chinese petty traders were operating in the area.
Mr Nyalandu ordered all Chinese petty traders in the country to identify themselves with authorities, including Department of Immigration and Tanzania Investment Centre within three months or risk legal action.
"After expiry of three months grace period, we will launch a crackdown," Nyalandu warned by so far the threat has never been implemented as Chinese investments keep on increasing.
Carson urged Beijing and African governments to ensure that they strike win win deals which benefit both parties, warning that corruption is a crime globally when it comes to trade and investment.
"In the United States we have a law that forbids American companies bribing foreign public officials to stop the practice," he argued while urging Beijing to adopt a similar law to guard against its companies.
Meanwhile, a delegation of American energy companies led by Carson is expected to visit Tanzania next January.
The US Embassy Public Affairs Officer, Dana Banks said the delegation will come to look for investments opportunities in the energy sector, as Washington seeks to rival Chinese growing presence in the country.
Source: All Africa