China denies human rights abuses in search for oil

BEIJING – A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman angrily denied on Thursday that the country turns a blind eye to human rights abuses in places like Sudan in its search for oil to help power a booming economy.

Chinese trade helps improve people’s living standards and economies and does not have a negative impact, Qin Gang told a regular news conference.

“We will not repeat the mistakes of the bloody pillaging and human rights abuses of the Western colonists in the past,” Qin said. “China is a responsible country. In the global arena we stress peace, cooperation and development.”

This week anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof said that rich countries must move fast to eradicate poverty in Africa before China seizes the initiative and ramps up investment in corrupt African governments.

Reuters