As Middle East Conflict Winds Down - US and China regards Africa with envious eyes

The perception is that things are already changing in Africa. Kwong noted that Chinese oil company Sinopac had recently gone to Nigeria to bid on developing a block of offshore drilling rights. "Unfortunately, the company had to relinquish the block despite having the high bid." While he admitted that there could have been many reasons for the bid being relinquished, Kwong says Chinese leaders think political pressure could have had an impact.

Adding fuel to the concerns about a U. S. move into Africa is the perception that conflict is winding down in the Middle East. "Iraq appears to be under control, the president of Iran wants dialog with Obama and the Middle East appears to be 'in the bag' for the U.S.," Kwong said. Only Afghanistan poses any problem, he believes, so that American can now focus on Africa.

clipped from www.mywesttexas.com The fact that new President Barak Obama has great favor in African nations such as Kenya, his father's native country, seems to be making waves among Chinese leaders. That is according to Professor Albert Kwong, founder and vice chairman of PetroAsian Energy Limited, a Chinese oil concern headquartered in Hong Kong. Kwong was educated in the United States and spent the years 1977-81 in Midland working for Arco (now BP). China, now the world's number two oil consumer, has spent decades currying favor with African nations. In the last decade or so China has been parlaying that influence into oil production opportunities on that continent. The United States has largely focused its petro-influence in the Middle East, leaving China largely alone in Africa. Now, says Professor Kwong, Obama's presidency brings a new face and new favor among Africans, especially in Kenya, for America.