Beijing gains `soft power' training African diplomats

The other pole of attraction is, of course, China's remarkable quarter century of economic performance, which has lifted it from the ranks of the poorest to make it one of the world's largest and most powerful economies.

For developing countries, many of which have grown disenchanted with the so-called Washington consensus, a mixture of lowered trade barriers, privatization, democracy and free markets, there is intense interest in trying to learn from China. There is increasing talk of a rival "Beijing Consensus," which emphasizes innovation and growth through a social-market economy, placing less emphasis on free markets and democracy. China denies it's promoting a competing program.

"Yes, a lot of African countries have been coming to China," said Liu Jianchao (劉建超), deputy spokesman of the Foreign Ministry. "But although people may call it a Beijing Consensus, we are not trying to pose as a model for other countries."