China lends Africa $20bn to defend against Western 'bullying' "China and Africa should strengthen political mutual trust," Hu said in a speech to African leaders in Beijing at a summit held every three years. We want to continue to enhance our traditional friendship...rule out external interference and enhance mutual understanding and trust. Hu also pledged to "continue to expand aid to Africa, so that the benefits of development can be realised by the African people." He did not provide an amount. Hu said the new loans would support infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing and development of small and medium-sized businesses in Africa. Critics say China supports African governments with dubious human rights records as a means to get access to resources. Such criticism makes China angry and draws rebukes that the West still views Africa as though it were a colony. Chinese state-owned firms in Africa also face criticism for using imported labour to build government-financed projects like roads and hospitals, while pumping out resources and leaving little for local economies. The EU has rejected what they call China's "cheque book" approach to doing business with Africa, saying it would continue to demand good governance and the transparent use of funds from its trading partners. China's friendship with Africa dates back to the 1950s, when Beijing backed liberation movements in the continent fighting to throw off Western colonial rule. Trade has jumped in the past decade, driven by Chinese hunger for resources to power its economic boom and African demand for cheap Chinese products. China's trade with Africa reached $166.3bn in 2011, according to Chinese statistics. In the past decade, African exports to China rose to $93.2bn from $5.6 bn. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, the world's most valuable lender, has invested more than $7bn in various projects across the continent.