世界银行(World Bank)的私营部门机构已签署了其首项为中国在非洲投资提供资金的协议，该机构希望此举能有助于防止中方违反人权和环保标准。
国际金融公司(IFC)昨日同意为坦桑尼亚达累斯萨拉姆(Dares Salaam)的一个商业中心提供部分资金，该中心包括一幢14层的办公大楼。
该项目由中铁建厂工程局(China Railway Jianchang Engineering Company)和一家当地的非盈利组织负责承建，规模较小。IFC将出资1000万美元，并有望从投资者那里再筹得650万美元，总共占整个工程总投资额的一半左右。
但对于其它谈判中的协议，IFC希望，越来越多的中国投资能够遵循国际通行的标准。IFC正就其它一些非洲项目与中国投资方谈判，包括有可能为一些工业特区提供资金。
多年来，外国（尤其是美国和欧洲）投资者担心，自己竞争不过那些准备在社会和环保标准上打折扣以赢得合同的中国公司，尤其是石油、天然气和采矿业的合同。
IFC首席执行官拉尔斯•特内尔(Lars Thunell)对英国《金融时报》表示："中国人担心自己的声誉以及已经招致的诸多批评。这项协议提供了一个'批准印章'，将有助于他们从其它国际金融机构及商业银行融资。"
IFC为私人投资者提供贷款、股本、投资顾问服务和贸易信贷，所提供资金往往在项目总价值中占相对较小的份额。但由于发展了提供资金所需的环保和人权保护措施，该公司常常被当作私人投资的把关者。
IFC一位前负责人将这一职责形容为"道德评级机构"，尽管这让这家机构成为发展与环境活动人士的攻击目标。
世行行长罗伯特•佐立克(Robert Zoellick)呼吁，西方政府和国际组织不应只顾批评，还应鼓励中国负责任行事。
译者/何黎
http://www.ftchinese.com/story/001032335
The World Bank's private sector arm has signed its first deal to finance Chinese investment in Africa, a move it hopes will help to discourage violations of human rights and environmental standards.
The International Finance Corporation agreed yesterday that it would help finance a commercial complex, including a 14-storey office block, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The project, run by the China Railway Jianchang Engineering Company and a local non-profit organisation, is small. The IFC will provide $10m (€7.5m, £6.5m) in funding and hope to attract another $6.5m from other investors, which together will fund about half the project.
But with other deals with Chinese investors in Africa under negotiation, including the possibility of financing special industrial zones, the IFC hopes that a growing proportion of Chinese investment can be covered by internationally recognised standards.
The loan follows years of foreign investor concern, particularly from the US and Europe, that they are underbid by Chinese companies prepared to cut corners in social and environmental standards to win contracts, particularly in the oil, gas and mining industries.
"The Chinese worry about their reputation and the fact that there has been a lot of criticism," Lars Thunell, the IFC's chief executive, told the Financial Times. "This gives a stamp of approval which will help them mobilise money from other international financial institutions and commercial banks."
The IFC, which provides private investors with loans, equity, investment advisory services and trade credit, often finances a relatively small proportion of the overall value of a project. But, having developed environmental and human rights safeguards required to unlock its funding, the corporation is often used as a gatekeeper for private investment.
One former IFC head described that role as one of an "ethical ratings agency", though it has made the organisation a target for development and environmental campaigners.
Robert Zoellick, the World Bank president, has argued that western governments and international institutions, rather than simply criticise, should encourage China to act responsibly.
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