China-Africa relations

The Lobé-Kribi Iron Ore Project in Cameroon, led by Sinosteel, poses serious social and environmental risks.

China has built a media network to spread information to its advantage in a region that has increasingly become a theater of great power rivalry.

There is a shift underway in China’s Global South diplomacy, as Beijing seeks to compensate for less financial firepower by focusing more on governance and capacity building. 

It’s no coincidence that China’s new push in the island nation focuses on energy and digital development.

The South African president’s visit was a microcosm of the priorities in China’s relations with African states.

Despite criticism and skepticism, China seems to be Africa’s last hope, if not its best bet.

Despite the broad scope of topics covered at FOCAC, one crucial area remains notably underrepresented: mining and critical minerals. 

Growing numbers of Chinese universities are drawing students from partner regions such as Africa with science-focused programs. 

Wang Yi’s inaugural trip of 2024 will touch on diplomacy, economics, and security issues on the African continent. 

Despite much talk of a slowdown, there is reason to believe that Chinese loans to African countries will increase in 2024.

The experiences of young Chinese professionals provide an additional layer of complexity to the relations between China and Lusophone Africa.

There has been much talk of a perceived slowdown in BRI lending, but African leaders are still looking to China to advance development goals.

A brief meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS summit was the first chance for many African leaders to speak with Xi Jinping since the pandemic began.

A look at the priorities the AU, Ethiopia, Gabon, Angola, Benin, and Egypt have for their relationships with China.

But African leaders will need to keep working to reap the full benefits.

The summit on the sidelines of the G-20 drove home the convergence of interests between China and the African Union.

For African governments, China’s party congress is about more than Xi Jinping.

A recent survey delves into Chinese perceptions of the U.S., Russia, Japan, Europe, Africa, and Singapore.

A viral lockdown trend illustrates some of China’s attitudes to international relations and people-to-people diplomacy – including persistent stereotypes.

Of course the COVID-19 pandemic played a role, but there is another factor at play: pressure from international organizations to avoid debt.

Some analysts suggested Beijing was seeking to shore up international support for its position on the Ukraine war. Maybe, but that wasn’t the major impetus for the recent series of bilateral meetings.

Analysts and officials in the U.S. and Europe have been sharply critical of China’s stance. But the view from African countries is different.

China’s approach to security issues is meant to be in line with African frameworks, in accordance with the principle of non-intervention.

African countries have the agency to use relations with China to their own advantage. Whether African leaders will use their power to benefit their people is another question.