Analysis of China-Africa Relations: Historical Development and Current Perspectives

Abstract

This paper examines China-Africa relations by discussing how the ties have evolved over time, current perspectives, reasons for China’s venture into Africa and how African governments have benefited from this co-operation. China’s robust presence in Africa is an area of interest that has attracted, generated and sustained a lot of scholarly debates. China’s venture in Africa goes back to the 1950s when most African countries were fighting for independence from colonial masters. China aims at building a win-win type of co-operation. Currently, China is investing on the African continent in terms of funding massive infrastructural projects, cultural exchanges, trade, higher education etc. African governments look up to China as an old diplomatic and development partner and aspire to emulate its model of economic development. However despite these, China’s increasing dominance in Africa has received a lot of criticism from western countries. They consider China’s continued and increasing presence on the African continent as a form of neo-colonialist predatory tendency. Supporters of the Sino-African relations on the other hand argue that the Chinese model applied in Africa is similar to models used by Europe and the United States of America. China’s policy of development without interference has often been misunderstood to imply indifference. This paper therefore explains the win-win type of co-operation between China and African governments. Keywords: China-Africa relations, historical development, current perspectives DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/11-2-04 Publication date: January 31 st 2021