Middle East & Africa | Beyond Belt and Road

China’s relationship with Africa is growing murkier

A decline in capital flows does not necessarily signal disengagement

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in the Great hall of the People, Beijing
Photograph: IMAGO/Xinhua
|Nairobi

It has been the highlight of most African leaders’ diplomatic calendar for nearly a quarter of a century. Ever since the inaugural Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) in Beijing in 2000, the triennial shindig has been treated as a barometer by analysts seeking clues about the evolving state of relations between Africa and its biggest trading partner.

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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “Beyond Belt and Road”

From the September 7th 2024 edition

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