Every move made by China towards any African country, catches the world’s eye. Chinese leaders making trips to Africa evince great interest and the rationale behind the trips is analyzed and dissected. China is certainly sending strong feelers to African nations, and is getting a positive response from them, simply because China has lots to give. China is perceived by the Africans as the land of enormous opportunity, a country that will provide aid without strings, bring in expertise, develop infrastructure, and invest extensively to pull the countries out of poverty and underdevelopment. The past of the two sides have been similar, except that China surged ahead, and today presents a model for growth to Africa. In return, China has managed to get materials and markets that were not available in any other part of the world. At present, Angola is the second largest provider of crude oil to China, followed closely by Nigeria. It has also procured African copper, zinc, cobalt and uranium. China is making its presence felt in all parts of the African continent, with its oil survey teams in Libya, Egypt and Morocco, it sells arms in return for natural resources in Algeria, Ghana, Benin, Congo and Angola. Extensive trade with Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia keeps Chinese ships sailing in and out of every part of the African continent. Mutual economic benefit is the deciding factor for every economic partnership entered into by the two sides. Though one side has more to give in terms of natural resources, the other has a phenomenal amount of talent, expertise and technical know-how that will help tap these natural resources for maximum returns..

However, China has also been affected by the worldwide economic downturn, and part of the plan to stem unemployment and stimulate demand, is to send unemployed migrant workers to farm in Africa. Africa has plenty of fertile land, and needs to replicate the Chinese model of agriculture to increase output and produce world quality natural products to benefit economically. This plan of China would merely be an extension of the previous Sino-African agreement whereby some 400 Chinese farmers were given access to cultivate nearly 10,000 hectares of land.

Source : China Africa