IIARD International Institute of Academic Research and Development

IIARD International Journal of Economics and Business Management (IJEBM )

E-ISSN 2489-0065
P-ISSN 2695-186X
VOL. 10 NO. 2 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56201/ijebm.v10.no2.2024.pg146.162

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Chinese Expansion and Assertiveness in Africa: Effects on Economic Growth

Olabode Agunbiade (Ph.D)

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Abstract

This paper examined the effects of Chinese expansion and assertiveness in Africa, with the main objective of determining whether they lead to economic growth on the continent or not. The study relied on secondary data, using qualitative approach with case-descriptions to illustrate how Chinese expansion and assertiveness have affected African economic growth. The theoretical framework adopted for this paper was the Dependency theory, that examines the socio-political and economic relationships that exist between the developed and developing nations. The findings revealed, amongst others, that China is Africa’s largest trade partner and at the same time the largest creditor, that China is attracted to Africa because of its natural resources and export markets, that Chinese-African economic relationship can be assessed based on trade relations, foreign direct investment, loans granting and infrastructural development and that there are both positive and negative effects from Chinese expansion and assertiveness in Africa. Some of the recommendations are that African countries need to develop their own policies regarding foreign support in order to identify strategic goals upfront, before entering into relationships with foreign nations, managerial skill transfer as well as technology transfer are very critical elements for African countries when dealing the Chinese and must be embedded in agreements, there must be clear agreements with regard to duration and timelines of contracts with the overall intention to hand over to nationals of beneficiary countries for management and that lack of transparency, corruption and nepotism should be reduced to the barest minimum.

keywords:

China, Chinese trade, FDI, infrastructure, Africa

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References:

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Akpaninyie, M. (2019). ‘China’s Debt Diplomacy’ is a Misnomer. Call it ‘Crony Diplomacy’. The
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crony-diplomacy/.

Alden, C., & Alves, A. C. (2009), China and Africa’s natural resources: The Challenges and
Implications for Development and Governance. China-Africa Project/South African
Institute of International Affairs, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4-26

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