ABSTRACT

There are three major periods in China-Africa relations since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. During 1950-78, China’s African strategy focused primarily on winning allies in Africa by breaking the blockade imposed by the West and later the Soviet Union. China’s aid to Africa during this period mainly consisted of supporting anti-colonial movements, the struggle against hegemony and economic construction in Africa. From 1978 to 1995, the strategy toward Africa emphasized two features, coordinating China’s Africa strategy with China’s reform and opening-up, as well as competing with Taiwan to win over African countries. Since 1995, China’s policies toward Africa have been characterized by new strategic decisions. From an emphasis on ideology to neutralization in diplomacy, from economic support to exchanges in various fields, and from merely financial aid to emphasizing mutual benefits, China’s policy toward Africa has been focusing on establishing a new-type of strategic partnership that features mutual political trust, mutual benefits of economic interest, and mutual cultural learning. The policy has been more vigorous through summit diplomacy and standardized mechanism (Li 2007).