The economics of and prospects for China’s Africa return

China’s deepening economic ties with Africa carry ‘profound implications for the continent and beyond’ – regardless of whether China is ‘returning (to Africa) or not’ (Wang and Elliot, 2014: 1017). Accordingly, what happens in and between each of China and Africa economically is now at the core of the economic development of both. This chapter comprises an overview of the related economic and political economy trends and transitions.