Title: China-Africa economic relation: a double-edged sword for Africa

Authors: Kenneth Kalu; Ernest Toochi Aniche

Addresses: Department of Global Management, Ted Rogers School of Management, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ' Department of Political Science, Federal University Otuoke (FUO), Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract: China-Africa economic relation has expanded significantly since the 1990s. In recent years, China's activities in African countries have attracted criticisms bothering on fears that financial flows from China could exacerbate poor governance and human rights abuses in these countries. However, our assessment of the dynamics of China's engagements with Africa shows that the biggest potential negative impact of these engagements is not necessarily on governance and human rights, as portrayed by Western politicians and commentators, but largely on economic factors. Specifically, China's activities in Africa could delay the emergence of a vibrant manufacturing sector in Africa, if African countries continue to import cheap manufactured products from China while relying on the export of minerals as the mainstay of their economies. Consequently, this paper recommends that African countries should focus on directing China's investment in the continent strategically towards stimulating domestic manufacturing in the respective countries.

Keywords: Africa; China; development; economic integration; governance; industrialisation.

DOI: 10.1504/AJESD.2020.106827

African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, 2020 Vol.7 No.4, pp.374 - 390

Received: 22 Jun 2019
Accepted: 28 Oct 2019
Published online: 21 Apr 2020 *

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