Trade, finance and debt between China and Africa: new policy approaches or more of the
same?
Following a significant increase in trade and finance between China and Africa since the early
2000s, Chinese economic engagement in Africa (trade, investment, lending) is now showing signs
of slowing down. Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) and lending to Africa have plateaued
in the last five years, while the second phase of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI 2.0) has shifted
towards a more cautious approach. Simultaneously, debt distress faced by many African countries
is influencing their relations with China. However, initiatives like the African Continental Free
Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is reshaping Africa’s economic transformation, present new
opportunities for future engagement with China. In the wake of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC), this panel will explore the evolving policy landscape in relation to China-
Africa economic relations, focusing on potential shifts in policy directions concerning trade,
finance, and debt. It will delve into the factors driving these changes, analysing their implications
for both China and Africa and discuss potential pathways towards a more balanced and sustainable
economic partnership.
Panellists:
• H.E. Mrs Macenje Florence Mazoka, High Commissioner for the Republic of Zambia
• Ms Agnes Gitau, Executive Director of the Eastern Africa Association (EAA)
• Dr Folashade Soule-Kohndou, Senior Research Associate, University of Oxford
• Dr Yunnan Chen, Research Fellow, ODI London
• Dr Linda Calabrese, Senior Research Fellow, ODI London
