China and India as the drivers of Africa

Affiliation: Centre of Russian-African Relations and African States Foreign Policy Studies, Institute for African Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS)
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Vyacheslav Usov

Affiliation: Centre for Global and Strategic Studies, Institute for African Studies, RAS
Address: Russian Federation, Moscow

Journal name

Asia and Africa Today

Edition

Issue 8

Pages

28-36

Abstract

The article deals with the cooperation of two Asian powers - China and India - with African countries. The turn “to the East” in contemporary international relations is available. The World interest in Africa as in a store-room of natural resources and in the continent of the intensive growth rises. China and India display the growing activity in African countries .Both countries are increasing steadily their presence on the African continent. Very important tools for Chinese and Indian policy in Africa are the Forums for Cooperation, where both countries announce the programs for future relations with Africa. For example, at the 2018 China-Africa Forum for cooperation (FOCAC) summit China announced that it had set up $60 billion for Africa development. The authors analyze China-Africa and India-Africa trade relations, the Beijing and Deli activities as donors and investors in African countries. China and India trade relations with Africa are very important for both sides. China is a leading trade partner for many African countries. The trade volume of both Asian countries with Africa grew very actively for many years, but 2015-2016 showed the decline of trade in connection with the falling prices for raw materials. However trade growth has resumed in 2017-2018. China has been increasing its presence in Africa, cooperating with the continent in pressing issues such as infrastructure development. The Chinese have been engaged in such projects as industrial parks, construction of mega-projects as railways, airports, sea ports. India lags behind China in these spheres, but outstrips Beijing in IT. As the analysis shows, these “emerging powers”, which some scholars propose to call “southern powers,” are developing their cooperation with Africa in different spheres of economy, forcing out the traditional partners of African countries and sometimes coming out as rivals.

Keywords

Africa, China, India, cooperation, trade, aid, investment

Publication date

10.08.2019

Number of characters

30072

Cite

GOST	Deich T., Usov V. China and India as the drivers of Africa // Asia and Africa Today – 2019. – Issue 8 C. 28-36 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750005774-3-1 (circulation date: 23.03.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005774-3
MLA	Deich, Tatiana, Usov, Vyacheslav "China and India as the drivers of Africa." Asia and Africa Today 8 (2019):28-36. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005774-3
APA	Deich T., Usov V. (2019). China and India as the drivers of Africa. Asia and Africa Today (8), pp.28-36 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750005774-3

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