The China model is one to avoid - not emulate

Leaders from across Africa will gather in Beijing next week for the Forum on China Africa Co-operation. This triennial summit is where China makes the headline-grabbing aid and finance commitments that underpin its role as Africa’s most important economic partner, fostering new political and military co-operation in a region often ignored by western governments.

Nearly a decade ago, China surpassed the US to become Africa’s largest trading partner. Last year, its two-way trade hit $170bn — four times larger than US-Africa commerce.

But after more than a decade of vaulting growth in trade, finance and investment, China’s weighty engagement is jeopardising future development prospects in Africa.

In the Financial Times, DIIS senior researcher Luke Patey argues that the China model of state-led capitalism and political authoritarianism is failing Africa. African leaders must re-evaluate their relationship with China and carve out their own development path.