Advertisement

Advertisement

NEWSCMP China Series

China and Africa’s evolving partnership

From funding vital infrastructure and industrial growth to a growing wave of cultural exchange, ties between Beijing and Africa are entering a new phase. In this ongoing series, we explore the deepening economic, cultural and diplomatic relations between China and African countries.

Updated: 27 Jun, 2026

Workers collect cotton in a field in Soclogbo, Benin, on January 13, 2025. Photo: AFP

Advertisement

[1]

More and more Africans want to learn Chinese. But who will teach them?

African nations are adding Chinese to their national curricula, but the roll-out is hampered by a lack of qualified teachers.

19 Jun, 2026

A contestant delivers a speech in the final of the 25th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for university students in Soa, Cameroon, on May 29. Photo: Xinhua

Advertisement

Advertisement

[2]

How Benin is on the road to reshaping its cotton industry, with China’s help

A 184km road project will make transport easier while Chinese experts and firms are assisting with technical support and local processing.

21 Jun, 2026

Benin’s new Cotton Road will link the north and south of the country and is expected to cut travel times by up to 75 per cent. Photo: Handout

[3]

Is China’s risk tolerance reaching its limit with pause of African mine deal?

Regulators ‘sending a signal’ with scrutiny of potential acquisition that includes important mining assets in conflict-prone regions.

23 Jun, 2026

The Sadiola mine in Mali is Canadian company Allied Gold’s biggest mining asset in Africa. Photo: Wikipedia

[4]

Can China’s strict policing model ‘silence the guns’ in Africa?

As Beijing partners with the UN and the African Union to train officials on small arms control, analysts question its impact.

26 Jun, 2026

Liu Bin, China’s assistant foreign minister, speaks at the opening ceremony of the China-UN-Africa training programme at the People's Public Security University in Beijing on June 16. Photo: Handout

[5]

Coffee, chillies and cashews: a new recipe to rewrite China-Africa trade

Blanket relationship with all African nations is viewed as a precedent for partners like the EU.

27 Jun, 2026

In Africa, some agricultural products, including coffee beans, that meet baseline requirements on pest risks, processing and safety are eligible for export to China, eliminating the need for country-by-country trade deals. Photo: Shutterstock