by Mr Nik Ogbulie, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MoneyReport Publications, Lagos, Nigeria, t the Lagos Sub-Forum on the 25 years anniversary of The Forum On China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), November 4, 2025 in Lagos.
INTRODUCTION:
The Chairman of the occasion, Ladies and gentlemen, may I dutifully stand on the existing protocols to contribute to the discussion already on the floor which has been an interesting aspect of the on-going relation between the biggest African country and the fastest growing economy in the world today. This discussion has sincerely become so important based on the lessons imminent in China’s global relevance today and the lessons of the various fallouts of its trajectory. Dear esteemed guests and fellow advocates for Africa-China cooperation, permit me to talk about a relationship that has been evolving over the past quarter century. China-African ties have grown significantly, but not without challenges. As we gather here today, I would like to explore how we can overcome the biases and the shortcomings that have marked our partnership, and forge a stronger, more mutually beneficial path forward.
As a matter of fact, over the last 25 years, China has become one of Africa’s largest trading partners and investors. However, this growth has also raised concerns about debt sustainability, environmental impact, and cultural exchange. As Africans it’s time to reevaluate our relationship with China and work towards a more equitable and sustainable partnership. It could be fine if Africa, in the course of this relationship can use the new closeness and seize this opportunity to redefine our cooperation, prioritize our shared interests, and build a brighter future for generations to come. This becomes imperative based on the fact that there are a lot to gain from a country that has been everything to the world to the extent that its ingenuity has belied the insignia which it has earned for itself some thirty years ago. Biases notwithstanding, the story of China-African relationship is gradually shifting from that of the blind man and the elephant. This story is now more like what the blind man touches is exactly what it is.
UNDERSTANDING THE SCALES OF BIASES:
The biases against China in Africa do extend beyond politics and diplomacy to include concerns about product quality and manufacturing. Many Africans have experienced or heard about substandard Chinese products, which has led to a perception that China prioritizes quantity over quality. This is purely economic which must be seen from the point of view of the technology in existence in the early periods of industrial development. This did not only affect China as a people or country but includes some other nations that were also making efforts to make their mark in international trade and global relevance. Many saw this as a mere de-marketing efforts among the fast growing industrializing nations who were trying to capture the gaps created by the emerging international trade opportunities. This scale of biases may have opened a floodgate of other biases as nations expand their reasons for global economic and political expansion.
The second and main scale for which this dialogue is being put into context is the biases in International politics and diplomacy which stems from various factors, which include historical factors like colonialism and past experiences, cultural differences, the global power dynamics which includes balance in economic, military and politics; National interests, media representation such as selective reporting; lack of understanding which includes limited knowledge of the people in question.
For Africans, the issues of the biases arising from international politics and diplomacy have been recent developments that came with the neo-scramble for the African continent as a matter of new discoveries and expectations. This also seems to have become the major development that has bothered China as a nation. Its ascendency is seen as a major tool in the effort to dislodge the impending balance of power for which Africa has consistently been a tool in the hands of the developing economies. This layer of biases is the major application that is being administered as a destabilizing force in achieving the China-Africa cooperation over time.
The peculiar nature of African existence has been responsible for the importation of these biases. Her very dependency syndrome in so many areas, including manufacturing, offers little opportunity to re-invent herself to be able to chart a new course. While the branding of her manufactured goods as poor was gradually fizzling away, the arrival of the politics of exclusion from favourable global politics was introduced to further dissuade Africans from believing in any Chinese offerings, even in the face of her new innovative imperatives. The Chinese inroad into Africa some 25 years ago was a prelude to concrete industrialization and expedited economic development efforts through some many identifiable trading opportunities and unlimited partnership ties that have emerged between China and other nations which are encouraging global market growth.
Key Findings on Bias against China;
China’s global average net approval by the West has steadily declined over the past 25 years, driven more by raising negativity than falling negativity, traceable from the confines of the Western powers. (‘China’s global average approval’ refers to the overall percentage of people worldwide who have a favourable view of China. According to a survey covering some 76% of the World’s population, China’s average net approval stands at around approximately 38% of respondents holding positive views, 34% negative views and 28% neutral or undecided.)
Growing Regional Variations:
The largest cluster of negative opinion on China is from Europe, not America. Countries like South Korea have particularly critical views of China, with 54% considering China’s involvement in domestic politics a serious problem.
Sources of Bias;
Perceptions of China are largely influenced by its policies, human rights records, growing economic and military influence. The COVID-19 Pandemic also significantly impacted global views of China with many countries experiencing a sharp decline in favourability.
OVERCOMING THE BIASES
Rating the improvement in China-Africa relations over the last 25 years could be subjective, but here’s a breakdown of key developments that can help assess progress.
Economic Ties:
Trade volume grew significantly from $10 billion in 2000 to $282.1 billion in 2023, with China becoming Africa’s largest trading partner. Chinese investments in Africa has increased, with direct investment stock exceeding $40 billion by 2023. Infrastructure projects, such as roads, railways, and energy facilities, have improved living standards and economic prospects in many African countries. China has introduced advanced agricultural technologies to Africa, increasing crop yields by 30-60% and benefiting over 1 million farmers. China offers thousands of scholarships to African students, promoting cultural exchange and skills development. China has completed numerous large-scale infrastructure projects, enhancing Africa’s economic prospects. China’s share of sub-Saharan Africa’s external public debt rose to 17% ($134 billion) by 2021. Africa’s exports to China are primarily raw materials, China exports manufactured goods to Africa. Environmental Impact:* Concerns about the environmental sustainability of Chinese investments in Africa persist.
Improvement rating on what have been seen as biases stands at about 70%, indicating that the shortcomings as have been identified in the last 25 years have gradually been quite acceptable. Researches are indicative that not many Africans and institutions believe everything that is being written or spoken about China and the attendant biases as much as Africa is concerned. This rating reflects significant progress in economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange. However, challenges related to debt, trade imbalances, and environmental concerns need to be addressed to ensure more equitable and sustainable partnerships.
The quality of manufactured goods exported to Africa from China has likely improved in certain areas, particularly in green technologies and renewable energy products. Chinese exports to Africa have surged, with a 25% year-on-year increase to $122 billion, driven by demand for infrastructure projects, machinery, and clean energy solutions. Some key trends in Chinese exports to Africa include, renewable Energy: Solar panel exports to Africa jumped 60% in the 12 months through June, indicating improved technology and competitiveness in the green sector. Electric Vehicles: Sales of electric vehicles and related components are growing, reflecting China’s advancements in green technology. Construction Machinery: Exports of construction machinery surged 63% year-on-year, suggesting improvements in manufacturing and engineering capabilities.
However, the overall quality of Chinese manufactured goods exported to Africa remains a concern, with some products still perceived as low-cost but lower-quality. The increase in exports is largely driven by competitive pricing, a weaker yuan, and China’s vast industrial capacity. To better understand the quality improvements, it’s essential to monitor specific product categories and customer feedback. Some Chinese companies are investing in research and development, enhancing product quality, and adapting to local market needs. There are just some numbers of quality enhancement investments in some parts of Africa with none yet in West Africa. Chinese institutions like Hisense, Haier, Huawei are aggressively embarking on programs that are recognizably top across the world with their smart technology outfits.
The balance of trade between China and Africa is skewed in China’s favor, with Africa’s trade deficit with China widening to $59.55 billion in the first eight months of 2025. This imbalance is driven by China’s strong exports to Africa, which rose 24.7% year-on-year to $140.79 billion, while imports from Africa grew only 2.3% to $81.25 billion.
Key Trade Statistics remains intimidating but shows huge improvement over what was in existence some 25 years ago when the biases were at their peaks.
– *China’s Exports to Africa:* $140.79 billion (24.7% increase)
– *Africa’s Exports to China:* $81.25 billion (2.3% increase)s
– *Africa’s Trade Deficit with China:* $59.55 billion
This trade imbalance reflects Africa’s reliance on raw material exports, such as crude oil, copper, and iron ore, while importing high-value-added manufactured goods from China.
To overcome biases in China-Africa relations beyond the current improvement rating, China must consider these strategies:
*Promote transparency and accountability and encourage open dialogue and regular assessments to address concerns and grievances.
*Foster mutual understanding and further enhance cultural exchange programs, educational initiatives, and people-to-people diplomacy to dispel stereotypes and build trust.
*Diversify trade and investment to encourage African countries to develop their own industries and products, reducing reliance on raw material exports.
*Implement fair trade practices and support policies that promote fair competition, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution mechanisms.
*Strengthen regional cooperation to Leverage frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to enhance intra-African trade, economic integration, and collective bargaining power.
*Develop infrastructure and capacity building so as to Invest in infrastructure projects, skills training, and institutional development to support sustainable economic growth.
*Encourage win-win cooperation to be able to foster partnerships that prioritize mutual benefits, shared risks, and collaborative problem-solving.
By adopting these strategies, China and Africa can work strongly together to build a more equitable and sustainable partnership.
CONCLUSION:
Indications of determined efforts to close the bias gap are rife from the point of view of the various Chinese institutions in Africa, especially government, but such efforts must be sustained in such a way that the beneficiaries must be made to buy into it. There is no doubt that Africans are aware of the shortfalls in the activities of many other countries in Africa, but the case with China becomes much more emphatic based on the fact that they are late-comers into the African space and efforts to buy its offerings to the continent become an issue of the river and the blue deep sea. China must continue to equip Africans with strong indications that they are more committed to the African cause than what their distractors have put in place over the years. There are remarkable improvement on Chinese product development offerings but many Nigerians believe that investing directly in Africa and capitalizing on the available raw materials would assuage the African beliefs. It is equally imperative that Africans would trust China more if they can broaden the diplomatic considerations to compete with the rest of the world on the offerings. For instance, not many Africans can now call China ‘Home’, unlike what happens in other countries. The straw being used by other developed and developing economies to force Africans to the submission of bias lies much more on China’s rather inflexible immigration directives. China is really working assiduously on the negative subject, but the opposition against this is in the majority. China must deploy very robust media education across Africa to achieve a quick reversal with the very growing positive contents that abound in countries like Nigeria.
