Africa has become a fertile ground for great powers in recent years and as the G20 Summit in South Africa nears, Africa must position itself strategically to achieve its development, secure its sovereignty and forge a lasting alliance with the great global powers that has been influential and strategic in their actions. The current leader of the G20, South Africa pursues a foreign policy strategically championed around its national interest, an agenda for Africa, a deepening cooperation with the global south countries and multilateralism. At this summit, key issues that have continued to engulf countries will be discussed, global issues such as global health, food security and education among others. Africa has a major deficient in these areas and therefore aligning its national interest with countries attending the forum will determine the future and the growth of Africa in the future.

America's presence in Africa is not new, in fact it dates back to colonial times when western countries invaded Africa and eroded it of its sovereignty, and America in this period had close contacts and relationship with its colony-Liberia and other nations that were independent such as Ethiopia, Morocco and Egypt. China on the other hand, had contacts with Africa through its Ming dynasty voyages of the 15th century led by Zheng He. Therefore, we can understand that China-Africa relationship has existed in the areas of trade and diplomacy before the advent of the European colonizers in Africa. Statistical reports show that as of 2023, 97% of African countries trade more with China than with the U.S. In the year 2000, two significant opportunities opened up for Africa, first was the enactment of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) by the United states to provide duty-free access to the U.S market for more than 1.800 products in addition to another 5,000 products that can access the duty-free program under the Generalized system of Preferences Program. AGOA had a requirement for African countries to access these duty free such as elimination of US trade and investment barriers in Africa, push for the rule of law, promote a market based economy, protect human rights, and tackle corruption and poverty. Similarly, in 2000, China established the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to promote dialogue and consultation with African countries. It promotes mutual respect for the sovereignty and territory of nations, non- aggression, non-interference, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. Under FOCAC, China has provided aids to African countries without any form of political requirements from Africa but to respect and support the one-China principle. While America has conditions for engagement with Africa to access its duty-free product market, China has fostered its trade relations with Africa on the notion of mutual benefit for a win-win situation.

Additionally, in 2013 China launched the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to promote connectivity in trade and growth for over 150 countries through its massive investments in building the twenty-first century Maritime Silk Road. Its aim includes infrastructural investments through rails and land channels as well as investments in education, automobile, real estate, iron and steel as well as the power grid sectors. Similarly, in 2022 the Group of Seven countries led by the United States championed the Partnership for global infrastructure with the focal aim of infrastructural development, financial transparency, economic development and sustainability of the environment. While this is a laudable effort and policy to counter China's belt and road initiative in Africa, China has facilitated the construction of Mozambique's Maputo–Katembe bridge, Algeria's Cherchell Ring Expressway Project, Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway, Abuja-Kaduna railway line among others. China’s footprints have been engraved all over Africa with billions of investments, aids and loans to support the development of Africa.

As the G20 Summit nears, its theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability should be clear in the mind of African leaders. African countries must align with nations that will help them to achieve all round development, fair treatment, similar opportunities for the progress of people and nations and meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future. Africa needs to strategize to realize the gains from the summit. Africa has had many summits with different countries of the world such as Russia, Turkey, Japan, the United States of America and China. These summits reflects strategic interests and goals of each country, while there has been many hopes and promises, none of these summits have produced the desirable results as seen in the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It has launched an industrial promotion initiative with trade expos in China and Africa. On a yearly basis, business partners and companies have the chance to meet and discuss the prospects for business and collaboration. The Canton Fair of 2025 held in Guangzhou attracted over 253,000 international buyers with thousands of African importers, merchants and business owners visited Guangzhou to engage in business. China also through this forum has stated its imperative need to increase its investment in Africa in the area of emerging areas and cooperation zones. With an 800 million investment, China built the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Nigeria since 2006. Its a platform that ensures great potentials for Chinese investors, new business climates and technology transfer from Chinese investors. China has also formulated agricultural plans to support Africa's agricultural modernization and sustainability. 

With Africa, struggling with harsh natural conditions, China has brought its technology to develop arable land for production. Chinese friendship farms are dotted around Africa increasing productiveness, sharing experiences and introducing new methods of farming. Friendship farms in Zambia and Mozambique are typical case studies, the investment of China Agricultural Reclamation Group and Jiangsu Agricultural Reclamation Group, Jiangsu Nongken Group, China Nongken Group are concrete examples of Chinese investments, collaboration and cooperation to boost Africa's productiveness in the wheat, rice, soyabeans, sudangrass and many others. FOCAC has brought practical results and outcomes to Africa, its green development actions through partnerships of building hydro-power stations such as the Gibe III dam has reduced the carbon emissions in Ethiopia and in South Africa, its investments in wind farms has enabled this country to advance its electric value chain. The Ghana-China Climate Summit of 2025 brought commitments and actions on how to tackle global warming. China's influence and footprints are all over Africa however, Americas presence is waning systematically and dramatically.

Western Scholars have raised a consciousness of China's engagement in Africa, from Neo-colonialism to debt trap and overwhelming concerns, the narratives are endless. With a growing poverty gap, infrastructural decay, violent unrest and social and political tensions in Africa, its core aim now is to seek alliances and partnership that will guide, assist and influence it positively out of the quagmire that has plunged the continent. China-Africa relationship has been built on mutual trust, cooperation and respect, especially with shared development and progress, Africans can never forget this alliance, it will cherish it and will continue to seek better ways to deepen and improve it.

About the author:

Adetoro Olaniyi Banwo，senior lecturer at University of Lagos, Nigeria.