Beijing, the Chinese capital, is preparing to host the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Heads of state from across the continent are gradually arriving in the land of the Great Wall.
At the heart of the meeting scheduled for September 4-6 is a new digital era, particularly given China's agreements in this area with numerous African countries.
The forum will primarily serve to revisit cooperation between the two sides and chart new paths. Over the past seven months, trade between China and Africa has increased by 5.5% to reach $166 billion, according to data published by the General Administration of Customs of China.
In Beijing, African countries will undoubtedly try to solicit either new loans or rescheduling of their debts.
While between 2000 and 2023, Chinese lenders granted 1,306 loans totaling $182.28 billion to 49 African and other governments, according to the Global Development Policy Center at Boston University in the United States.
A policy which, for many, increases the continent's debt and too often hinders sound public finance management.
