China's aid and economic cooperation system as reflecting the drivers of China's increasing presence on the African continent
Serena Belligoli
Note d'Analyse 12
Programme « Union européenne - Chine », Chaire InBev Baillet-Latour

This paper will look into the penetration of Chinese business in Africa and its ties with Chinese aid and economic cooperation instruments. It will outline that the Chinese government pursues active development programs which are closely links with Chinese multinational enterprises (MNEs) expansion in Africa. Most Chinese MNEs are often indirectly state-controlled and their development is submitted to the long-term strategy of the Chinese government. This state-driven pattern is due to the relative weaknesses of Chinese MNEs in terms of intangible assets compared to global competitors from the most developed economies but also to the need of Chinese MNEs to overcome the incumbent position of European MNEs in African economies, which has been built on special links with local and regional governance structures.
This chapter will investigate the drivers of Chinese aid to African countries and how they translate in several peculiar instruments and structures of Chinese aid. Before entering this discussion, some remarks are to be made with regard to obstacles encountered when researching Chinese aid system.