6 Reasons Why Africa Likes China

File image of Zambian President Edgar Lungu meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. NICOLAS ASFOURI / POOL / AFP

A U.S. and European observers often wonder why African leaders have so thoroughly embraced engagement with China despite warnings of predatory lending, cyber espionage and so forth. In many policy circles, there’s genuine confusion as to why the Western offer isn’t more appealing and largely unable to compete as effectively.

Zambian author and finance commentator Mwansa Chalwe Snr published a column over the weekend in the South China Morning Post that aimed to clear things a bit. He listed “six reasons Africa finds China attractive, and Western criticism of its relationship unjust“:

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by Eric Olander

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