Security and Development in China-Africa Contemporary Cooperation

Africa as a store-room of natural resources and the continent of intensive growth attracts the greater attention of China. Africa is also of growing interest for China as a strategic node in the maritime portion of the “One Belt One Road” initiative, which takes the central place in Chinese foreign strategy. The inclusion into Chinese projects gives Africa financial resources and opportunities to use them for the sake of sustainable development. China’s African policy is presented through comparative and system analyses, using the principle of historicism. The strategic directions of interaction between China and Africa are theoretically justified. Beijing acts mainly as a donor and investor for the continent. Special attention is given to China’s contribution to the economic potential of Africa through the realization of transport mega-projects and the establishment of the industrial base. China’s “soft power”, dedicated to counteract “China’s menace” theory and to improve China’s image on the continent, plays an important role in China’s policy. China pays keen attention to the problems of African security as to the necessary condition of sustainable development. Special attention is focused on the peculiarities of China-Africa cooperation in resolving the security and development problems of Africa. African conflicts and terrorism present a real threat for China, as Chinese companies often become a target. The objective analysis of China’s interaction with African countries demonstrates the positive results of this interaction for Africa. China-Africa contemporary cooperation contributes to resolving such key African problems as security and development.