China and Africa in the Globalization Process: The Emerging Trend

Africa can be described today as the weeping continent of the world. Of all the five continents, its economic outlook, especially the sub-Sahara region would appear to be the worst, the general gloomy picture of the international economy notwithstanding. Virtually every economic forecast about Africa in the last fifty years has been very negative (Offiong, 2001). While real per capita income, living standard and social infrastructural facilities grew (as well as relative decline in poverty) in other parts of the world including East and Southern Asia, in Africa real per capita income, living standards, investments and socio-economic infrastructure declined drastically. It has been projected, for instance, that Africa's share of the global poor will double from 16 to 32 per cent in the near future in spite of the fact that Africa's share of the world population is only about 11.1 per cent. Indeed, Africa's economy is in comatose. Consequently, Africa has more or less been consigned to the backwaters of international political economy. World political and business leaders do not recon with Africa as a key player in world affairs, but as a tool to be manipulated or used to advance the interests of others.