China has rolled out the red carpet for leaders from across Africa, including President Bola Tinubu, seeking to deepen ties with the resource-rich continent it has furnished with billions in loans for infrastructure and development.
Beijing has said this week’s China-Africa forum will be its largest diplomatic event since the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than a dozen leaders and delegations expected.
China, the world’s number two economy, is Africa’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting $167.8 billion in the first half of this year, according to Chinese state media.
Security is tight across Beijing, with roads and bus stops bedecked with banners declaring China and the continent are “joining hands for a brighter future”.
