Chinese economic growth has astounded the world of late, with China officially becoming the world’s second largest economy in August 2010. China has also been following a more outward-orientated economic stance over the past two decades and has actively been engaged in trade, aid and investment in the world economy. As China emerges as a new global economic powerhouse, analysts strive to understand the impact that the rise of China will have on the rest of the world. The possible economic impact of China on Africa is one of the most debated and often contentious aspects of studies regarding China. Sino-African relations, though certainly not a new phenomenon, have seen a significant impetus since 2000. A popular explanation for China’s recent engagement of Africa seems to be that China is hungry for resources needed to fuel its economic growth. This conception has led to much criticism of China’s increasing involvement in Africa, causing concern that China’s interest in Africa will entrench corruption and deepen the so-called resource curse experienced in many resource abundant African countries. China’s official policy on Africa, as embodied in its White Paper on Africa, which was released in 2006, and also in FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) refutes the notion of a neo-colonialist relationship with Africa. China’s official stance on Sino-African relations, as based on these documents, declares the need for a relationship based on mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty. Sino-African relations encompass many modes of economic interaction, including investment, trade and aid. This study focuses on Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Africa, and the possible impact thereof on Africa. It is an important issue since Africa is still the poorest continent in the world and needs to manage its resources carefully in order to enhance growth on the continent. FDI has also frequently been identified as a possible catalyst for growth in Africa. This study investigates the potential impact of Chinese FDI in Africa by means of a literature study which focuses on the theoretical relationship between FDI and economic growth in developing countries, and in Africa specifically. A survey of the literature on the relationship between FDI and economic growth published between 1998 and early 2010 shows that studies on this topic are varied and inconclusive. Though there is no proof of a positive, uni-directional relationship between FDI and economic growth, it is generally accepted that FDI can enhance economic growth in a host economy, given certain basic levels of educational attainment and institutional quality. Following the literature study, the state of global FDI is investigated, focusing on the volumes of nominal FDI flows that have been received by developed and developing countries between 1990 and 2008. As expected, developed countries dominated FDI inflows during this period. Africa, as a developing region, lagged behind most other developing regions in terms of FDI inflows during this period, though the continent has seen an exponential increase in nominal FDI receipts since 2000. Looking at developing regions, developing Asia received the largest volume of FDI inflows during the period 1990 to 2008, while Developing Oceania received the smallest inflows. A basic profile of Chinese investment in Africa is also provided, illustrating clearly that Chinese investment in Africa has been rising steadily since 2000 and 2006 in particular. The profile provides background information on the specific African countries, sub regions and economic growth performers that have received Chinese FDI during the period covered. Chinese investment in Africa is widespread, with 45 of the 53 African nations receiving FDI from China between 2003 and 2008. In contrast with more traditional investors, who focus mostly on North Africa, Chinese FDI to Africa during the period under revision was concentrated mostly in Southern Africa. Surprisingly, Chinese FDI was also aimed at the more diversified countries that had achieved sustainable economic growth rates in the preceding decade. The analysis of Chinese FDI also shows that Chinese firms follow an unconventional way of doing business, often undertaking the building of infrastructure in return for access to various natural resources, such as oil and other minerals. Using data obtained from the 2008 Statistical Bulletin of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment, issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, a basic cross-section panel model is estimated. The model investigates the determinants of Chinese FDI to Africa and finds that China’s motivations for investing in Africa are more diverse than initially suspected. Though oil is an important factor in attracting Chinese FDI, agricultural land and market size are also found to be significant factors which determine Chinese FDI flows to Africa. This study concludes that Chinese FDI in Africa between 2003 and 2008 does not follow the conventional, preconceived notion of Sino-African relations. Though resources are important considerations for Chinese investors in Africa, resource security is not the only motive for Chinese FDI in Africa. Africa could potentially benefit from increased Chinese FDI, though the challenge lies in strategically managing these investments in order to ensure that Africa reaps the highest possible growth and development spillover benefits. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

To feed the voracious economic machine that is China’s economy, Beijing’s foray into the global sphere has become increasingly resource driven. In the past two decades, China’s formation of strategic partnerships has manifested in its symbolic bilateral cooperation with resource-rich actors outside the Western sphere. This being said it is important to explore Chinese foreign direct investments in the developing world, more specifically the critical ties it has fostered in Africa. Since 1996, Africa has been a key recipient of Chinese FDI. As the bulk of Chinese investments are increasingly directed towards Africa’s more politically volatile states, this Thesis seeks to understand the motivations of Beijing’s outward FDI and the risk management strategies it has developed for the region. Taking into account China’s rise to global power, the author will further investigate whether China’s increasing role in Africa will force the PRC to change its foreign policy goals of ‘non –intervention’ under the pressures of the international community. The author will then purpose that despite increased international scrutiny, structural inadequacies of the Chinese state will be too great an obstacle for any real change in policy.

Chinese economic growth has astounded the world of late, with China officially becoming the world’s second largest economy in August 2010. China has also been following a more outward-orientated economic stance over the past two decades and has actively been engaged in trade, aid and investment in the world economy. As China emerges as a new global economic powerhouse, analysts strive to understand the impact that the rise of China will have on the rest of the world. The possible economic impact of China on Africa is one of the most debated and often contentious aspects of studies regarding China. Sino-African relations, though certainly not a new phenomenon, have seen a significant impetus since 2000. A popular explanation for China’s recent engagement of Africa seems to be that China is hungry for resources needed to fuel its economic growth. This conception has led to much criticism of China’s increasing involvement in Africa, causing concern that China’s interest in Africa will entrench corruption and deepen the so-called resource curse experienced in many resource abundant African countries. China’s official policy on Africa, as embodied in its White Paper on Africa, which was released in 2006, and also in FOCAC (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) refutes the notion of a neo-colonialist relationship with Africa. China’s official stance on Sino-African relations, as based on these documents, declares the need for a relationship based on mutual benefit and respect for sovereignty. Sino-African relations encompass many modes of economic interaction, including investment, trade and aid. This study focuses on Chinese Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Africa, and the possible impact thereof on Africa. It is an important issue since Africa is still the poorest continent in the world and needs to manage its resources carefully in order to enhance growth on the continent. FDI has also frequently been identified as a possible catalyst for growth in Africa. This study investigates the potential impact of Chinese FDI in Africa by means of a literature study which focuses on the theoretical relationship between FDI and economic growth in developing countries, and in Africa specifically. A survey of the literature on the relationship between FDI and economic growth published between 1998 and early 2010 shows that studies on this topic are varied and inconclusive. Though there is no proof of a positive, uni-directional relationship between FDI and economic growth, it is generally accepted that FDI can enhance economic growth in a host economy, given certain basic levels of educational attainment and institutional quality. Following the literature study, the state of global FDI is investigated, focusing on the volumes of nominal FDI flows that have been received by developed and developing countries between 1990 and 2008. As expected, developed countries dominated FDI inflows during this period. Africa, as a developing region, lagged behind most other developing regions in terms of FDI inflows during this period, though the continent has seen an exponential increase in nominal FDI receipts since 2000. Looking at developing regions, developing Asia received the largest volume of FDI inflows during the period 1990 to 2008, while Developing Oceania received the smallest inflows. A basic profile of Chinese investment in Africa is also provided, illustrating clearly that Chinese investment in Africa has been rising steadily since 2000 and 2006 in particular. The profile provides background information on the specific African countries, sub regions and economic growth performers that have received Chinese FDI during the period covered. Chinese investment in Africa is widespread, with 45 of the 53 African nations receiving FDI from China between 2003 and 2008. In contrast with more traditional investors, who focus mostly on North Africa, Chinese FDI to Africa during the period under revision was concentrated mostly in Southern Africa. Surprisingly, Chinese FDI was also aimed at the more diversified countries that had achieved sustainable economic growth rates in the preceding decade. The analysis of Chinese FDI also shows that Chinese firms follow an unconventional way of doing business, often undertaking the building of infrastructure in return for access to various natural resources, such as oil and other minerals. Using data obtained from the 2008 Statistical Bulletin of China’s Outward Foreign Direct Investment, issued by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, a basic cross-section panel model is estimated. The model investigates the determinants of Chinese FDI to Africa and finds that China’s motivations for investing in Africa are more diverse than initially suspected. Though oil is an important factor in attracting Chinese FDI, agricultural land and market size are also found to be significant factors which determine Chinese FDI flows to Africa. This study concludes that Chinese FDI in Africa between 2003 and 2008 does not follow the conventional, preconceived notion of Sino-African relations. Though resources are important considerations for Chinese investors in Africa, resource security is not the only motive for Chinese FDI in Africa. Africa could potentially benefit from increased Chinese FDI, though the challenge lies in strategically managing these investments in order to ensure that Africa reaps the highest possible growth and development spillover benefits. / Thesis (M.Com. (Economics))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since 2000, Chinese FDI in Zambia has steadily increased. Focused predominantly on resource extraction, China is now the third largest investor in Zambia, after only the United States and South Africa. As the title suggests, this FDI is recognized as relevant to Zambia’s developmental discourse. However, with general development indicators, there is challenge in establishing immediate causality between (Chinese) FDI and development. To address this, this study employs Capability Approach development theory, which utilizes a framework to evaluate social and political realities. Utilizing this framework, key indicators are used to look more deeply into the discussion around China’s FDI for Zambia’s development. There has been a great deal of speculation as to potential costs and/or benefits Chinese FDI may offer Zambia. As China offers Zambia a partnership of non-domestic interference, unique from Zambia’s traditional western syndicates, debate is raised as to what influence it will have on Zambia’s developmental progress. With challenges including limited information, numerous potential indicators to utilize, and a large number of contributing voices, the debate thus far lacks a means for evaluating the substance of claims made within the context of national trends. This study reviews and evaluates the debate within the framework of seven key socioeconomic and political indicators. While within economic growth and infrastructure expansion Chinese FDI are shown to indicate a conduciveness to development, FDI is not shown to be conducive for market diversification, challenging corruption, or strengthening institutions. The study therefore shows that trends of Chinese FDI’s relevance to Zambian employment and state dependency to be mixed and that assessments will need to disentangle various Chinese activities and will also need to consider contradictory effects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert die jaar 2000 het Chinese direkte buitelandse belegging (DBB) in Zambië stelselmatig begin toeneem. Die groei is hoofsaaklik gekonsentreer in die hulpbron ontgunnings sektore. China is tans die derde grootste belegger in Zambia naas die Verenigde State van Amerika en Suid Afrika. Soos die titel van die tesis aandui, word DBB beskou as relevant tot Zambië se ontwikkelings dialoog. Aangesien die oorsaaklikheid tussen DBB en ontwikkeling nie maklik vasgestel kan word nie, word sleutel aanwysers gebruik om dieper in die gesprek rondom Chinese DBB ten opsigte van Zambiese ontwikkeling in te kyk. Tans is daar 'n groot mate van spekulasie aan potensiële risikos en/of voordele van Chinese DBB vir Zambië. China bied Zambië ‘n venootskap sonder inmenging in binnelandse beleid, anders as Westerse finansiering wat gekoppel word aan voorwaardes, en dit is wat die vraag lig; wat gaan die uiteindelikke invloed en effek wees op Zambiese ontwikkeling in die toekoms. Met uitdagings soos beperkte inligting, vele moontlikke aanwysers en ‘n groot aantal opinies, kort die debad tot dusver die vermoë om die waarde van argumente te evalueer binne die konteks van nasionale tendense. Hierdie studie evalueer die debat binne die raamwerk van sewe sleutel sosio-ekonomiese en politiese aanwysers. Chinese DBB word bevind om bevorderlik te wees ten opsigte van ontwikkeling in die infrastruktuur ontwikkeling- en ekonomiese groei sektore; dit word egter nie bevind as bevorderlik in terme van mark-diversifikasie, die teenkanting van korrupsie, of in die versterking van politieke instellings nie. Chinese DBB se invloed op indiensneming en op die afhanklikheid van die Zambiese staat toon gemengde resultate, en dat assesering verskeie Chinese aktiwiteite sal moet ontrafel en ook teenstrydigge effekte in gedagte moet hou.