China and Africa: What Trade and Investment—Commercial Interests and Two-Way Trade Between China and Resources-Rich Developing Countries (RRDCs) and Non-Resources-Rich Developing Countries (Non-RRDCs) in Africa

Abstract

The fundamental issue in this chapter is to assess the extent and scope of Chinese trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) that has affected capacity building and the economic and human development potential in the African continent. This chapter aims to look into the impact of China’s trade and investments on the development trajectories in Africa, focussed on Angola and Rwanda. I utilize dependency theory (Amin 1972, Maldevelopment, Anatomy of a Global Failure. Pambazuka Press, Cape Town, 2011) and the world system theory (Wallerstein 1974) to examine how the global economic configuration operates though the hierarchy of core, semi-periphery and periphery among the states. My focus on Angola and Rwanda is cemented on the reality that the, landlocked, natural resources deficient, aid dependent country and Angola, poor but resources rich country are essential destinations for Chinese patronage and investments. I argue that Rwanda as a non-resource rich country, and Angola as a resources-rich countries present an anomaly, thus, underlining the gap in the existing knowledge on China–Africa engagements.