Africa and the New Silk Roads

Thierry Pairault, research director emeritus at France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, posted on 31 August 2018 a study titled "Africa and the New Silk Roads."

The author correctly notes that in terms of foreign direct investment and trade Africa is a minor economic partner for China, although China is a major economic partner for Africa. China is largely following a commercial strategy in Africa: selling goods and services. In the context of China's Silk Road strategy, he takes a closer look at China's engagement in Morocco and Djibouti. Pairault concludes that Morocco will allow China better access to the European Union market and eventually the African market. Djibouti, although having some utility for extending China's security reach, is more importantly a key link in China's Digital Silk Road and its efforts to leapfrog Western financial competitors by building a digital money system.