Megatrends Afrika published in April 2025 a policy brief titled "China in Africa: Shaping Economic Relations Through Subnational Actors" by Hangwei Li.
The policy brief deconstructs China as a unitary actor and highlights the role of provincial and local governments, using Zhejiang Province and Jinhua city as case studies, as integral parts of a multi-layered political architecture that encompasses local, national, and international spheres. The author identifies several downsides in this subnational approach.