China rolls out the red carpet for African leaders with aims to deepen relationships with resource-rich nations

Dancers perform during the arrival of Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Beijing Capital International Airport on September 2, 2024, ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled to be held on September 4-6. - AFP

BEIJING (AFP): China rolled out the red carpet on Monday for leaders from across Africa, 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.