China's growing presence in Africa represents an historic economic and social transition for the continent. This new phase of China's relationship with Africa raises important questions for African policymakers and the continent's development partners.

Will Chinese lending to African countries create debt that becomes unsustainable, or will China help reduce Africa's indebtedness by stimulating exports and growth? How will the global recession affect this relationship?

What lessons can be learned from China's track record of extraordinary economic growth and increases in agricultural productivity?  How can the development community aid resource-poor countries, small businesspeople, and low-income people in their
engagements with China?

With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, four African research organisations - the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the African Africultural Technology Foundation (AATF), the Centre for Chinese Studies (CCS), and the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET) - have begun answering these questions.

Read overviews of their key findings, and recommendations to assist African policymakers to forge mutually-beneficial relationships with China.