As we approach the ninth Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), anticipation is growing around the key themes and deals that will emerge from the meeting. While China and Africa are aligned on many critical issues, their interests heading into FOCAC 9 also diverge in important ways.

Since the first FOCAC gathering in 2000, the meeting has evolved to keep pace with the changing Africa-China relationship. What began as a platform primarily focused on economic ties has expanded to encompass a broader range of issues reflecting both Chinese and African priorities.