This thesis examines the relationship between China and Africa, with a focus on the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as a key institutional framework for collaboration. Over the past decades, China has evolved from a regional power into a major global player, expanding its influence in African countries through an increasingly active foreign and economic policy. African nations have become important diplomatic allies of China, while also serving as an important source of natural resources and a large market for Chinese investment. The thesis explores the development of Sino-African relations from the founding of the People’s Republic of China to the present, with particular attention to the structure, development, and role of FOCAC in strengthening cooperation. This collaboration is further illustrated through the case study of Ethiopia, a country with strategic geographical importance that maintains close economic and political ties with China. The research focuses on three main points: the motivations behind the cooperation, the impact of FOCAC on Sino-African relations, and whether this cooperation results in mutual benefits. The main objective of the thesis is to present and critically assess the significance of FOCAC within the broader context of China’s presence in Africa.
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