China and Africa celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) this week. China once again gave an account of the long history that Africa and China have shared.

According to Chen Deming (Commerce Minister, China), trade between China and African nations increased from 10.6 billion U.S. dollars in 2000 to 106.8 billion dollars in 2008. Furthermore, over 1,600 Chinese firms have invested in Africa. China’s economy now valued at $ 1.33 trillion has surpassed Japan’s $1.28 trillion, making it the second largest economy in the world after United States of America.

Whereas this trend is encouraging, Africa ought to guard against the benefits of the trade being one sided- with China gaining more than Africa. Attractive statistics will be meaningless to Africa if they don't translate to real change in living standards amongst Africans. Africa must push to have more of its countries access China’s market as opposed to Angola, South Africa, Nigeria, Sudan and Egypt which enjoy the monopoly. In addition, the continent must endeavor to have more of its products access the Chinese market as opposed to mineral products (79%); base metals (5%); precious stones (4%); wood products (2%) and textiles (1%) that represented 94% of China’s total imports from Africa in 2009.

Whereas Africa welcomes partnership with China, China ought to conduct its inroads to Africa in an open, fair, just and transparent manner. China’s surge in the global arena will only benefit Africa if Africans creatively tap into it.