Fears grow in Africa that the flood of funds from China will start to ebb

Slowing growth and rising debt at home may affect Beijing's ability to keep up its vast investments in the developing world

Concerns over Chinese growth could spell problems for Africa and other parts of the developing world. Beijing funded an overseas investment boom in the past few decades as it strove to become the world's second largest economic superpower, while also buying vast amounts of the natural resources produced by emerging nations.

The scale of the expansion forms part of China's multibillion-dollar "Belt and Road" Initiative, a state-backed campaign to promote its influence around the world, while providing stimulus for its own slowing economy. The transcontinental development project launched by China's president, Xi Jinping, in 2013 aims to improve infrastructure links between Asia, Europe and Africa, with the aim for China to reap the benefits from increasing levels of global trade.

More than four fifths of the amount China spends on construction overseas goes to low- or middle-income economies

Continue reading...