Africans in China

Great (but 1+ year-old) post about Africans living and trading in China, here.

That people from previously economically disparate parts of the globe are connected economically is an excellent sign of the rise of the rest that Fareed Zakharia points out and that is emphatically good for everyone involved.

I frequently write about China's growing influence in Africa. Increased trade relations are good, but it bears keeping in mind that a) China is driven by a need for resources - just like the U.S. is, and b) China provides aid to horrible dictators regardless of their human rights record, and doesn't help any effort to make the world a better place. Consequently I'm happier to see African interests being served in China than the other way around, as is usually the case.