HAN, Christine2014-01-282014-01-2820132013http://hdl.handle.net/10393/30518China‟s growing economic engagement in Africa, including trade, investment and aid, has captured the world‟s attention and has given rise to a heated debate and a large literature about this phenomenon. This paper seeks to shed light on the current debate about the nature of this relationship and impacts for both sides by looking into a more fundamental question: what are the driving forces behind this economic relationship? It looks to develop a better-rounded understanding of the multitude and complexity behind this economic relationship by examining the driving forces from three aspects: economic, institutional and political. It concludes that economic incentives, domestic and international institutions and political considerations have all played a role in contributing to the growing economic relationship between China and Africa in the period since the 1990s.en