Africa must shake off its romantic view of China and accept Beijing is a competitor as much as a partner and capable of the same exploitative practices as the old colonial powers , Nigeria 's central bank governor has warned . Reflecting the shifting views of a growing number of senior African officials who fear the continent 's anaemic industrial sector is being battered by cheap Chinese imports , Lamido Sanusi cautions that Africa is `` opening itself up to a new form of imperialism '' . `` China takes from us primary goods and sells us manufactured ones . This was also the essence of colonialism , '' he writes in the Financial Times . His remarks are among the most trenchant yet by a serving African official about the continent 's ties with the world 's second largest economy . Trade between China and Africa was worth more than $ 200bn in 2012 , 20 times what it was in 2000 when Beijing committed to a policy of accelerated engagement . It has been a period of strong growth partly thanks to Asian demand for African resources . But a boom in commodities , services and consumer spending has coincided with the relative decline of African manufacturing from 12.8 per cent to 10.5 per cent of regional GDP , according to UN figures . African leaders and the African Development Bank have recently urged governments to work with each other to ensure they maximise benefits from relations with their leading trade partner , but they have traditionally cloaked their concerns in emollient diplomatic language . In contrast Mr Sanusi has thrown down the gauntlet to Beijing . `` China is no longer a 'fellow underdeveloped economy ' , '' he writes . `` China is the second biggest economy in the world , an economic giant capable of the same forms of exploitation as the west . China is a major contributor to the de-industrialisation of Africa and thus African underdevelopment . '' An experienced private sector banker , Mr Sanusi is credited with cleaning up Nigeria 's banking system after a crash that wiped out 60 per cent of bank capital in 2009 . He has also given Nigeria 's central bank a more activist role , providing concessional refinancing to banks exposed to manufacturers and small and medium enterprises struggling to service high-interest , short-term loans . In his article , Mr Sanusi argues that African countries must respond to `` predatory '' trade practices -- such as subsidies and currency manipulation -- that give Chinese exports an advantage . He also says the continent must build infrastructure and invest in education so that African businesses can compete for continental trade as Chinese labour costs rise . `` China is losing that advantage as its economy grows and prosperity spreads , '' he writes . `` Africa must seize the moment and move manufacturing of goods consumed in Africa out of China to the African continent ... I can not recommend a divorce . However , a review of the exploitative elements in this marital contract is long overdue . '' His comments come ahead of South Africa 's hosting of a summit of Bric nations later this month . South Africa , the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa , was incorporated into the bloc of Brazil , Russia , India and China last year . South African President Jacob Zuma last week warned western companies to shed an old `` colonial '' mindset when investing in Africa and to stop warning against the embrace of China . `` China is doing business in a particular way and we think we can see the benefits , '' he told the Financial Times . `` But we are very , very careful , '' he added , citing Africa 's experience of colonialism . Such a relationship he said must `` benefit both . And this is what we and China have been agreeing . ''
Africa 's central bank ' warns China is a threat as much as trade is . Africa is opening itself up to new ` ` imperialism '' , says Sanusi . Trade between China and Africa worth more than $ 200 billion .