( CNN ) -- Washington 's relentless focus on crisis tends to cloud its ability to see great opportunities . With more than 40 African heads of state coming to Washington this week for three days of meetings with President Barack Obama , Cabinet officials , members of Congress and American business leaders , the United States has a real opportunity to jump-start what has been a slow evolution in the way we have engaged with Africa . It 's an opportunity that should not be missed . Foreign assistance is no longer America 's primary export to Africa , and our engagement needs to change , too . The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit is an opportunity to showcase and strengthen a relationship that is evolving dramatically on economic , security and development fronts . This will be the United States ' first African heads-of-state summit , which puts us well behind our global competitors . China , which surpassed the United States as Africa 's largest trading partner five years ago , has held five summits with African heads of state since 2000 . The Chinese have seen plainly what many U.S. businesses have not : That six of the world 's 10 fastest-growing economies over the past decade were in sub-Saharan Africa . Since 2000 , Chinese exports to Africa have outpaced American exports at a ratio of 3 to 1 , and China is now Africa 's largest trading partner . When China wants something from an African government -- mining rights or port exclusivity , for example -- it offers no-strings-attached `` gifts '' or investments in infrastructure . While the United States offers values-driven policy and investments in people , especially in public health , the Chinese have a reputation for paying for the friendship of African governments with low-interest financing of construction projects . U.S. foreign direct investment in Africa still outstrips the Chinese , but in trade and export sales to Africa , the Chinese have eclipsed us . For the United States to continue competing , our relationship with African governments and businesses must evolve to include more meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships . The summit 's business forum on Tuesday will put American CEOs at the table with African heads of state and business leaders . This is matchmaking , with an eye on increasing U.S. exports to Africa 's rapidly growing middle-class consumer base . Opinion : What Obama can do about Ebola . American CEOs want new markets for their products , and American workers want jobs making those products . African leaders want more international companies to sell their products in their countries , invest in their growth and partner with local businesses . The opportunity for increased trade and investment is extraordinary and important for the evolution of the United States ' relationship with the continent . We can and should exercise our unique competitive advantages . The United States boasts an African diaspora drawn here by American universities and steeped in American culture and entrepreneurship , and a level of technology , innovation and quality that still commands the attention of African leaders , consumers and countries . The U.S. has a unique opportunity to build bridges to emerging economies and democracies in Africa through the tens of thousands of Africans in our country who are a part of the diaspora . Doctors . engineers and businessmen , educated here and successful here , can connect the United States to Africa in ways China , Russia and India simply can not . After 50 years of President John F. Kennedy 's Peace Corps , a decade of President George W. Bush 's transformational campaign to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS , and with the promise of President Obama 's Power Africa electrification initiative , the United States is better regarded in Africa than anywhere in the world . I saw this firsthand as a student in Kenya in 1984 and have experienced it consistently in visits since . We should build on the positive view of America and Americans created by the remarkable generosity of our investments in health , education , clean water and good governance to shift our engagement strategy from aid to trade . China , Russia , Brazil and India are focused on the huge potential of Africa because of the increase in the number of stable and growing countries on the continent . While the bad news from a handful of countries dominates American news , the quietly good news about growth and opportunity in dozens of others is overlooked . To its credit , the Obama administration has noticed . Delegations led earlier this year by the secretaries of commerce and energy , the President 's remarkable Young African Leaders Initiative , and the administration 's Power Africa are all meaningful steps forward . Congress can do its part by strengthening and reauthorizing the African Growth and Opportunity Act before its authorization expires next year . The real success of Obama 's summit wo n't come in the form of a joint press statement or vague declaration of a path forward but in new contracts between U.S. companies with African partners and new commitments from African leaders . Twenty years ago , every American company was deciding whether to take the risk of investing in and engaging in the newly opening markets of Asia , and China ended up being the dominant opportunity of the region . Today , no competitive company is without some role in China . Africa will emerge as the next great growth market and opportunity of the 21st century , and China will not miss `` the next China . '' America should n't either . Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion .
More than 40 heads of state attend first Africa summit in the U.S. this week . President Chris Coons : This is opportunity for U.S. business to build ties to fast - growing Africa . China surpassed the US in trade with Africa , but Africa has distinct advantages , he said . Africa : The US has African diaspora that succeeded here , and it 's well - regarded in Africa .